It’s a new year again and probably most New Year’s Resolutions had something to do with bettering yourself –  Making a commitment to go to the gym, to eat healthier, to be a better person.

 Are you still sticking to your New Year’s Resolution or have you already forgotten about it?

Here are 7 tips to help get you started!

1.  Create a List of Five Things That Make You Happy

Personal happiness has more to do with how you spend your time and what you think about than external circumstances, says Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want.

 Prepare a list of the simple life events that make you feel good-smiling at strangers, sipping the perfect cup of coffee, taking a walk with friends. commit to at least one mood-boosting act every day.

2.  Cut Calories, Not Taste

Swap high-calorie ingredients for healthier options, says nutrition and wellness coach Mona Laru.  Try Greek yogurt as a spread instead of mayonnaise, portobello mushroom steaks rather than beef, red peppers on pizza in lieu of pepperoni, and applesauce for your baking in place of more caloric oil.

3.  Quit Waffling on Your Decisions

Wash your hands to help you stop questioning a decision. according to Spike W.S. Lee and Norbert Schwarz, psychology researchers at the University of Michigan. “Cleansing appears to remove not just physical residues, but ‘mental’ residues, such as the concern about whether one made the right choice,” says Lee.

4.  Sharpen Your Short-Term Memory

First, eliminate distractions like TV, says Marc Berman of the Rotman Research Institute in Toronto.  Then organize the data you’re committing to memory so that similar facts aren’t grouped together.

For instance, if you’re trying to memorize two phone numbers, you’re more likely to succeed if you focus on a different type of task in between.

5.  Strengthen Relationships

Pay attention to the small things your family and friends do for you. In a recent study, couples recorded the gratitude they felt for their partners, whether it was for taking the kids to soccer practice or shoveling the driveway.  

The subjects reported feeling more connected to their loved ones for 24 hours afterward.

6.  Get Organized About Paying Bills

Go digital, says Emily Wilska, founder of the Organized Life. “Having bills automatically paid from your bank account or charged to a credit card can mean fewer checks to send.” Opting for electronic statements will also cut the clutter.

7.  Stop Dwelling on Past Mistakes

We’ve all tripped on a stair or fumbled a word, but as you replay the mistake in your head, chances are everyone see has moved on. “It’s likely they’ve experienced the same types of disaster and are empathetic,” says Thomas D. Gilovich of Cornell University.

Not convinced? Try to remember the last time you saw someone stumble.  It’s easier recalling your own blunders, isn’t it?

These are just a few of the many things that you can do!  You don’t have to exactly follow this list.  Take some time and give some thought to some of the things that you may want to change this year!

Author: Better Each Day: 365 Expert Tips for a Healthier, Happier You