5 Ways to Start the New Year Fresh
{Photo Credit: Elle.com}
It’s time to kiss 2011 goodbye and throw your jacket over your shoulder – 2012 is here! But if you’re nervous about dipping your toes into the New Year, or don’t know where to start when starting over, don’t worry. With these 5 tips to help you start the year off fresh, you’ll be armed and ready to tackle everything under the sun and then some.
Freshen Up Your Dorm or Apartment
Finals week definitely knows how to do its damage, so don’t feel bad if you hightailed out of town afterward and left your space looking like a deserted battleground. But before school life picks up again, set aside some time to re-spruce! Deep cleaning and adding new touches to your room can help cleanse your mind and melt away stress …not to mention give you an inspirational boost to start 2012 right.
In addition to vacuuming and reorganizing your pad, here are some mini-changes you can make to get ready for the New Year:
- Swap your sheets. If you’ve been sticking to a simple white for the past few months, why not try a soothing green or a more daring pop of pink?
- Switch up your decor. Hang up new photos, add some flowers to your nightstand, and make room for the great new memories you’ll be making this year.
- Light a scented candle. Or buy an air freshener, to add crispness and zen to your newly-cleaned oasis.
De-clutter Your Wardrobe
{Photo Credit: Elle.com}
This was one of our fashion resolutions for 2012 but we wanted to reiterate it here – yes, it’s that important!
You know those pieces you always glaze over when picking an outfit? Now’s a perfect time to toss them. If you can change over time, so can your taste – it’s OK to fall out of love with clothes and accessories you once adored. And nobody said this had to be a depressing experience! Plug in your favorite playlist and give yourself one last fashion show. That way, you can gauge how you really feel about each dress and every top before making your final decision.
Not comfortable with throwing your old frocks away? (After all, you liked them enough to wear them at one point …) Consider these two alternatives:
- Sell them to a thrift store. See if you can locate a shop in your area which buys back used clothes; two popular and more national options are Plato’s Closet and Buffalo Exchange. There’s no guarantee that they’ll buy back everything, but it’s worth a shot – especially if you want to make some extra money.
- Donate them. Locate a Salvation Army or local shelter, or research some charities which accept clothing. Giving back for a good cause is always internally rewarding!
Switch up your Look
{Photo Credit: Elle.com}
If your everyday get-ready routine has gotten a little blah, the New Year is the perfect time to experiment with hair, makeup, and – of course – fashion! You don’t have to go mad scientist in terms of extremity, but simply trying new styles can help you discover a new look you love. Try these tips out to add some spice to your image:
- Paint your nails. There are no boundaries with nails. On top of color, there are countless cool effects, funky designs, and pretty patterns you can try.
- Play with makeup. If you tend to stick with neutrals, why not opt for a sultry smoky eye or colored liner? If you don’t like it, you can always just wash your face and start over again.
- Try on something you wouldn’t usually wear. A closet clean-out is the perfect excuse to at least go window shopping … but instead of heading to your staple stores, go somewhere that doesn’t fit with your usual taste. You could end up discovering a new favorite piece, and the best part is it’s 100% free to try things on.
- Get a haircut. Whether you’re overdue for a trim or want a whole new ‘do, changing your hair can make you feel like a whole new woman. And if you’re feeling extra daring, take it to another level: ring in the new year with some highlights or a whole new color all together.
Focus on the Positive
Life isn’t always peaches and cream. We all dip below the surface sometimes, and feel small when things turn for the worse. But the way we feel about ourselves, other people, and our situations can turn around with a simple flip in perception. So here are some things to keep in mind which will brighten your outlook and keep your spirits lifted, no matter the circumstance:
- Realize that you are in control of you. You can’t always predict what will happen in your life, but you can control how you respond to it. The classic “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” proverb applies here – so take back your power, and preserve it!
- Catch yourself when you begin to think negatively. Wallowing in depressive thoughts has a snowball effect – once you get in too deep, pulling yourself out proves that much harder. It’s OK to momentarily feel blue about something, but after you acknowledge your feelings, redirect them so you can move on.
- Meditate. Sometimes you just have to drop what you’re doing and realign. Giving yourself as little as 5 minutes a day to clear your head can do wonders for improving your mood! To learn more, check out our basic guide to meditation for college students.
Make a Vision Board
{Photo Credit: Elle.com}
To help aid in your mental cleanse, put together a vision board, a collage that displays all of your personal and professional goals, as well as things you love. Tear out magazine pages, cut out quotes, tack on encouraging writing clips. Fill every corner with pictures of friends and family, books you want to read, and places you want to go.
For the rest of the year, this vision board will serve as your inspirational touchstone – whenever you need a pick me up or physical reminder to keep on going. The New Year is filled with endless opportunities, and ample time to accomplish your dreams. So don’t hold back in making this your own – no aspiration is too wild!
Thoughts?
