20 Tips To Make 2016 Your Best Year Yet

It's a brand new year, and the future is full of possibilities. Whether you're an aggressive goal-setter or you're hesitant about making commitments, resolve to make 2016 your best year yet. 

Check out our 20 tips, and then choose a few to incorporate into your life. 

1. Learn Something New Every Day

Make a deliberate effort to learn something new each day. Here are some ways you can make sure that you're always learning:

• Watch TED talks while you eat breakfast
• Practice a new language while you commute
• Take a free, online course

2. Read More Books

Reading books is different than reading tweets and blog posts. Books allow you to dive in to a subject or a story and stay immersed there for a while. In our instant gratification age, reading books helps you to maintain a healthy attention span and to slowly digest a well-constructed narrative.

3. Add to Your Super for Retirement

Time is on your side when it comes to saving for retirement. Use 2016 to add to your Super, and then sit back and watch that money grow.

4. Be More Grateful

No matter how well you plan for 2016, sometimes things will go wrong. Your car may break down, or you may find yourself unexpectedly in hospital. If you can learn to be more grateful, however, you will be happier, regardless of what comes your way.

5. Stop Procrastinating

"I'll do it tomorrow." When you utter this phrase, stop yourself, recognise that you're procrastinating, and just do the darn thing today.

6. Go Outside

With the world at our fingertips, it's easy to forget what's outside. Spending time in nature makes us happier, and it also boosts our immune systems. Find ways to spend more time outside.

7. Strengthen Your Muscles

Strong muscles staves off osteoporosis, boosts metabolism, and helps you to do your daily activities with ease. Lift weights, do planks, or find another way to get strong.

8. Improve Your Relationships

There's no time like the present for strengthening waning relationships. Send thoughtful texts, be generous with your time, or give a meaningful gift. 

9. Keep a Journal

Journaling is about more than just recording memories (although that's enough of a reason to start). Journaling can also help you organise your thoughts and make progress toward your goals.

10. Get Your Documents In Order

Every adult should have a will, a power of attorney, and a letter of instruction. If you don't, make 2016 the year you get your documents in order. In fact, Our adviser - Adam Montana is an expert in this area.

11. Stop Multi-Tasking

We all know multi-tasking is a myth, and yet, many of us continue to claim that we're expert multi-taskers. Get more done and be more efficient by focusing your mind on just one task at a time, and do that task to the best of your ability.

12. Volunteer

Stepping outside of yourself is one of the best ways to increase your happiness. When you're focused on the well-being of others, your own problems diminish in size. 

13. Consolidate your Superannuation

If you have several different retirement accounts, get them consolidated during 2016. Once consolidated, you will have more investment options and more power in your corner.

14. Write a Business Plan

If you've ever thought of starting your own business, explore that option in 2016. Writing a business plan is always the first step, so take that first step. Even if it never turns into a full-time endeavor, the experience you gain will be priceless.

15. Get Active

A sedentary life leads to problems: overweight, depression, cancer, diabetes, cognitive decline. Minimize your risk by moving more: track your steps with a pedometer, get up and stretch more frequently, take a dance class, or start jogging. 

16. Eat More Vegetables

Vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet, so challenge yourself to eat more of them. Try new vegetables you're unfamiliar with and enjoy the health benefits.

17. Get Out of Debt

Paying off your debts invites financial opportunity, so make 2016 the year that you pay off your debts. Make the sacrifices necessary to increase your debt payments until you're free.

18. Improve Your Manners

Even if you didn't grow up in a household that emphasised good manners, it's never too late to start. Read an entertaining etiquette book or take a course. Great manners improve your relationships and enhance business opportunities.

19. Sleep Better

Aim for getting 8 hours of sleep every night. You may need to turn in earlier and put your phone in another room.

20. Stop Being Late

Are you chronically late? Prove to others that you're professional and dependable by showing up on time. Set your clock earlier and be more realistic about travel times.

There's no time like today to plan for a better tomorrow.

Welcome, 2016!