5-4-3-2-1…Happy New Year! Here’s to a wonderful 2014. Do you want to know how to make this year better than the last? Follow the below eight simple tips.

Resolve to Make this Year Better

1. As some people make New Year’s resolutions, many resolve to save more and spend less. You can do so by adopting this one mantra, budget, budget, budget. Make a budget for how much you need to spend versus how much you would like to save each month.

Start out with a small amount to save or an amount that won’t be missed, then you can increase or decrease these funds as needed. Simple enough!

2. Some say imitation is the highest form of flattery. Mirror those who you admire and think are successful. You can think about what attributes you admire in friends and family. After doing some deep reflection, ask them more about themselves, take note of what is being said. Don’t worry about being a bother, nearly everybody likes the chance to talk about themselves!

3. It’s virtually impossible to know what the outcome of your day will be. But, you can try to tackle things before they happen. For example, if you take your car for a tune-up and your mechanic suggests that you need brakes, it’s best to handle the situation immediately. Why? Making the recommended adjustments will save you money and time. If your vehicle-related issue is not addressed, you may end up spending more cash than if you had the adjustments made in the first place.

4. We live in the ‘information age,’ so there are ample ways to stay plugged in to what’s going on in the world, literally. By doing a little research, you will not only learn more, but you’ll be better able to navigate through life, too. What’s more, your confidence level may be boosted up a notch or two because you will be well-informed about many aspects of life.

5. Go grab a pen and paper. By journaling and reflecting on the things you liked about your day and what you wish you would’ve changed, you can strive to make those changes the next time. Not only that, journaling helps organize thoughts. Don’t fret if you miss the mark because you can keep trying until you reach your goals.

6. Having a mentor is great at any age. Why is this? Mentors can give the much needed insight into your specific life situations. Just think of mentors as being able to point you one step closer in the right direction. The best part is whether you consider yourself to be old or young, there is never a such thing as knowing everything or too much, even. Plus, learning is a lifelong process and it can best be done with the help of someone you know and trust.

7. With so much uncertainty and chaos in the world, why not pay it forward? Paying it forward simply means committing random acts of kindness to someone, but especially to a stranger. The energy, time and thought that you put into helping someone can only equal a great return on your part. And, your good deed will never go unnoticed.

8. Finally, ask others for constructive criticism. There is nothing wrong with asking others to help you or be your accountability partner for something. Done tactfully and to be helpful, this can actually be a great reality check.

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Make it Work!

All in all, finding ways to make life work better for you is the name of the game. Sometimes this is done by trial and error, sometimes it is done by natural instinct. Cheers!

Web Links:

– http://www.macmillandictionary.com/open-dictionary/entries/pay-it-forward.htm

-Kimberly Williams