What do you plan on doing to start off the New Year? What do you hope to accomplish? How do you plan on getting there? Leave a comment and let me know!
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Posted on on January 1, 2012 / Filed Under: College Life / Tags: 2012, Featured, Inspiration, Life, New Year's
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Chloe
These are great tips! Today I am cleaning out my closet, cleaning up and redoing my bedroom, and I always have candles burning haha =)
Holly
i got bangs to ring in the new year. i got tons of compliments last night at the party! great tips :)
E
I’ve got a bunch of new stuff to hang up on my walls, and I’ve got hair dye that I’m planning to make use of this week. This new year is gonna be a fun one, and I’m starting it off with a bang! change is necessary, and there’s no better time than when the calendar rolls over.
C
I have been wanting to make an inspiration board! I will have to do that, and I low that you put in the focus on the positive because I needed that right now my morning started off awful and I have places to be today so thanks for that! Great post! ;)
dancergrl94
I love all these suggestions.
Already organized my closet this weekend/donated some items and I’m looking into developing a signature style and getting a completely different haircut over the next 6 months, before college.
Cannot wait to have a fashion forward year!
Cathlene
Great suggestions! 2011 was a year with lots of ups and downs, and I’m looking forward to this new start.
I want to make a suggestion for anyone interested in putting together a vision board. If you’re unsure of whether you want a tangible board, or if you’re more of the online image collector rather than a magazine clipper, I HIGHLY suggest Pinterest.com. You can upload or “pin” infinite amounts of images that inspire you, and you can search other people’s boards and pins for inspiration, and follow the boards of anyone whose taste you like!
And it’s definitely not limited to fashion; if you want to find new DIY projects, home or wedding inspiration, or really anything you can think of, Pinterest can accomodate. So, try it!!
natasha
Don’t throw away ALL of your old clothes, though. I just dug through my aunt’s cluttered closet and found some awesome, in style clothes from the 80s and 90s. You never know when something will come back into fashion, so for those really expensive or high-quality pieces, maybe storage is the answer.
Camille
This is great advice! I already made a vision board on my fashion blog! I know I’ll be looking to it throughout the year for loads of inspiration!
Mallory
I just brought a bunch of old unwanted clothes and other stuff by Goodwill the other day — since we got some new things for Christmas, I’m trying to balance it out by purging some of the stuff we don’t really use or wear any more. I’ve also been cleaning up and organizing my office space – trying to get a fresh start on the new year!
Katie
Such a great post!! It was speaking to me! :) I definitely left my apartment a mess after finals, but came back before the New Year to clean, clean, clean! Beyonce has been my musical inspiration to deep clean the carpets, purge my closet of unwanted items, hang new pictures, etc. etc. Great way to start the New Year! Thank you for more ideas…I’ve been wanting to make a vision board for years and this year, I’m going to finally do it! <3
Carla
I love this blog!.. These ideas are very inspiring. I’ve been to plato’s closet before. They really didn’t give much but i said i was going to go back again or go to the other cosignment stores in my area. I’ve already cut my hair but i’m seriously thinking of dying my hair another color. I shared this post with my friends because i felt as though they all should start out just as i am. I’m hoping to print this out and cut pieces out and put on my vision board!. Thanks for all the suggestions.
Mz.T
Greatttt article!!! Read the whole thing!! And took notess!! Fresh start to New Year!
Amanda - University of Texas at Austin
Cathlene – thanks for the tip! I’ve heard great things about Pinterest (pretty sure it’s similar to tumblr). Definitely comes in handy for finding inspiration easily.
natasha – good point … I’d say only toss the things you 100% absolutely know you won’t EVER wear again. Though storage is another good alternative, especially if you have sentimental or pricey items you’re on the fence about. It doesn’t hurt to drop them off when you make trips home.
C – thanks lady … hope you’re feeling better today!
Carla – I feel you – there’s a Buffalo in Austin, and they’re super, SUPER picky about what they buy back. And that’s sweet of you, thank you :)
And to the rest of you girls, thanks as well, I appreciate the feedback and I’m glad you enjoyed the post! Do us proud this year with rocking your hot new hair colors & cuts, refreshing your dorms (in style, with your awesome playlists), cleaning out your closets, and putting together your inspiration boards. And of course let us know if you have any questions, or want to update us with your progress!
marnee
A vision board! Its genius. Just watch two broke girls. It worked for them :D
Yesenia
This post was great! Just what I needed to start the New Year the right way. I just wanted to do so many things, but didn’t know where to start and you just helped me with these amazing suggestions. Thank you so much!
Amanda - University of Texas at Austin
Thanks ladies! Glad to help.
Also GaptoothDiva … absolutely adore your Vision Board. It’s an awesome balance of fashion and motivation all mixed into one.
Cassandra Van Hout
This is great advise. Meditation has gotten me out of many bad moods and stress from midterms! It is a highly recommended activity! :)