The twinkle of Christmas excitement and the sparks of the celebratory fireworks are starting to fade away. This can only mean one thing; it’s the New Year! Thanks to Scriptoeris’ invaluable advice on what to wear, where to go and what to do for the end of year festivities, you’ve bid farewell to 2013 and welcomed 2014 in style. Now, where to go from here?
Scrapbook your life
Have you eliminated chocolate from your diet? Have you spent your Christmas money on special offers at your local gym? Because of this, are you already planning excuses to get out of ambitious plans to look perfect from now until eternity? It’s January and the world is telling us we should be skinnier, prettier, healthier and smarter without taking account of those thinking about all these things when they needn’t worry. That’s right, I’m talking about you.
It’s time for a new approach. Let’s be healthy, but starting with a healthy mindset. We all live our lives by the things we look forward to; they set us straight when we’re wondering away from the straight and narrow. Let’s make 2014 a year to look back on for all the right reasons. It’s time to build a year on good memories rather than fad diets and exercise regimes. Here’s how:
Make a list
Whether it’s a list of friends, who you’d like to visit, but the train tickets are often too expensive, or a show you’d like to see, a park you’d like to have a picnic in then write it everything down. Have in mind, not the things that will be more impressive to other people, but things you would like to look back on as memories that you wouldn’t change for the world.
Check it twice… (Christmas is still in the back of our minds right?)
Rationalise which ones you’ll be able to save for and which are the most important. Have in mind a realistic timescale, and space out the more expensive treats with low-budget ones. You know, having a bake-off with your friends can sometimes bring about as much laughter as a night out on a boozy holiday!
Scrimp and save
Ever since I saved for my prom dress by putting every £2 coin I came across into a piggy bank, I’ve remained a firm believer of saving a particular coin/note so that you hardly notice putting money aside. However, pick the brains of your friends for ideas on how they save money to find something manageable. It’ll definitely help that you’re saving for something your excited about.
Make a Date
It’s time to empty Mr Piggy of his contents and book those train, theatre or gig tickets and make those dreams a reality. Yes, it’s that gratifying moment of unbuttoning the bottom of the piggy bank. Time to spend!
Enjoy the moment
When you finally get to that city you’ve always wanted to spend a weekend in, or the restaurant you’ve always wanted to eat in, enjoy every second. Keep your mind free of the stress of the previous, or even following, weeks and remind yourself of how much you need this break.
It’s all too easy to fall into a moment of deflation after an incredible holiday, an incredible night out or an evening where you laughed until your bodily functions almost came into question. Allow yourself to re-live the experience and maybe write down a quote that made you laugh, print out that unflattering picture with an unfortunately positioned monument in the background, or dig out the leftover postcard that you never ended up sending. Whether each item finds itself actually in a scrapbook, in a photo frame, pinned to a corkboard or simply used as a bookmark, giggling or smiling when you rediscover them might just help you through those not-so-great moments.
Define the year by the positives and you never know, one of these moments really might just define the decade…