Clean out your closet.

You may be unknowingly hoarding negativity in your closet. Pull out every single piece of clothing you own and take a real look at how it makes you feel.

Do you have pieces that remind you of a sad or difficult time in your life? If so, those pieces have got to go! Pulling a dress from your closet that reminds you of a time when things in your life weren’t going so well is depressing. You want to be sure that every option of clothing you own brings you positive vibes only.

Are you saving your favorite jeans from five years ago? The ones that are too small right now but would fit if you could lose those last ten pounds? Keep it real with yourself. Women’s bodies change! Sometimes, it doesn’t have anything to do with weight; our actual body shape changes as we age. So ten pounds or not, those jeans from five years ago are probably never going to fit the same way again. Every time you try them on, you’ll only find yourself disappointed. Who needs that? Stop punishing yourself! Please get rid of them! 

Don’t forget, one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure. Sell your good stuff to local second-hand shops or online sites like TheRealReal and make a few unexpected bucks. Then take everything else and donate it to a local church, homeless shelter, or nonprofit organization like Dress for Success. Giving back is a great way to bring more positivity to your life in 2020.

Designate “me-time.”

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have alone time, but like everything else in your life, you’re going to have to schedule it in. Although we’re getting better, as women, we tend to put everyone else’s needs before our own. So what’s the problem with leaving yourself last on your to-do list? The likelihood of getting that “me-time” diminishes. Pick an hour, pick a day, pick a weekend but take time for yourself, schedule it, let your family, friends, and colleagues know you’re off-limits and stick to the schedule you set.

Self-care looks different for everyone. For some of us, it might mean pampering ourselves with long hot showers, body scrubs, hair masks, and face rolling. For some, it might mean an hour of power yoga, a weekly manicure, a boozy brunch with the girls, or a cooking class. There is no wrong way to spend your “me-time,” this is about what you need to make you feel better mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Start 2020 by dedicating one specific day a week where you can find one hour to do you and schedule it in early enough in the day so that you can get it done. For example, I love “self-care Sundays” because you get your “me-time” at the top of the week, setting you up for success for the rest of the days to come!

P.S. On a daily level try to find 30 minutes at any point of your day to take some for you, as well.

Let go of toxic friendships.

Maintaining adult friendships takes a lot of work. They take an immense amount of effort, time, and energy. Both parties need to commit to bringing all three to the table consistently. 2020 is the perfect time to re-evaluate your friendships.

Competitive friends, friends who love to keep score—those who are not sympathetic to your feelings, needs, or woes are people you need to bid au revoir. Although it can be tough, it’s absolutely okay and healthy to let go of toxic people in your life. Any friend who does not celebrate your success or cheerlead your cause is self-absorbed! Send them on their way!

Beware of friends who purposely makes others feel lesser than and friends who gossips behind other friend’s backs. Those friends are what I call secret mean girls. It’s only a matter of time till they’re behaving that exact way behind your back.

Sometimes it’s hard to identify a toxic friendship. Without taking serious stock, you might not even notice that you’re in one. Or maybe you’ve only just seen a friend’s true colors. Removing yourself from friendships that aren’t one hundred percent full of love and support not only cleans up the energy around you but also allows you extra time to invest in more meaningful relationships.

Resolutions are fun to make, and if you can stick to them kudos to you, but real growth happens when there are long-term changes. While the above discussion points aren’t exactly resolutions, these three acts will, without a doubt, start 2020 off to a fresh start.