**Tips for a Fresh Start in the New Year**

Tips for Renewal in the New Year

Only a few days left until entering 2022… Nearly all of us are evaluating the year that has passed with excitement, happiness, sadness, regret and hope... We are making new resolutions for the new year and beginning to implement our plans accordingly… Because for many of us, the new year means a fresh start! There is a common reason why we review our lives each year; to live a happier and more peaceful life! Seren Öztoprak Kılıç, Specialist Clinical Psychologist at Acibadem Maslak Hospital, noted that the new year, a new age, and in fact every new day is a good opportunity to set goals for ourselves, "Do not wait for special days to make good starts regarding your life. Dates are not under your control. If you cannot control a new day, month and year, you can control the change in yourself. But if you wish, your dreams will come true and change will begin." Specialist Clinical Psychologist Seren Öztoprak Kılıç, explained what we need to pay attention to and what we need to avoid in order to be happy for a lifetime; she offered important advice!

Make 'Realistic' Plans

Your first step should be to clarify the issue from the past year that bothers you the most. Specialist Clinical Psychologist Seren Öztoprak Kılıç then draws attention to the need to set realistic goals on the subject and explains her suggestions as follows: "Having more expectations than your needs will negatively affect your progress. Therefore, you should make plans compatible with your life. Setting goals suited to your interests and abilities will make it easier for you to succeed. What matters is knowing what you want and being able to discuss whether it is suitable for you, as well as being able to work hard for it. When setting goals, make sure you decide only on goals you can achieve. Otherwise, goals cannot be more than postponed dreams for the next year.

Make Your Goals Concrete!

Pay attention to your goal being realistic. Plans that are difficult to achieve, such as "I will lose 10 kilograms a month," are not meaningful goals; they can lead you back to square one. Also, do not neglect to question why you gained weight. Is unhappiness, comfort, despair or hunger driving you to overeat? Or are you living a sedentary life? If you identify what the reality is, you will be taking steps toward your goal.

Saying "I Want" Is Very Important

One of the most important factors in your plan's success is being able to say "I want this" and defining it correctly. For example; what do you want to achieve, what do you want to happen? and so on!

Write Down Your Plan

Specialist Clinical Psychologist Seren Öztoprak Kılıç warns, "Not planning is planning for failure," and continues as follows: "Create a timeline for your goals. Prepare a written plan regarding how much time you will take to implement them and place a checkmark next to each goal you achieve. This way you will see what you have accomplished and become motivated"

Break Down Large Goals Into Smaller Pieces

Determine your long-term goals and the sub-tasks you need to do to reach this goal, that is, your short-term goals. If you have goals that span a wide period, break them down into smaller pieces. Place each piece in your action plan according to the dates when it could happen. Place your main goal at the end.

Clear and Positive Definitions Matter

Use clear sentences when setting your goals; being clear makes it easier to develop various strategies and tactics to reach your goal. Therefore, instead of saying "I will save money this year," say "I will set aside this much money every week." Instead of "I will go dancing this year," construct the sentence as "I will go dancing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this year." Specialist Clinical Psychologist Seren Öztoprak Kılıç also points out that when implementing your goals, you need to ensure that your sentences contain positive language, "Because our thoughts turn into words, our words turn into actions, and how we think eventually begins to evolve. For this reason, using positive language is a very effective tool for being happier, more peaceful and more successful. For example; instead of saying 'I will not eat heavy foods from now on,' prefer the sentence 'I will eat a vegetable-based diet from now on'" she says.

Believe in Yourself

Continue to maintain a positive attitude about what you do; trust yourself. Share your goals with those close to you, because sharing is the best way to interact! Also, make sure your conversations are based more on goals you have achieved rather than on those you have not.

Hang Your Goals Where You Can See Them!

Write down exactly what you want to achieve on a piece of paper and hang it where you can see it every day. This will be a reminder to you about what you need to focus on. For example, instead of writing "I will spend time with my family" and hanging your note above the refrigerator, hang it on the wall directly across from where you enter your home and be clear: "I will eat with my family at least once every two weeks," for instance.

Never Lose Your Faith

"Remember that setbacks can always happen. You may have broken the diet you started on Monday evening. But this does not mean you cannot start again on Tuesday" reminds Specialist Clinical Psychologist Seren Öztoprak Kılıç, and she continues her remarks as follows: "When you slip, do not lose your faith and motivation. As long as you keep trying, you will see results. Just do not give up on your effort! When babies transition from crawling to walking, they fall an average of 200-250 times. Each fall is a reason to get back up. Every failure is experience and learning on the path to success"

Take Responsibility

Life does not always give us everything we want. However, making your goals come true is in your hands. You should realize this, know your responsibilities and act accordingly.

Rewards Matter

Recognize your achievements and take pride in yourself. Reward yourself with a small gift for each goal you reach. For example; a cup, a book, a decorative item! This way you will motivate yourself and be more consistent.

Get Help If You Need It

In accomplishing your goals; get help from your children, your spouse, your family, or even a specialist in the subject if necessary. This way you will not be deprived of the support you will receive from your closest ones.