How to Start Fresh

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If you aren’t happy with the life you’re living, you might be thinking about making a fresh start. While it would be convenient if life had a “reset” button, unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple! Thankfully, with a little bit of work and some soul-searching on our part, you can truly start fresh and change your life for the better.

1

Set new goals.

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    It’s great to want to exercise more, but that goal is a little too vague. Try saying things like, “I will exercise for 30 minutes every day by jogging and taking walks around my neighborhood.” It’s up to you how many goals you choose—just make sure they’re realistic! You might make it a goal to: [1]
    • Cut down to 2 hours a day on social media
    • Go to bed on time to get at least 8 hours of sleep
    • Write down 1 thing you're grateful for in a journal every night
    • Drink 8 glasses of water every day
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2

Change one thing at a time.

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    If you’re itching for a change, try starting small with one or two things. Gradually work up to changing your entire life so you can be sure the changes stick. [2]
    • For example, maybe this week you work on incorporating a new exercise routine into your life. Next week you can create a healthy meal plan for yourself. The week after that, you can create a new resumé and start looking for job opportunities.
3

Try new things.

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    If you want to start fresh, it helps to have a sense of purpose. Spend some time trying new activities and learning new things. Figure out what you're good at and what you like! For example, you might try: [3]
    • Rock climbing
    • Gardening
    • Knitting
    • Playing an instrument
    • Writing
    • Woodworking
    • Playing sports
    • Volunteering
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4

Learn a new skill.

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    If you feel like you’re falling behind in your workplace, consider taking a course to boost your resumé. If you want to try a new career path, check out a trade school or a two-year college program. Find something that you’re interested in that can give you a new sense of purpose in your life. [4]
    • Not everyone finds something that they’re passionate about to do for work, and that’s okay. The priority is to find a job that you won’t hate doing every day.
5

Prioritize your health.

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    Spend some time actively getting in shape and try to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Start small by doing yoga, stretching, or walking, then work up to weight training, jogging, swimming, or hiking. [5]
    • Instead of eating junk food, try to consume healthy fruits and vegetables. It will make you feel better and give you more motivation to turn your life around.
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6

Hang out with supportive people.

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    Your friends and family members should support you in your newfound endeavors and hold you accountable as you work toward them. If they don’t, it might be time to find new friends. [6]
    • Starting fresh may also mean hanging out with new people. If you find that your friends aren’t supportive or constantly bring you down, it can really hinder your goals.
7

Get a new wardrobe.

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    Making subtle or significant changes in your appearance can have a big effect on the way you perceive yourself and the way you're perceived by others. Your image says a lot about you before you ever open your mouth, so adopt a style that reflects your unique personality. [7]
    • For example, you might adopt a casual boho-style approach if you want to be a more creative and laid back person.
    • Or, you might buy a few more suits and slacks if you’re going for a professional look.
    • Get a different hair cut or style to reflect your fresh start.
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8

Revamp your home or change locations.

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    Where you live and how you define your home is a huge part of your identity. You can try redecorating, reorganizing, or moving all together to start fresh. Try things like: [8]
    • Rearranging furniture in your home so the space feels new
    • Redecorating your room
    • Moving into a different neighborhood
    • Getting a new roommate
    • If it's financially feasible, moving to another city, state, or country
9

Keep a positive mindset.

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    If you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, try to challenge them by asking yourself for the facts. Start keeping a gratitude journal by jotting down 1 thing you’re grateful for every single day. [9]
    • For example, if you think, “I’m never going to get a new job,” ask yourself: “How do you know? Can you tell the future?”
    • If you catch yourself thinking, “I’m too old to learn this,” ask yourself: “Why do you think that? Is there any proof that older people can’t learn new skills?”
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10

Be patient with yourself.

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    It takes time to achieve goals, learn new things, and get habits to stick. Don't be afraid to fail or mess up occasionally on your journey. Go easy on yourself and get back on track as soon as possible. [10]
    • Making one mistake doesn’t negate everything good you’ve done so far. If you feel yourself getting discouraged, try to remember all the changes you’ve already made, and be proud of yourself for them.
11

Write down your regrets.

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    Make sure you don’t repeat any past mistakes by creating a list of things you wish you’d done differently. Refer to this list to help you make decisions, plot your new future, and stay on track. [11]
    • Remember: your future is not dictated by your past. No matter what happened in the past, you can make changes to create a better life for your future self. [12]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What to tell someone who doesn't think it'll get better?
    Michelle Shahbazyan, MS, MA
    Life Coach
    Michelle Shahbazyan is the Founder of The LA Life Coach, a concierge life, family, and career coaching service based in Los Angeles, California. She has over 10 years of experience with life coaching, consulting, motivational speaking, and matchmaking. She has a BA in Applied Psychology and an MS in Building Construction and Technology Management from Georgia Tech University, and a MA in Psychology with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy from Phillips Graduate University.
    Michelle Shahbazyan, MS, MA
    Life Coach
    Expert Answer
    As long as you're pursuing what makes you happy and you're not intentionally hurting anyone, go out there and get the fresh start you really want. Don't let the fear of letting other people down keep you from being your most peaceful, satisfied self.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 5
  • Question
    How can you let go of bad habits and form good ones?
    Community Answer
    These articles may be of some use: how to get rid of bad habits , how to learn good habits .
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 11
  • Question
    My family judges me, my friends judge me, my sister makes me feel like nothing. I just want a fresh start. I have depression. How can I ignore the people I love the most? I'm sad nearly all the time.
    Community Answer
    In my experience with anxiety and depression, I thought everyone was judging me when really they were just telling me what I needed to fix to have a better life for myself. I am sure your sister doesn't mean to hurt you. She may just be acting out in her own way, maybe pointing out other people's flaws makes her feel better about herself. Best thing to do is tell everybody you want to start fresh and you want to change for the better. If your depression is really bad, talk to your doctor and see what you can do.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/the-trick-to-real-and-lasting-lifestyle-changes
      2. ↑ https://www.apa.org/topics/behavioral-health/healthy-lifestyle-changes
      3. ↑ https://www.thewalkercenter.org/blog-posts/how-to-start-fresh-after-an-addiction
      4. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2016/04/29/give-a-fresh-start-to-your-personal-life/?sh=4f471d2561d3
      5. ↑ https://www.thewalkercenter.org/blog-posts/how-to-start-fresh-after-an-addiction
      6. ↑ https://www.apa.org/topics/behavioral-health/healthy-lifestyle-changes
      7. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200507/the-value-style
      8. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/briannawiest/2018/09/18/22-microhabits-that-will-completely-change-your-life-in-2-years/?sh=e61928e10354
      9. ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/293252
      1. ↑ https://www.apa.org/topics/new-year-resolutions
      2. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-support/201403/5-steps-fresh-start
      3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-fitness/201212/10-tools-restarting-your-life

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to start fresh, change your dress style to make others treat you differently. For example, you could dress more formally for work to be taken more seriously. Alternatively, you could try deleting your social media accounts so you can take a break from your online social circle. Additionally, consider rearranging your furniture at home to give your apartment or house a fresh feel. However, if you’re trying to start fresh after a bad relationship, try getting rid of any mementos that remind you of the past. If getting rid of them is too hard, you can also try placing them in a hard-to-reach area for the time being. For tips on how to start a fresh career, read on!

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