18 STEPS FOR A GREAT 2018!

Get ready for your best year yet!

Traditionally, it's time to make 'new year's resolutions,' but how often do we slip back into our old ways by February? Doesn't it make you feel like you've failed or let yourself down? And like your big dreams might not be achievable after all?

Don’t you believe that for a second! It couldn’t be further from the truth, as long as you have these 3 vital ingredients; authenticity, planning and flexibility.

Instead of making big resolutions that are sure to fade as fast as your holiday tan, follow these 18 steps to consciously create a great 2018!

Before we can take our first step forward, we must reflect on where we've been. By consciously reviewing where life took you in 2017, you'll be better equipped to devise a plan that will take you from where you are now, to where you want to be by the end of 2018 and beyond.

Ask yourself, what lessons have you learned? Is there any unresolved pain that needs to be healed? What did you do well? Did you stray from your path at all? If you’re unsure where to start, here is a recipe for reflection.

Our intentions will reveal themselves to us when we practice presence

Setting intentions is a little different to setting goals. It’s about deciding how you want to live your life and who you want to become, which is a great first step before focusing on any future goals.

Our intentions will reveal themselves to us when we practice presence (meditation is a great way to practice presence) while imagining the future helps us shape our goals. 

Every day we decide who we will become tomorrow, so start each day of the new year with intention. Setting your intentions creates an energy that will support and supercharge your goals for 2018. For best results, turn your intentions into a daily mantra to help keep you focused.

If a great day starts with a great breakfast, then a great year begins with great nutrition. Rather than looking to restrict, make 2018 a year of healthy, plant-rich abundance. 

Strive to create a nutrition plan around your ideal balance of carbohydrates, protein and fats, and fill your plate with colour every day; but don’t forget your healthy treats!

Why not kick off the year with the best nutrition to support you on the way to your health and fitness goals? Tropeaka Lean Protein and other High-Powered Blends will give you a head start to a healthy and strong 2018.

When it comes to beverages, the best choice is clear. One of the most positive things anyone can do for their health is to cut back on alcohol and sugary drinks and replace them with filtered water.

Aim for around 3 litres of water each day to benefit from better moods, clearer skin, more energy and far fewer headaches. Opting for our most natural source of hydration can also help with weight loss, and carrying a water bottle wherever you go can also help you save more money.

Our attitude and wellbeing can easily be influenced by those around us, because energy is contagious, regardless of whether it's positive or negative. It's really important to make sure we engage with people who connect us to our vitality and make us feel alive, motivated and loved.

Invest your time and energy in relationships with people who inspire you and build you up, and avoid contact with those who leave you feeling drained and defeated.

Be honest with yourself about how your social interactions are making you feel and commit to making the necessary changes. Clearing out the negativity will leave more space for you to welcome in positive vibes and healthy relationships.

Keeping a gratitude journal is a very easy daily practice that can have a profound impact on your life. By simply writing down 3 things you’re thankful for each morning, you’re starting your day with a focus on the positives, which sets you up to generate more positivity throughout the day.

Becoming more aware and appreciative of every relationship, experience and opportunity that has made you who you are is wonderfully enriching, but your gratitude practice can go even further.

It might feel odd at first, but you can express thanks for things that are yet to come. Imagine the relationships, situations and opportunities you wish to attract into your life, and as you write it down, experience the joy of this already being so.

A new year is a perfect opportunity to deepen, reignite, or even begin your meditation practice. If you’re still pretty new to meditation, brain.fm or headspace.com are great places to start.

If you already have a meditation practice and want to take it to the next level, perhaps it’s time to apply for a 10-day residential Vipassana course? Wherever you are on your meditation journey; finding inner calm and deeper self-awareness is a big win that will spread to all areas of your life.

Pretty much everyone resolves to get fitter in the new year, and gym membership sales always skyrocket in January. Soon enough, though, the novelty wears off, and you're beating yourself up for losing motivation.

If this sounds familiar, then it’s probably because you’re missing one of the best fitness accessories there is - company.

This new year, find yourself a workout buddy. Share your fitness goals with each other, and develop an achievable and sustainable workout schedule that works for both of you. Encourage and motivate each other along the way, and most importantly, keep each other accountable. If someone is waiting for you at the gym, you’re much more likely to turn up too!

Taking time out for ourselves means we can be more present in our interactions with others

It's your life; so schedule time out just for you. 2018 is the year to put yourself first, practice self-love daily, and enjoy doing what YOU want to do.

This will mean something different for everybody, whether it's taking yourself on cinema dates, getting your nails done, or going for long, solo walks on the beach. It really can be anything! Enjoying time with ourselves is not only something we deserve, but it's something we all need for our fundamental wellbeing.

Taking time out for ourselves means we can be more present in our interactions with others, as it improves our mental health and allows us to recharge our social batteries, along with many other benefits.

