Top Ten Ways to Start and Maintain a "Good" New Year (Decade)

The best way to have a good year is by living life on a daily basis, letting the good days accumulate, one by one. And it doesn't have to be a New Year's resolution to have a good year or even a good decade.

Start anytime. Now, for instance.

1. Take time, slow down. Be present in your life and mindful of the present.

2. Care for your body, eat well, exercise, and treat yourself to loving, nurturing self-care.

3. Spend quality time with family and friends. Communicate, keep in touch. Say, "I love you." Tell people you appreciate them.

4. Take time throughout the day to renew yourself. Take a walk, read a poem or a good book, listen to music (really listen), and bring beauty into your life. On a monthly basis, take a whole day for yourself — play, treat yourself to something you want to do, and retreat from your daily life. Mark these special days on your calendar (in ink) so you'll be certain to take them.

5. Clean up what needs to be cleaned up. Make amends, fix what's broken, clear away clutter, forgive what needs to be forgiven and let go.

6. Commit to a project you really want to do or to learning something new or attaining something you want. Commitment is the first step. Then set achievable goals and work toward them on a daily basis.

7. Give yourself to a cause, volunteer at a nonprofit organization, your professional association, a community group, your church, or lend a hand to an individual or family who could use your help.

8. Practice your spirituality, in whatever form you express it, on a daily basis.

9. Laugh every day.

10. Take time to dream.

Kristine A. Hodsdon RDH, BS
Director, RDH eVillage