
Start the New Year Right with Mindfulness

The New Year Is HERE, it is the perfect time to set goals for yourself and work on
improving your daily habits and routines. One amazing practice to begin is mindfulness.
Here is more information about mindfulness and how to incorporate it into your routine
beginning in the new year.
Mindfulness is more than a trendy world. It's an age-old practice that involves meditation
and focus. Being mindful means you're fully engaged in the present. Although there are
plenty of things in life that can distract you from your goals, by being mindful you will
improve your odds of sticking to your resolutions. Here's how you can use mindfulness
to stick to New Year's resolutions:
Start with a Plan
The first step to focusing on what you need to accomplish is defining what you need to
accomplish. Create a plan on how you'll achieve your New Year's resolution, and then
stick with that plan. You can do this by making a list or setting some milestones for the
year. Once you complete your plan, you'll be ready for the next step which is executing
your plan.
Remember that when you are putting this plan together for your new years resolutions,
you are ensuring it is realistic and attainable. Many resolutions and goals that people
set in the new year fail not out of lack of motivation, but more because they were just
not achievable.
Use the SMART goals method, where you make sure you can measure the results, it is
realistic, attainable, and that you understand the steps required in order to reach that
goal.
Execute Your Plan
Depending on your goal, you may have daily tasks to stick with your resolution. Set
yourself up for success by committing to completing these tasks each day. Make a to do
list, and then focus on your mission. When you're working on a task, set aside all other
distractions and worries. Your plan and your list will keep you on track. Trust yourself
and your goals. Then stay in the moment.
As long as you have a good plan in place, you will be more willing to get it done right.

Envision Yourself Completing Your Goal
Use daily meditation to keep yourself on track. Some people make vision boards, but
meditation is a great way to stay focused. During your mediation, envision yourself
achieving your goal. You can chant your goal out loud if that helps you. But any
committed act that regularly reminds you of your goal will keep you focused on the
prize.
Allow Yourself to Take Breaks

Mindfulness is a matter of being present, and acknowledging ylness is all about staying in the present. If you're constantly thinking about your
resolution and ignoring all else, it won't matter how mindful you are of your resolution.
You will have missed out on a great deal of matters that require mindfulness each day.
By using your plan as a guide, allow yourself to let go of the constant pressure of
achieving your goals. Trust that your plan will be successful and stay in the moment. It
doesn't matter if that moment is movie night with friends or a goal-related task.
Open Yourself to Opportunity

By practicing mindfulness, you'll be ready and open to opportunities that come your
way. You never know who or what may help you achieve your resolutions. So enter
each experience with an open mind and an open heart. You'll be surprised how many
new experiences may shape your year.
Your New Year's resolution may change as you maintain mindfulness. Remember that
mindfulness itself can be a goal. Enjoy the journey.
Why Mindfulness Helps?
If you don't understand this part quite yet, here is a little explanation of how mindfulness
works, and how it can really help with your resolutions.

Mindfulness is a matter of being present, and acknowledging your current thoughts or
how you feel. You are not forcing positive thoughts, and you aren't trying to push them
out of your mind. This is not meditation where you need a clear head.
It is okay if those negative thoughts come into your mind, as long as they are only
relevant to this moment in time. If you are trying o be mindful while eating because you
have a goal to lose weight, you shouldn't be thinking about work you have to get done