Setting the tone for the year ahead

I’m not a fan of once-a-year resolutions. I usually try to be mindful—throughout each week, month and year—to make changes and adjustments in my life as I need them. Just like those yearly resolutions, sometimes my intentions work and sometimes they don’t. That’s why, every Jan. 1, I try to set the tone for my year ahead.

What do I want to do in the coming year? Travel? Write? Kayak? Get more organized about my work? Go on local adventures with my dog? Clean house? Yes to all the above, except the cleaning house part. In the week leading up to Jan. 1, I make sure that my first day of the year will be filled with things I’d like to do for the next 12 months.

Superstitious? Perhaps. But it’s my clean-slate New Year’s ritual. Instead of listing things for the year, I start right away by putting them into action. That head start helps me tackle the more difficult items (such as being organized), especially when they’re not as fun as, say, traveling or walking the dog.

Ultimately, the best way to start your year (whether resolutions, self-assessments, actions, or nothing) is what works for you. What does work for you, by the way?