Hi, everyone, and Welcome to the New Decade ! Let’s make this one the best one yet!
So, first off, apologies for the slightly cheesy title, but it really expresses what this post is about!
When I first started this post, I was thinking and planning to write it from a Style point of view. But , then I realised that it’s actually so much more than that! So are you ready for the challenge “New decade, new you?’
REMEMBER
Nothing changes, unless you do!
And this is so true for everything in life! When I started the last decade, I was freaked out about approaching my 50s, terrified of the approaching menopause and was beginning to feel unhappy in my job.
So, of course, all my negative thoughts inspired negative actions and about half way through the decade all my worst fears had come true! I was really dreading getting up every day to go to work, I didn’t feel good so didn’t make the effort to look good (which perpetuates a vicious circle – more about that later), and I was suffering from panic attacks!
I had always been passionate about Style and as I was struggling to rediscover my own personal style, as well as needing to force myself to do something new I decided to enroll in a Personal Styling Course, and never being one to do things by half, I decided that I may as well go “all-in” and train to be a Personal Stylist!
The rest, as they say, is history! I started this blog at the end of 2015, just before my Personal Styling Training to force myself out of my comfort zone and I have met so many amazing people and learned so much thanks to this!
I loved Personal Styling so much that I have changed careers! I have done more training since that first course, and take a new course each year, and I started my own Styling Academy in 2018.
I also forced myself to face up to some of my fears, one of which was my fear of flying! I’ve finally got to the point where I can let go of the handrests long enough to take a photo, which is just as well as I am now a Travel Editor and fly every month!
So, I’m not telling you this to impress you but to impress upon you that anything is possible!
I truly believe that any one of us can achieve anything we want with the right mindset. And, if you’re looking to change this decade, then I will be here to hold your hand every step of the way.
I also believe that how you look on the outside effects directly how you feel on the inside, and that appearance plays a huge part in not only how we are perceived by others, but most importantly, how we perceive ourselves.
If you have undergone a transformation in your life, then you will have outgrown your wardrobe, and the items in your wardrobe no longer reflect where you are in your life right now.
Maybe you have levelled up, got a new promotion, changed careers and you need to ‘upgrade’ your wardrobe to portray the correct professional image.
Maybe you have had a new baby, been through a traumatic event or entered the menopause and you have put on weight and lost your style confidence.
We’ve all had days when we feel a bit down or depressed, so we throw on a baggy jumper and sweatpants, and then we catch a glimpse of ourselves in the mirror and we feel even more depressed, so we nestle down in front of the TV with our two favourite guys ‘Ben’ and ‘Jerry’, and the cycle self perpetuates.
I encourage you to do the exact opposite when you feel a bit down. Put on your favorite outfit – the one that shows your curves to their best advantage and that wouldn’t make you hide behind the couch and pretend to be out when someone rings the doorbell!
When you make the effort to look good, you feel good and that encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and that’s where the magic happens!
As a Personal Stylist, I have offered Colour analysis, Body Shape analysis, Wardrobe Detox and Personal Shopping and whilst these are all great and have value in their own right, I believe they are just part of the puzzle.
I use a holistic approach to Styling to take you from where you are NOW to where you WANT to be. It’s a process not an event, and at the end of your journey you will be able to step confidently into your new style….. FOREVER!,
So, going in to this new decade, I am excited about the new opportunities this can bring. I am working on lots of new projects (both from a Style point of view and as a Travel writer) and I am looking forward to facing up to some other fears (would you believe that one of them is going in an elevator!), and I can’t wait to take this journey with you.
How to set goals for the New Year and the new decade
What are your goals and objectives for the next decade? If you haven’t already set your goals, here are my top tips.
Start work on your goals in February
OK, So I know this first one sounds really strange and the opposite of what you would expect. But, trust me, there is a valid explanation.
We are all tired and a bit frazzled in January – maybe we have been travelling to spend time with family, we may have been to numerous holiday parties, we have probably overeaten, maybe drunk a bit more than usual and are very possibly sleep deprived too! These are really not the best conditions to start tackling new goals and there is every chance that we are just setting ourselves up for failure!
