4 Easy Ways to Kick Off the New Year on the Right Foot
By Dawn Sturmon
Let’s be honest — January arrives like an unsolicited therapy session. It’s as if the year itself hands you a notepad and says, “Write down what you accomplished last year, what you didn’t, and where you think you went wrong.” But before you spiral into this is the year I become an ice-plunging wellness guru who tracks every habit, let’s focus on smaller, achievable things — steps that are less about “new year, new me” and more about getting your life to feel like it fits just a little better.
Here are four simple, actionable ideas to help you kick off the year feeling lighter, more connected, and ready to conquer whatever comes next.
1. Wear All the Clothes You Buy
You know the drill. You see a sweater that’s practically singing your name. You buy it. It lurks in your closet, untouched, silently shaming you with every passing glance. “You’ll wear me to dinner,” you tell yourself. Spoiler: you won’t.
This year, make it your mission to wear every single item you purchase at least once within a month of buying it. Treat it like a challenge — fashion roulette, if you will. Better yet, extend the rule to clothes you already own. That dress you bought on sale for “someday”? Today is that day.
Pull everything out of your closet and categorize it: worn recently, worn occasionally, and never-worn-but-love. Then, style at least one outfit a week using pieces from the “never-worn” section. The result? You’ll not only get more creative with your wardrobe but also rediscover why you loved those items in the first place — or finally admit that they need to go.
2. Clear Out Your Digital Clutter
Your phone is a modern-day junk drawer, and don’t even try to deny it. You’ve got screenshots of recipes you’ll never cook, 28 photos of the same sunset, and a text thread with someone whose number you no longer recognize.
Here’s how you tackle the beast:
Emails: Delete or file away anything older than six months unless it’s truly life-altering. Create folders for important categories to keep your inbox organized. And unsubscribe from those brands that email you daily sales like clockwork — you’ll thank yourself later.
Photos: Create a “Favorites” album and stick to it. Pick the best shot of that sunrise (one is plenty!) instead of keeping an entire slideshow. And if you’re drowning in photos like I am, transfer the extras to your laptop so you’re not virtually lugging them around everywhere.
Texts: If a conversation hasn’t seen action in six months, archive or delete it. The exception? Those random gems from friends that still make you laugh — they’re non-negotiable.
Contacts: If you have to ask, “Who is this?” the number goes — no hesitation, no guilt. There’s something deeply satisfying about scrolling through your contacts and recognizing every single name. It’s like decluttering your social life, one forgotten number at a time.
The satisfaction of clearing out digital clutter is unmatched. Suddenly, your phone feels lighter in your hand. You’re not overwhelmed every time you open your photos app, and finding that one email for your boss isn’t a scavenger hunt anymore.
3. Tidy Up Your Bathroom (and Toss Old Makeup)
The bathroom might not seem like the most glamorous place to start your New Year refresh, but hear me out. Nothing feels better than opening your cabinet or drawer to find it neat, functional, and free of expired products.
Start with makeup: toss anything older than a year, especially mascaras and liquid products (hello, bacteria central). Move on to skincare — if you’ve been holding on to a crusty tube of SPF from your 2019 beach trip, it’s time to let it go.
Next, give the entire space a refresh: wipe down surfaces, organize products into categories (makeup, skincare, hair care), and maybe even invest in some chic containers to keep everything tidy. It’s a small change, but it’s amazing how much satisfaction a clean, clutter-free bathroom can bring.
4. Call Your Loved Ones
I get it — texting is easy, efficient, and comfortably impersonal. But when was the last time you heard your mom’s voice, or that one friend’s laugh that literally makes you laugh? Calling feels old-school now, like it requires a rotary phone and a long cord you twist while gossiping. But there’s a reason it used to be the primary mode of connection: it’s intimate.
I cannot believe I am saying this — because I despise talking on the phone — but this year, it’s time to bite the bullet and call (yes, call) the people who matter most once in a while. It doesn’t have to be long; even five minutes can remind you why they’re in your life.
The thing about phone calls is they often lead to unexpected moments — those inside jokes, shared confessions, or just the comfort of realizing someone really gets you. Plus, nothing beats the look of surprise when you tell someone, “I just wanted to hear your voice.”
Start Small, Dream Big
There’s a certain beauty in taking small, manageable steps toward change. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life to feel like you’re starting fresh. Sometimes, it’s about wearing the clothes that already hang in your closet, deleting blurry photos without a second thought, tossing that eyeliner from 2019, and dialing a number instead of typing one.
So, as the new year begins, skip the overwhelming resolutions and try these instead. They won’t just help you start the year on the right foot — they’ll make sure that foot is wearing an outfit you actually love, is free of email spam, and maybe even walking to meet a friend in person.
Let’s make this year feel good from the start.
A freelance writer, Dawn has crisscrossed the country in a unique path— from holding cue cards on Saturday Night Live to working on Super Bowl commercials. A lover of truth, interior design, french fries, and fashion, you can find her dressed in a hoodie or for the Met Gala— there’s no in-between.
