3 Strategies When Starting a New Year is Scary Instead of Exciting

I, like many others, am hopeful and motivated to start the new year. But underneath that hope also lies fear.

This seemingly unshakeable nervousness that this year is simply going to be the same level of hard and stressful as the two years before.

 You start to think that you don't have the skills to change how things are. You just can't do it.

Thoughts from what others have told you about yourself come creeping back into your mind, like "you're unmotivated and lazy" or "you never finish things."

Your confidence shakes, and it's hard to get excited about the potential of this blank slate of a year.

You can tell yourself that you're so excited and put on a happy face, but you know deep down that starting yet another failure of a year looms in the back of your mind.

Just me?

I don't think I'm alone, so if you are feeling this way right now, then I've got some strategies for you to try to help change that fear into the excitement you deserve to feel.

1. Do a letting go ritual

At the end of the new year, I like to hold a 'letting go' or 'getting rid of' ritual. Everything I am ready to release and keep in 2022 goes on a list. And I mean everything.

Once you have everything you want on that list... Burn it...

 [Did I stutter? I said burn... it]

Obviously, do this safely, but seriously burn it. Because you're actually releasing these, you don't want them sticking around in your mind or on that paper, so take a light or a match to the page and watch it go up in flames.

You don't need those things coming into 2023 with you, so once the paper is burned, that's it. It no longer gets to take up space in your mind. I have often felt anxious to enter a new year to have things just keep being the same as the year before (even this year). Doing this small ritual is a great step to leaving all of the insecurities behind and starting fresh!

2. Do some new year planning

Now I know what you're thinking... How can doing this help you to feel excited and not scared?

When most people plan their new year, they reflect back on the year before. I get it, it's not a bad thing to do unless it's actually causing you more stress. So why not try focusing on the positives and looking at the year as a blank slate?

Plan your year as if the last year didn't happen (except for all the good parts). Focus on what you want this new year to be like, what you want to accomplish, why you want to accomplish them and how you're going to take action to accomplish those goals.

I'm not saying don't learn from your past, but if you're holding onto the past year with fear and not allowing yourself to be excited and motivated about this coming year, then it's not really helping you. It's actually keeping you stuck and in inaction. So, focus on the what, why and how of this new year.

3. Write a gratitude list

But not just any gratitude list... Write the list as if you have already accomplished everything on your goal list for the year.

Seriously.

If you want to start a podcast this year, write down, "I am grateful for my amazing podcast that has 10k downloads." If you want to make $60k this year, write down, "I am grateful for all the amazing people who became my clients this year."

Be specific with your list and act as if you have already reached those goals. Then keep going back to your gratitude list for a good reminder. Doing this can help you get in the right mindset and act as if you are someone who has already reached that goal. Ask yourself, "What would someone who already has a successful podcast be doing? What actions would they be taking?"

Then ask yourself, "If I was guaranteed not to fail, what action would I take?" Now go and do that!

I know many people think the new year is arbitrary and we shouldn't save all of our goals and desires for the new year. We can start whenever, and yes, that is true. But I also like the idea of the blank slate. For my own anxiety, it works nicely. 

I have had some hard years and I like the idea that I can leave those hardships in the last year and start again. It's also helpful to have some time off at the end of the year to let myself rest, relax and get ready for the new year. It's not always possible (sometimes it is) to do that at other times.

Each month and quarter I also reflect and realign my goals if needed. I simply like having a set time to do those things. Also, being a business owner means that I align most things with the tax year, which starts afresh on January 1st.

If you are like me, then this article is for you, and if you aren't and you think that the new year is not any more meaningful than any other time of year, then that's okay. You can find something that works for you.

I also highly recommend you customize these strategies to your own preferences and needs. Not everyone loves the idea of watching something go up in flames (ooooo fire!). Find ways that work for you, adjust what you need and take what you want.

Either way, happy New Year, my friend. You deserve to have a beautiful year!