Now, I’m not suggesting you do nothing in January – far from it – I’m suggesting you use January to prepare yourself mentally and physically for the year ahead so you hit the ground running in February. Take time to recharge your batteries and reflect on the last year.
a) clean out the clutter
First up, take some time to declutter (physically and mentally). In order to move forward we need to clear out the past. So, take some time to clear your desk, get organised, declutter the house and also declutter your mind!
Clear out any negativity that will hold you back. Let go of any anger, hurt or resentment over past failures and get ready to tackle 2020 ‘all-in’.
This is also a good time to clear your ‘style past’ and clear out your wardrobe. When you look into a cluttered wardrobe, it can be totally overwhelming, so you need to do an ‘audit’ and remove all those items that no longer fit or flatter you and that don’t portray the image you want, and then organise the clothes and accessories remaining so that getting dressed in the morning becomes a pleasure instead of a trauma
b) lay the foundations for success
Then, get prepared to tackle your goals – I would suggest January is a good time to reflect and set your goals, and also lay the foundations for success.
Remember that a year is a marathon and not a sprint, so take this month to set yourself up rather than sprinting into the New Year full of good intentions only to be ‘burned out’ by March!
So, reflect on the past and the future and think about where and who you want to be. Start to think about the tools you will need to achieve your goals. Maybe, you will need to invest in a planner and/or a journal, maybe you want to investigate gym memberships or fitness apps. Take some time to think if the image you are portraying is the one you want people to see, and if not, why not? Perhaps, you need to invest in better quality clothes or perhaps you just need to work on co-ordinating your clothes.
If you’re tired, frazzled and a little bloated after New Year, don’t try to jump straight into a full fitness program, but catch up on sleep, exercise a little more, eat a little healthier…. you will then be in a better place to tackle big changes in February.
Set realistic goals
Make sure to set realistic, achievable goals. If you’re currently a couch potato, it is unlikely you will be able to run a marathon in three months time, and setting that as a goal will only depress you and reduce your motivation.
Don’t try to do too much too quickly. It’s hard enough to change one small bad habit/ adopt one new good habit without trying to tackle too many changes at once.
Instead, set a realistic goal for a shorter time frame and then review when you have achieved it.
Make sure to be specific
If you don’t set specific goals, how will you know if you’ve achieved them? It seems obvious but state what and by when!
For example, I want to be fitter is not a good goal, but I want to complete a half marathon by June 2020 is!
Make sure you have a measurement system in place.
Goals should be specific and measurable. You can’t improve what you can’t measure so make sure that you include a daily/ weekly and/or monthly measurement tool/ system.
But remember that it’s OK to fall/ fail.We are not perfect, we are human and life happens. So, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t meet your goals – just accept that it’s a normal part of life and carry on. Persistance will win out every time. And, we all evolve at our own rate, so don’t compare yourself to others. Just review the progress you have made, and value progress over perfection!
Next week, I will be sharing with you the five most common styling mistakes every woman makes (and how to avoid them!); and later this week, there will be a travel post on 12 places you must visit in 2020, and you can have a look here for more lifestyle inspiration.
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With love,
Awesome photo you have shared here, Thanks a lot for sharing it because it make myself to love
I’m so glad you liked it x
Such inspiring story hun!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thank you Lovely xoxo
Agree with so much here! And I am with you with the starting fresh in Feb
All the best this year!!
XX Angelica
https://eraenvogue.com
Thank you Angelica! Wishing you all the best for 2020 too xx
How to motivational is this post! I love that instead of just listing what has to change, you provide tips and a lot of this is really just tackle stressor and a better life style. I’ve been de-cluttering nonstop and I can already feel the positive impact!
Thank you Rach! I’m so glad you found it helpful! I’ve been decluttering nonstop too!
