Tips/ideas to kick start the new year!

Hey Everyone! 

I  wanted to wish you all a HAPPY New Year! 

WOW 2016... how did that happen? 2015 just flew by!!!

I had a really great 2015! I couldn't really have asked for more! and I hope 2016 will out do it ;) I truly had an endless amount of highlights professionally and I met (&/or worked with) so many inspirational people who I look up to: that I feel I would be bragging too much to write them all down;) lol: but some personal highlights of mine include:

• Joining the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) - this means that I can now compete at a professional level for roles/auditions and I'm generally a lot more protected with regards to my rate of pay, conditions etc.. 

• Featuring in large international press such as Cosmopolitan, Grazia and Now! (etc) I had featured in press outside of Ireland and the UK before but this was the first year to such a degree with some of the largest names in our media-ran world. 

• Landing the lead (& most importantly speaking, lol) role in a commercial (out soon). 
• Meeting some genuine people and becoming a lot stronger in myself! when I first moved to LA I thought every single person was great.. obviously this is unrealistic and quite frankly a little dangerous! lets just say I learnt my lesson by being thrown in the deep end and now I select the people I give my time and energy to more wisely! I used to trust right off the bat until given a reason not to but now I've learnt that trust is something earned not given freely. (makes you think in a different way doesn't it.. mind blowing! ha) 

My new years resolutions include 

1. Drinking more water!
2. Going to sleep and getting up earlier (even on the days when I'm free) 
3. Reading a book daily even if it's only for a few minutes!
4. Making my blog and YouTube videos more regular (I have to fix my camera 1st for the videos). 
5. Give up the junk "crafty" on set. Crafty is a table/area on every set filled with snacks to keep you going in-between meals. It usually consists of tea/coffee, fruit and then an endless amount of sugar in the form of donuts, sweets (twizzlers go'leor!), chocolate, crisps etc.. now my philosophy has always been I don't buy junk food for myself but if it's given to me I allow myself to have it and I enjoy it! that is fine as a general rule as it used to mean the times when sweets etc.. would be on offer might come-up perhaps once a month! but now that I am on set all the time this idea of it "being given to me" (through the power of "crafty") has become an every day thing which means I have been eating very badly on a daily basis - this stops now! bye crafty!!! lol 

Tips/ideas to kick start the new year!

1. Keep a planner! I have both a journal/planner and a wall hanging calendar/planner and I find it makes being organised and staying on track a lot easier! I used to be very good at keeping a planner when I was in the education system but then it stopped once I left! however since my move to LA the use of my planner has picked back up (slowly) and I am very happy about this! Whether you have a tone to do or not much going on at all..it really helps to write down what needs to be done that day/week and tick them off one by one! It doesn't matter if the goal is as simple as "clean my room" it makes you feel like your day went to some use! and you're brain is less cluttered! It also makes sure you're in the right place at the right time for any appointments etc.. 
2. Write down your goals for the year or even just for the month ahead! this keeps you on track and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you achieve/finish them! Did you know you are 42% more likely to stick to a goal if you write it down! make your goals realistic and specific! also give yourself deadlines for when you want to achieve them. For example if a goal is fitness related don't just write "i want to work out" write "work out x times per week" reach x ideal weight etc but x date!. 
3. Wake up early: this is difficult (cough it's one of my resolutions) but remember the saying "loose an hour in the morning and you'll spend all day looking for it". I think that is very true! I watched a video lately about how "successful people" always get up early to cease the day! 
4. Seek happiness outside yourself: try to find something that makes YOU happy! if you've always wanted to try painting/singing/dancing/yoga whatever it may be just start! whether it's by signing up to a class or just taking it upon yourself to dedicate the time to doing it alone! (with the help of the internet etc.. we can learn how to do a lot of things online if you have not got the funds to start a new class for eg.. just give yourself the time to practice/do what makes you happy!) 
5. Let go of the things that don't serve you! if something negative happened to you in 2015 now is the time to let it go and to move forward with having the wonderful life you deserve! It can be anything from holding on to a petty grudge to forgiving yourself or others! it's important to start the new year fresh and not drag negative feelings or drama from the past into your future..2016! 
6. Be grateful: gratitude changes everything! a good idea is every day to write down something you are grateful for! (you can also do this with good memories etc) and fill a jar with your notes! read them whenever you're having a bad day or to reflect at the end of the month/year! 
7. Make a bucket list for the year: this is a list of activities or fun things you really want to do before the end of the year(you could make this with your friends) and go out of your way to do everything on the list during the course of the year! 
8. Write a letter to yourself: it's a cool thing to read back on at the start of the following year to reflect back on where you were when you wrote it and how far you've come! we often don't give ourselves enough credit for how far we've progressed! a lot happens in a year!
9. Cleaning out your closet/drawers or re-arranging your room is a good way to give yourself a "fresh-perspective" feeling: everything feels new and exciting and clearing your living space is a known way to also clear your mind! 
10. Increase your awareness of your thoughts I really believe that this is important! our thoughts are the most powerful thing we have! they help us to move with momentum and purpose towards our vision! Choose thoughts and language that inspires. Think solutions and possibilities rather than limitations and problems!

Whether you had a great time or a tough time in 2015 (or a mixture of both) right now, this second, this day and every single day to come is the day to change a negative into a positive! and to be the best you that you can be! you can do it!

 

Make this YOUR YEAR!x! 

If you're not following me on instagram yet it would be great if you did :) I'm @ShahiraBarry 

Lots of Love, 

Shahira Xo 

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