It’s that time again, when everyone starts reflecting on the year just gone and what they aim to achieve in the next 12 months – whether that be health-wise, in a business sense or in terms of personal achievement. To make your goals easier to achieve, Fiona Roberts shares her top five tips.

Right about now, everyone is getting all excited about Christmas. And don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas. But, if I were to be completely honest, I REALLY love New Year! There’s just something about new beginnings.

Yep, I’m the person who actually packs away our Christmas tree on Boxing Day. It goes up on the first of December, and comes down on Boxing Day – because I crave five days of peace and reflection in anticipation of the New Year. A chance to reflect and learn from my journey of the past year, and the excitement of fresh challenges that lie ahead – a new story to be written.

Ahead of writing this column, I started thinking about what I’ve learned this year and what I want to achieve moving forward, and the result is my top five tips for an awesome year ahead:

Prioritise yourself.
This is my big lesson for the year. I spent a lot of time in 2015 allowing my actions to be defined by obligation – real and imaginary. Being true to yourself is absolutely essential for your happiness, and the happiness of those around you. Being your best you (for me that means being healthy, happy and calm) means you inspire those around you to be their best selves also. It also has the side benefit you can nail any challenges easily as they arise.  Trying to change the world is an admirable cause, but change yourself, and the world will reflect your change.

Be present.
This is another ‘biggie’. It’s hard in this world to avoid distractions, but they can be minimised. Eat at the table with your family. Turn off the TV and put the phone away every now and then. Immerse yourself in the moment and enjoy it.

Be inspired.
What lifts your energy? A day trip, watering the garden, dancing, a swim in the ocean, lunch with good friends, or a quiet cup of tea and a good book? It doesn’t matter how you raise your energy, it just matters that you DO. Make a list of all the things that can do this for you, and when you are ‘having a moment’, take even a few minutes to be good to you – rejuvenate!

Begin it now.
Why wait for New Year, or Monday, or the first of the month? Yes, enjoy your rituals (Boxing Day, spring cleans etc), but consider scheduling a little time to reflect more regularly and make changes then, rather than waiting.

Actions speak louder than words.
Be defined by what you do, not what you say you are going to do. Even the smallest action that brings you closer to your goal is progress. Be clear, know what you want, and question yourself everyday – do my actions reflect my goals?

So what will 2016 look like? How will you be your best you? Only you can decide what needs to change in your daily life to bring you closer to your dreams, and only you can make those changes.

Personal growth can be challenging, but please don’t feel you need to do this on your own. Join in the conversation at www.allaboutawesome.com.au. I’d love to hear about your goals, challenges and successes.

Fiona has many hats. She and her husband Scott own IBN Direct: Alternative Funding Solutions, and she is also a small business mentor, blogger, celebrant, wife and mother. Check out Fiona’s website: www.allaboutawesome.com.au and the IBN website: www.ibndirect.com