There are several things to get rid of in the new year and that shouldn’t follow you into a time that’s full of clean slates and new moments! Think of it as a new year life cleanse. Every year, we start by making new goals and moving closer towards our dreams. But, do we also spend the same amount of time clearing the way for all those good things to happen? Let’s create some space in our lives for the great things to come by getting rid of the things that should’ve been left in past. And, after you’ve detoxed and declutter your life, check out these 31 things you can do to be happier and healthier in the new year!
01. Toxic people
This is #1 for a reason. It’s 2018. You have full permission to live your life without keeping the people who drag you down. There are over 7 billion in this world. Decide to stop making time for those who are chronically negative, energy-draining, and/or out-and-out cruel. It may not feel good or easy to do this, but you will breathe easier afterwards. Here’s a guide on how to spot and remove toxic people from your life.
02. Anything you haven’t touched in 6 months
In our household, we have a “6 month rule”. Anything we haven’t touched or used in the last 6 months gets sold, donated, or tossed. This includes clothes, appliances, makeup, decor, etc. It’s probably easiest to do this with clothes and I know I do this most frequently with clothes. However, you may find that other things can fall into this category. For example, do you use all your appliances and gadgets in your kitchen or are there some that haven’t seen love in awhile? This method helps reduce waste and clears up clutter and space in our home; both of which are great ways to enter a new year.
03. Bad habits
Avoiding exercise. Drinking too much on the weekends. Throwing your budget out the window with payday. We all know what our bad habits are because we’ve probably tried multiple times to rid them. As someone who battles anxiety, one of my worst habits is nail biting, which is something that has become easier to manage over time. The thing about bad habits is that you have to work extra hard to break them since they act like a part of your regular routine. Each bad habit you nix is more room for a good habit and a better life.
04. Subscriptions
Many of us may have other subscriptions that we don’t even use. Email subscriptions clog our inbox on a daily basis. Even though it may take a bit of time, it is worth going through the unopened emails and unsubscribing to ones that are too annoying and don’t provide value. Most of those emails from large companies containing “great deals” are still available without an email notification if you just go to their site. Get rid of your gym membership if you haven’t been in months. Magazines piling up? Cancel those subscriptions, too. Turn off social media notifications on your phone. Focus on decluttering your life on this microlevel and watch that sense of overwhelm slowly dissipate.
05. Old items
How old is your mascara? When was the last time you replaced your toothbrush? Are there things in your pantry, fridge, or freezer that are past the use-by date? Now is a great time to weed through things that you probably should’ve thrown out long ago. Mostly used bottles of product should be tossed. Any condiments that were bought a year ago should make their way to a trashcan. When was the last time you actually replaced your foundation? Yep, makeup expires. And, while your making your way through the old items, now is a great time to do a bit of spring cleaning and tidy as you go!
These are the top 5 things to get rid of in the new year to start your year refreshed and rejuvenated! January is the perfect time to take inventory and start the year off on the right foot by creating more space for the things that bring joy and love and getting rid of the things that don’t. What things are you getting rid of in the new year?