Ok guys, I know every body and their mother is talking about things to incorporate in the new year, but I want to talk about some things you should get rid of.  Don’t get me wrong, I really dig hearing all the things people are doing to revamp and start fresh, but sometimes I just need to simplify before I can add anything else on, am I right?

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Nikki.  I’m notorious for my love of all things involving guacamole and cheese, 90s rap, and midday naps, cause… life isn’t fun without any of those things.  I want to clear the air and just state from the beginning of this article, I’m not writing this from a place of arrival but in process.

These are the things that help me in my crazy, four kids, busy husband, mom boss life.  So, here it is! 

5 Practical Ways to Stop Stressing in the New Year:

1. Start saying “No”. 

Go ahead, try it with me, “Nooooo”.  That’s right, girl.  I’m sayin’ it loud and proud this year.  I’m tired and one thing I learned from a busy year last year?  When you yes to one thing, you inevitably say no to another.  I am working on saying NO to the things that I don’t truly love, enjoy, or want to be apart of.  I use to beat myself up something terrible when I didn’t volunteer at every school party, go to every birthday party, or volunteer at all the church events.  But you know what?  The more I did, the more drained I was.  The worst part?  I became a fire breathing dragon of a mom to my most precious people, and they deserve the best of me, not those other people.  Do what makes your heart happy, and start saying no to all the things that don’t, because pleasing others isn’t more important than taking care of yourself.

        2. Get rid of the junk drawer. 

Gbye’, clutter!  Ok, ok.  For me?  The junk drawer turns into every stinkin’ drawer in my kitchen when I don’t pay attention to it at least once a year.  Seriously, who needs an 8 billion rubber bands, a roge battery that may not even work, and about 9 million chargers that we have NO IDEA what they charge?  Uh uh.  The only thing that drawer is doing is causin’ this momma some STRESSSSSS.  DUMP YOUR JUNK DRAWER.  That’s right, dump it.  You know what’s gonna happen right after you do it?  FREEEEDOOOOM (Cue Braveheart riding into battle).  I cannot be the only one who gets so stinkin’ stressed out about clutter.  I don’t know if it’s your junk drawer, your closet, your makeup counter, or your playroom, but good Lord, DUMP IT.  Having a hard time even looking at it?  Easy…. This is how I start.  Instead of looking at the whole picture, I narrow it down to one thing I can organize in about a half an hour.  Wanna know what also helps?  90s rap music.  There’s just nothing more motivating than Salt-n-Pepa’s “Push It” while you’re working girls, trust me.

          3. Take Care, Brush your Hair.

Self care, y’all.  It’s a daggon MUST.  There isn’t a single person in this world who feels elated when they haven’t bathed in two days (no, dry shampoo doesn’t count ladies), talked with a person over the age of 2, or sat down for a minimum of 5 minutes without someone calling your name.  Nah, girl.  You need a break.  Do something fo yo self.  Take a daggon bath, drink a glass of wine, HECK, take a nap!   That’s my fave!  Whatever it is  that makes you stop, do it, and do it often.  I like to take a bath at least once a week with a concoction of “potion” my girl’s call it (but it’s essential oils, so, I’m not really a magician, but I like them to think I am).  When you feel yourself getting overwhelmed?  Take a breather.  And for the Love of all sanity, turn off Disney Junior!   Paint your nails, tell yourself often “YOU ARE ENOUGH”, and then you won’t feel like quitting.  Life will get easier, promise.   You just have to start taking some time for you.

           4. Stop choosing people who don’t choose you…

“Go where you grow the Most”.  One of the ladies in my small group said this the other day, and for the life of me, I can’t remember who she said it was from.  Pretty sure it was a nun, but at any rate, it’s so gooooood.  Find your tribe!  It doesn’t have to be big, guys.  Social media gives us a false impression of how many people one human being can be intimately connected with.  Do you know how many people is the average for you to be in deep relationship with?  THREE.  Find your three!  Good Lord, for the better part of last year my therapist took up one of those spots and my husband the other.  I literally had enough emotional capacity for one other person without feeling exhausted.  Find your people and open up to them.  Give them your heart and let them speak into your life, but make sure you choose wisely, not everyone deserves such an important role in that pretty little brain of yours.

             5. Stop letting fear keep you from your dreams.

I am the worst at planning, guys.  Like, the worst of the worst.  But, I know if I’m going to make room for my dreams to turn in to a reality?  I need to write them out and put them on some sort of calendar.  Planning isn’t easy.  In fact, it takes work.  But the end result?  Accomplishment!  When that little voice in your head starts spouting off all the negative stuff, recognize it as a lie and put it where it belongs, in the year 2018.  Cause as Gabriel Frabasile (whoever that is) says, “a head full of fears has no space for dreams.”  Get you a planner, dream about what you want to do, and write out how you can start achieving it THIS YEAR.  You do you boo!  This is your life!  Take it by the reigns and show it who’s boss! 
 
Alright, friends.  That’s it for now.  Stop stressin’, start livin’, and I strongly suggest eating some guacamole and jammin’ out to some TLC… cause, that’s what life is about, at least for me.  Go get ‘em tiger!  I'm actually rawring over here from my tiny office in my house guys... You're welcome for that visual... Claws up for 2019!