A Monthly Guide To A Stress-Free Year

Of all the things in this world worth stressing over, most of those we find ourselves worrying about aren’t worth the energy. Instead, take some time to make personal goals that you need to achieve for yourself, and learn how to reach those goals while maintaining a healthy, positive attitude, all year long. 

Without further ado, here’s a month-by-month guide to help you have a stress-free year:

1. February: Your finances

While you may not be one of those who “balance your checkbook” in terms of specifically keeping track of every transaction through your bank, the beginning of the year is the best time to really go through your bank statement and see what in the year previous you could now do without.

Don’t watch as much Netflix? Are there stacks of unread magazine subscriptions cluttering your nightstand? Particularly in regards to services that withdraw money monthly, see if you can cut any out to free up some extra cash.

February is, unfortunately, time to start thinking about taxes. While I agree the thought makes us all groan on the inside, instead think about the tax return you likely have waiting for you, and all the things you can do with it. Finally take a trip, buy that dress you saw at the mall last week, treat your significant other or best friend to a nice day out. (And, even better, should you need time off of work for your lavish vacationing, there’s a “where’s my refund?” site online to give you more advanced notice.)

2. March: Your finances (but, for the future)

Alright, so you’re back from your tax-return funded vacation, new tan and all, and you’ve purged your bank account of all the extra monthly money-grubs. So why am I hounding you again about money?

Namely, this is something I, myself, have had on my mind for a while now, and I want to make sure I tell everyone else I know who might be in a similar situation. That situation is, of course, retirement.

“What? Retirement?” you ask yourself, glancing into a nearby mirror to make sure you haven’t suddenly aged 50 years.

Yes, retirement. How many family members or elderly neighbors do you know who are forced to live check to social security check, rely on support from their children, or resort to some other undesirable solution to appease their dire financial straights?

With the economy as it is, (and potentially where it’s headed), I’m appalled there isn’t more of a push for the younger generation to be thinking about retirement sooner rather than later. You don’t need a full-time job to begin saving for retirement, and in fact, several corporations offering part-time jobs to students, also offer 401K contributions.

On top of this, not only will you be looking out for your older self, but potentially also your significant other, and possible children. For now, I’ll only bug you about retirement plans. Next time, it’ll be life insurance. Or becoming a homeowner. Or paying off your students loans. Wow, growing up sounds like a real drag. While, of course, I concede that a person’s 20’s should be their “selfish years,” I certainly also suggest you slip a small paycheck percentage into your retirement fund every now and again. Your 60-year-old self will thank you.

3. April: Spring cleaning

Although the first day of Spring is technically March 20, as you may recall, in March we were busy picturing our elderly selves sitting back on an expensive yacht thanks to our excessive retirement funds.

So instead, April is our month for spring cleaning, or, as I like to think about it: reason to throw away all of the things I hoarded like a squirrel during the winter.

Spring cleaning applies to more than just tidying up indoors and removing the clutter, of course. With the weather finally warm enough to brave the outdoors with only a cardigan, opportunities open up for outside projects, too.

Miami-based Real Estate Expert Susan Rindley offers a number of ideas for sprucing up around the house, a few including:

• Paint the exterior if it’s beginning to show some wear and tear
• Touch up the trim around your doors and windows
• Clear dead leaves and other blockages from your rain gutters

However, if you’re renting your home or live in an apartment, there are still ways to make the most of your springtime cleanup (even if it mostly only helps clear the S.A.D from your mind):

• Change the curtains in the kitchen, the mats in the bathroom
• Buy a new comforter/sheets for your bed
• Rearrange your bedroom, front room, kitchen, to mix things up (my dad always said, “a change is as good as a rest”)

4. May: New summer hobbies

With the summer months fast approaching, you may find yourself eager for reason to run outside and bask in the hot rays of the sun (or, if you grew up in the North like me, find the nearest dollar theater with good A/C).

With this in mind, May might be the perfect month to take up a new hobby that summer smiles upon with approval. Whether it be a new sport, like tennis, or something else, like photography, why not take this excuse to dip your toes into something new and exciting, that’ll simultaneously give you the tan you might otherwise pay money for?

5. June: Exercise according to the weather

We’re halfway through the year! How are you feeling?

With the sun at its peak, and temperatures warm and inviting, this is the perfect time of year to go for a weekly hike in the mountains, or a regular run through your neighborhood.

