Some wake with a terrible hang-over. Some don’t even wake, they just rumble on from the night before. Others use the day as a starter for the year ahead.

A few years ago a friend of mine took me through his starting ritual. He took the first day of the New Year for himself and retreated to review his bucket list, goals for the year ahead and things to modify and change. Armed with a simple notebook and a pen, he’d find somewhere to walk and reflect. 

Not everyone can pull that off. But you can carve out a few hours to reflect. The Holstee Gang posted this helpful guidebook to get you going.

Eastern religions are full of cleansing rituals. So many in Japan start the New Year with a wholesale clean-out of the possessions they no longer need, value or use.

Western society has institutionalised the generally pointless idea of the New Year’s resolution. I’ve yet to meet one that’s stuck with me. Resolutions largely don’t work because they are framed as goals (like, lose weight) as opposed to things you are resolved to do that result in you achieving goals (like, eliminate all processed sugar). So, if you are going to resolve to do something, make it something that aligns to a broader goal – generally the more specific, actionable and measurable the better.

Think about how you are going to kick the New Year off. Its a great time for renewal.