5 Things To Do Before The Clock Strikes Midnight Tomorrow

The concept of a new year is quite an extraordinary thing. I mean, of course at any point in time we can choose to reflect on moments past or ponder those ahead, but December 31st has a sneaky little way of bringing these things to the forefront of our minds on its own. I always find myself buzzing with energy on this very day.

Past experiences flash through my head, bringing about feelings of gratitude as well as the thought, “Whoa. I can’t believe all of that happened in these past 12 months”…  and I get a rush of excitement for what’s to come. This year, I want to make the most of this natural energy that whirls through me on New Year’s Eve. To prepare myself for a year that’s even better than the last, I’ve come up with 5 things I’m going to do tomorrow — although these are things that I think are great to do on any day. Feel free to join me in participating in these 5 things (or your own variations)… and please share anything else you’ll be doing to go into the new year with peace in your heart and a smile on your face.

1. Let go of something. Each moment lived is a moment of accumulation… accumulation of stuff, whether mental or physical. I find that all of this stuff can take really a toll on me, causing me to feel overwhelmed, out of balance, or weighed down. How beautiful it would feel to go into the new year feeling free. To do that, I’m challenging myself to let go of something — more than one thing, actually. First, choose something physical. Look around for an object you own that would be better off in someone else’s possession… and give it to that very person. Just that simple act frees up a bit of physical space… but it also frees up mental space. You’ll no longer have any little feeling of guilt that the object isn’t getting as much attention from you as it once did. Instead, you’ll be happy knowing that it’s in a better place, and that you have given the recipient a little bit of happiness. The next part may be a little harder: I’ll also be letting go of something mental. It could be one bothersome experience that I’ve been unnecessarily carrying with me for weeks, months, even years… or it could be the accumulation of all experiences in general. After all, we already have everything we need right this very moment. Relieving ourselves from carrying past events, judgments, and negative feelings around can give an incredible sense of freedom. It might not be easy, but identifying the need to do this is enough to get you moving in the right direction. Close your eyes, envision what it is that you’d like to let go of. Imagine it as a ball of energy, and let it float away from you. With eyes still closed, watch it float… away, away, away, out into the distance until it’s so tiny that it seems to vanish into the air. Say goodbye. You don’t have to forget about it completely, just realize that you don’t have to let it affect you. Whatever it is, let it go. It’s okay.

2. Treat your body. Our bodies are our very own temples. They’ve been with us since the day we were born, and they’ve certainly gone through so much. Thank your body for all it does for you. Massage it with beautifully smelling oils… Drink a deliciously healthy fresh juice or smoothie… apply a homemade natural face mask… stretch. The greatest thing we can ever do for our bodies is to listen to them with a kind ear… and act accordingly. If your shoes are hurting your feet, take them off. If your hands are cold, pour a steaming hot cup of tea and clasp them tightly around it. Be thankful for another year inside your beautiful skin.

3. Do something different — or differently. Habits. Patterns. We all have them. I think that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing something the same way every time. You’ve found what works for you, why should you change it? But doing something different — or in a different way — for a change can open up more possibilities than you ever knew existed. It doesn’t have to be a big deal, either. Let’s see… after work tomorrow I’ll be setting up for a New Year’s Eve party. I always go to the same spot whenever I need to buy champagne. It’s close to my house, I know the setup of the store, the faces inside are all familiar to me. But maybe tomorrow I’ll go somewhere else! Yes, of course I’ll still end up with the same champagne — and there’s no guarantee that something life-altering will happen while I’m there — but that’s not the point. What’s important is that we’re opening our minds to start creating new possibilities… and taking initiative to make something happen. Who knows? Maybe we’ll end up experiencing something life-changing after all.

4. Write something down. I always find that I sometimes don’t even know what I think until I write it down. Writing is therapeutic, and it’s an incredible way to free our mind from all that stuff I mentioned earlier. Take pen to paper and write something down. Make a list of the new places you explored in the past year… or of the people you met… the things you learned. Write down 5 things you’re greatful for, 4 things you learned about yourself, 3 things you never thought you’d try but did. Write down a goal for the next year. It can be as specific as where you want to be living and with whom and by what date… or it can be as vague as a 4-word phrase. Be nicer to people, perhaps. The simple act of writing one thing down can offer closure to the past, gratitude for what you’ve experienced, and a giant wave of motivation for what’s to come.

5. Celebrate. Ladies and gentlemen, this is New Year’s Eve! It’s undoubtedly a time to celebrate, so celebrate. Get dressed up. Wear a little extra perfume. Go out tomorrow night with more confidence than ever before. Let life flow through you as you dance, laugh, interact, and party with ease, joy, and glory. You’re another year stronger, smarter, wiser, and more — it’s like a birthday, but better… because it’s not just you who’s celebrating the year that’s passed and the one that’s to come, it’s every single person around you. We all did it. Let’s let loose.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Follow FP Brigette on Twitter.