This is a wonderful post! I think starting off the year by decluttering the closet is a great, symbolic way to set your path for a new year. Maybe that’s something that would be great to do in January before you kick 2020’s butt starting in February. It’s definitely something I need to do and your lists will play a big part in making decisions about what goes and what stays. I wish I were going to be home today so I could get started while I’m still motivated from reading this post! I think “serve” is a great word for the year (and I think it’s great to come up with a word for the year….I haven’t done mine yet). Best wishes to you for a year that brings you everything you’re hoping for.
Ruth
Thank you Ruth! I am decluttering everything – from my closet to my office! I firmly believe you need to clear out the past before starting fresh! I hope you find my wardrobe lists useful and I hope you have a wonderful 2020 ! xo
Love this inspiring post Julia! Your approach to styling sounds perfect. Happy 2020!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you Kathrine! Happy 2020 to you too! x
Love the positivism in this post. We can always turn things around!
http://www.fashionradi.com
Yes, we can ! xo
Really inspiring story and wonderful tips for how to set yourself up for success in the new year- Thank you!
-Anna | TheYoungEclectic.com
Thank you Anna! I’m so glad you liked it and found it helpful! xo
Happy New Year! I definitely agree that if you take care of yourself and look good, you’ll feel good too! Love the idea of easing into your goals! January is always so hectic wrapping up the holidays and getting organized for the year ahead! Wishing you a fabulous 2020!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks Jill! I feel that January is hectic enough without taking on too many goals! But, I will be ready to hit the ground running in February xo
You are so smart to start this way and take the time to do all the planning.
XOOX
Jodie
Thanks Jodie! I rushed headlong into my goals at the beginning of last year only to realise by March that I wasn’t working on what I wanted after all! So, I decided to take a bit of time to figure it out this year xoxo
Being 42 I have started to wonder about premenopause and all that stuff it brings with it. Change is good, I think it helps to grow us and get us out of our comfort (boring!) zone! I do like comfort, but I think sometimes I like it too much and I avoid certain situations. Thanks for sharing this and Happy 2020!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
It’s so much easier to stay in your comfort zone, and to be honest,I do it a lot! However, I will make the effort to step out of it for something I really want! Happy 2020 x
I like the idea of starting your goals in February! There is such a stigma and pressure to get going on your goals which I think makes them more intimidating. There’s nothing wrong with taking some time to get yourself back into every day mode after a holiday!
xo, allie
Thank you Allie! I’m glad you think so too! xo
It’s always a good idea to start something new and maybe step out of your comfort zone. A change is good, you feel fresh and more vital.
xx Simone
Definitely! It’s hard to step out of your comfort zone, but the results are usually worth it, and I agree that a change is really good ! xx
Happy New Year. This was such an interesting post and now I have feeling that I know you better. I’m happy to hear that you don’t have fear of flying and fly every month. Thank you for sharing these great and detailed tips and I wish you a lot success in this year.
New Post – http://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com/2020/01/elizabeth-arden-sparkle-on-holiday_4.html
Thank you so much! I wish you a wonderful New Year too! xo
It is so inspiring to read about how you changed your life around by becoming a personal stylist. Great tips for a new decade! Some seem to think that caring about clothes is superficial, but if it makes us happy why not? Besides, while clothes don’t make a man they create a first impression. Many say that being groomed and stylish is a sign of good manners. I think clothes can help us feel better about ourselves…and they can change our mood for the better. I always loved clothes and I think that by choosing the right clothes for ourselves, we can feel better.
I totally agree. I think that being groomed is a style of good manners, and when I make an effort and take care over my appearance I feel better!
Very useful post indeed. I have been decluttering my house and it makes a world of difference.
Thanks for sharing.
Lindifique
Totally agree! Decluttering is very calming
This was such a great post to read. I’m glad, you overcame your fear of flying . Happy New Year dear! xx
https://www.ninakobi.com/2020/01/ended-2019-in-madison-square-garden-new.html
Thank you Nina! Happy New Year to you too x
Clean out the clutter resonates with me. On it.
I never seem to stop cleaning out the clutter! No sooner do I finish than it all comes back again! But, I do love a ‘decluttered” space!