How Not to Stress Out at New Year's

Unlike most people, I love the new year. I'm a list writer and a goal setter, and I love to take a look at a fresh, unsullied year and make a bunch of plans.

That's because I know the secret of New Year's resolutions - you resolve to get rid of stuff in your life, not add it.

Sit down and think of the clutter in your head - there's tons of it. Make some lists. Start crossing some stuff off, with permission not to beat yourself up. What's wasting your time? Making you feel bad? What have you assigned yourself that feels like a make-work project? (I'm always baffled by "I have to watch the entire series of XX Show" or "I have to read the entire XX series of books." Says who?)

So I rearranged my priorities and, surprisingly, some of it was easy to get rid of. Here's the stuff I don't need in life:

Writing conferences. Given the time and the expense, I don't see myself going to one of these for about five years. I have a local chapter and I can get the CD's. That has to do.

Day job overtime. This isn't just after-hours work, but it also means lunch hour work. Usually I work through my lunch hour and this has got to stop. I'm taking my breaks from now on to read, write, and recharge.

Night courses. I love to learn new stuff but if I take night courses, both my relationship and my health suffer (evenings are my only gym time and I really don't get enough exercise without the gym.) I think I'll take a look at a weekend seminar instead.

Doctor appointments. There are too many of these in life for someone who has exactly nothing wrong with her. Yearly checkup and dentist every six months - everything else can wait.

So, I pared it down to the important stuff:

The guy. He's time-consuming, but he's worth it.

My health. This sounds like a contradiction because of the doctor thing, but I have to commit to be active. I've been doing this for two years now and it really works. The trick is to make the time and stick to it. Oh, and you have to commit to eating healthy. It's hard.

Writing. Has to be a priority to keep me sane. I'm trying a daily word-counter for the next few months.

Reading. It's easy to think of it as a guilty pleasure, but it's important for writing, and just important overall. Again, to keep me sane.

Trying new stuff. I think I'll try ice skating and writing sci fi, to start. After that, who knows?

Happy 2007,
Abby