A great list of goals will inevitably lead to a great year, right? Well, it depends. Ideally, your goals should reflect the authenticity of your intentions, and the best way to achieve this is to create a 'To Be' list.

Rather than your list of goals turning into a stressful and never-ending 'To Do' list, create a list of all the 'being' qualities of the person you want to become; that is, the most authentic version of yourself.

For example, you might want to be healthy, be peaceful, and be focused. The next step is to ask yourself, 'what do I need to do to be…?’

Once you establish the choices and changes you need to make, the right goals for 2018 will become clear. To find your motivation, make sure you clarify why you want to achieve each goal.

In addition to setting your 2018 goals into achievable weekly and monthly timeframes with realistic action plans, it’s also important to make specific goals for each area of your life, such as:

• Business/work/education
• Health and Fitness
• Finance and Wealth
• Social and Friends, Romance
• Recreation
• Contribution
• Self Image

Becoming the best version of ourselves isn't an overnight job, and every year will have its ups and downs. Our personal growth depends on us embracing change and accepting challenges, and the best way to speed up the process of growth is to go outside of your comfort zone deliberately.

It may be a little unpleasant at the time, but developing a growth mindset allows us to be open and adaptive in our daily lives. As a result, it becomes much easier to deal with the challenges life throws our way, meaning we can easily move on to bigger and better things.

So, in 2018; conquer your fears, take some risks and overcome the barriers that were holding you back in 2017.

Whether you’re a seasoned world nomad or an annual adventurer, make sure you travel somewhere completely new in 2018. It doesn’t matter whether you travel to the other side of the world, or to the unexplored end of your hometown, venturing into the unknown and exploring a new place helps us to learn and grow.

Our travels introduce us to new ideas and expand our awareness of the world around us. It helps us gain perspective, insight and understanding. New places provide us with a new 'first-time' experience, which ignites our curiosity and awakens our inner child.

It's great for our mental health and even helps us to break old mental, physical and emotional habits. Travelling somewhere new is an opportunity to get lost, face our fear of the unknown and get to know ourselves better.

In 2018, spend your money on new experiences, rather than new 'things.' Better yet, embrace a less-but-better perspective towards all areas of your life, and reap the benefits of meaningful simplicity.

Decluttering our living spaces and reducing our possessions down to the items that genuinely add value to our lives, is just the beginning of the Minimalist lifestyle.

Although it may seem daunting to some, minimalism is so liberating and empowering, with so many benefits in all areas of life, from health to finance - so try it out in 2018.

Creativity is the most important human quality that we all have within us, but many of us deny ourselves the opportunity for creative expression in our adult lives. In the words of Pablo Picasso, 'every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up.'

There are so many ways to get creative, from starting a photography blog to taking an art class, or even writing a novel. Maybe 2018 is the year you decide to dust off that musical instrument you learned in school, or perhaps begin learning a new one?

Whichever r creative pursuits attract you, remember - it's about expressing yourself. You don't need to be creating masterpieces to enjoy the benefits of artistic expression.

Making time for the special people in your life leads to a more compassionate way of living

Spending quality time with your loved ones is the best way to let them know you care. Getting together at Christmas is great, but maintaining meaningful connections with friends and family throughout the new year is what’s really important. Making time for the special people in your life leads to a more compassionate way of living, as you cultivate empathy for yourself and others.

In addition to our loved ones, new people also come into our lives at different points along our journey for a reason. Some of them come along to teach us valuable lessons, while others form a support network as they learn similar life lessons.

Perhaps 2018 is the year to get back in the dating game, or join a new sports team or university club? Just remember that when you’re doing the things you love, the right people will come into your life. Do what makes you happy and stay open to new connections in 2018.

There is an indisputable link between human beings and all other living systems, and this is why we have an innate love for the natural world. It’s well known that spending time in nature has amazingly positive effects on our physical and mental health, and yet, we struggle to make time for it.

Make 2018 the year you absorb the healing vibrations of the oceans, rainforests, and our beautiful animal friends. Here are 10 important reasons to get outdoors more in 2018.

Writing down our thoughts at the end of each day is a super helpful habit that reduces mental clutter

Writing down our thoughts at the end of each day is a super helpful habit that reduces mental clutter and enables us to see the day’s events and interactions with clarity.

This is separate to a gratitude journal, and is a therapeutic and constructive way to cope with stress and challenging situations, as well as being great for getting our creative ideas down in writing. There are so many reasons to keep a journal in 2018 - here are 5.  

In 2018, stay true to your authentic self and follow your plan for the year, but remain flexible enough to adapt to the unforeseeable.

While we can make positive choices each day to chip away at our goals and create our own amazing reality, the beauty of life lies in the unknown and the unexpected.

Bonus Tip - go with the flow!

Some things remain outside of our control, so sometimes the best thing to do is to go with the flow; it may lead you somewhere more incredible than you could have ever imagined.