As the end of the year approaches quickly, we always have things that we want to leave behind at the start of a new year. Some years we vow to be healthy. Some we vow to stop smoking or drinking. And sometimes we just want to have less anxiety in the new year.

This year I came up with the top 6 most important things I plan to leave behind in the new year.

1. Stop beating myself up over things that are out of my control.

I do this way too often, to the point where I get stress migraines, terrible acne, and the compulsive desire to stress eat. It’s unhealthy and I began making strides over the last few months to stop this from happening. It’s not easy, at all, but I’ve made improvements. And that is what matters.

2. Focus on getting healthy, not losing weight.

This sounds cliché, but I am not the number on the scale. I am not the number on the tag of my jeans. But I recognize that I don’t feel healthy. I feel lethargic and bloaty most days. I’ve struggled for years with my weight, but I just want to feel healthy. I don’t want to be tiny, that seems like an unobtainable goal at this point. But I do want to be able to run a mile again. I do want to feel strong again. ‘Strong is the new skinny,’ as all those ads say, so why not work on that as a goal?!

3. Stop blaming myself for my illnesses.

I am not to blame for my anxiety. I am not to blame for my depression. I am to blame, however, for the way I react to what life hands me. I can’t usually stop a full blown anxiety attack, but I can use the tools I’ve got in my proverbial toolbox to help the effects and help calm myself down quickly.

4. Stop neglecting self-care.

This is so important. Whether you knit, do yoga, color, or any number of other things, DO NOT neglect this. Life gets busy. Finding time gets hard. But make sure you find some time to take the time to take care of YOU. That is important. You are important.

5. Stop accepting being unappreciated.

I work hard for many organizations. I often feel like I am unappreciated in these positions. This year I am not letting that happen. The first step is speaking up. And that is the first thing on my 2017 agenda.

6. Stop rushing my life.

I rush everything. I plan everything. 2017 is going to be the year I take my time. It is going to be the year I take it slowly and appreciate it.

Happy 2017 everyone!