But, if the high temperatures end up being too much for comfort, I’ll suggest something else: consider doing your workouts at night, or early evening, after the sun has gone down. Go for a night run around your neighborhood (safety and pepper spray permitted), or find a nearby campsite that sponsors overnight hiking and sleepovers. While the sun being set might leave you initially nerve-wracked, you might soon come to find there is beauty and calmness in the dark, with only the stars and moon as your companions (and a flashlight, ideally).

6. July: Beat the heat

While in June we talked about avoiding hot afternoon runs by instead hitting the pavement after the sun has gone down, what else are we supposed to do when it’s still high in the sky?

For one, don’t be afraid to show some skin, even if you think you’re too pale, overweight, or unable to pull it off. It’s your body, male or female, and you get to decide for yourself if you rock it or not. (Not to mention, feeling a cool breeze under your arms on a hot day is far more rewarding than the fear your arms don’t cut it in a tank-top. But, if you’re still concerned, there are other ways around that.)

Secondly, enjoy your ice cream, snow-cones, popsicles, and sweet iced tea, calories be damned! (Particularly if the new outdoor hobby you chose in May is a little intensive, you have more than enough to spare.

7. August: Take stock of the year so far

August may perhaps be the most ideal time of the year to take a look back and see how you’re doing, goals, wellness, and mentality in mind. We’re nearing the end, but not so much that it’s too late to make changes. Are you keeping up with the goals you made in January, March, May? Is there anything else you’d like to add to that list, from what you’ve learned so far in trying new things?

If you’ve fallen behind, or stagnated, this is the time to jump back on that horse and get back to work – but not to beat yourself up over it! Explore new ways to motivate yourself, maybe even switch up your goals if they’re no longer exactly what you have in mind for yourself. Everyone falls behind, and real life oftentimes gets in the way of how we want to better ourselves, but right now is the perfect time to prepare for the upcoming new year already going strong!

8. September: A chance at a new start

Student or not, September is always a month filled to the brim with the excitable energy that is a new start. Since grade school, September was a time for new clothes, new backpacks, new friends– and why does that have to change just because you’ve graduated? Look at September as another chance this year to make changes you want to see in yourself – whether it’s to buy a new wardrobe and switch up your style, be more energetic, or be maybe be more attentive to the important people in your life.

9. October: Treat yourself

This year is winding to a close, and from the looks of it, you’ve been working hard!

If you haven’t been keeping up with rewarding yourself, take a chance in October to do just that. Make an exorbitant purchase of something you don’t need (assuming it’s still within your budget!) like a necklace or a new TV you’ve had your eye on. Look back on all the things you’ve done this year, even if they weren’t exactly what you were planning, and even if you haven’t completed everything yet. Take a trip to the spa, take a day off of work to stay home and read a book, focus solely on yourself and everything you’ve accomplished thus far.

10. November: Family gatherings

Every year, the family-oriented holidays really get going in November. Thanksgiving, Black Friday (if you want to consider that a holiday, let alone a family-oriented one), Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa… it seems as if, nonstop, you’re surrounded by family and friends, whether they are welcome guests or not.

While some people in your life might not be the bringers of positive energy you’ve worked all year to cultivate for yourself, and everyone will tell you it’s best to enjoy them for who they are – also know that it’s important for you, and your mental health, to escape once in a while. If a particular family member is driving you nuts, there’s nothing wrong with taking a breather in the back room after you’ve reached your politeness-quota for the day. While you must love them because they’re family, you don’t necessarily have to love the things they say or how they make you feel.

11. December: Thinking outside yourself

So you’ve spent the entire year working to better yourself and your wellbeing. Ideally by this point, whether you met all of your goals or not, big or small, long or short term, you’re feeling good about yourself. You’re ready to take on the world, and the upcoming new year!

However, if you’re still feeling a little less than fulfilled, consider something else this holiday season: serving others. Whether it be giving time to a soup kitchen, donating coats and other amenities to a homeless shelter, offering a forever home to a dog or cat without one, there exists a multitude of ways for you to better both yours and someone else’s life. After all, it was Charles Dickens who said: “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of others.”

Important things to keep in mind

• Forgive yourself if things don’t go as planned – you’re as human as everyone else, you’re expected (and invited!) to make mistakes. After all, you don’t learn anything from being perfect.
• Set goals for yourself, don’t copy someone else’s, or do something for only for their sake.
• Learn to motivate yourself, and how to deal with disappointment if things go awry. Always find ways to pick yourself back up.
• Reward yourself when you’ve earned it, treat yourself nicely when things fall apart.

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with your friends and family, so they too can live a stress-free year. Remember, sharing is caring!

 Main image credit: themindseteffect.wordpress.com