January Jumpstart Start the New Year off Right with These Tips ...

One of the first things to do in January is to get your finances in check. If you have a huge credit card bill looming as a result of December excesses then now is the time to take a look at your finances and make some changes if needs be. If you have a number of credit cards and you're paying a high interest rate, look into whether there is a way of transferring them to one which offers you nought percent interest. Think about whether you can start to save a little more each month and whether you're spending money unnecessarily on gas and electric. This is the time to shop around for deals and think about how you can save money so you have more money for next Christmas!

Now is the time to make a vision board and think about your goals and ambitions for the coming year and beyond. So get those magazines out and get cutting and sticking!

Journaling is a great thing to do and if you don't do it, now is the time to start. It has so many benefits and is a great form of therapy. Buy yourself a beautifully bound notebook and a pen and get journaling this January.

January is the time to start planning that holiday. It might be grey and miserable outside but thinking about the summer sun and a trip abroad can really brighten your mood. Take advantage of the holiday deals in January and start thinking about where you can go.

Now is the time to get fit - plain and simple. Maybe you began this year with the best of intentions but these all fell to the wayside a few months into the year. Don't worry about the past and look forward to the future. You don't need a fancy membership but you do need will power and the desire to get fit. Don't focus on the weight loss, just focus on the fact that you're staving off heart disease and diabetes by getting fit.

January is the time to do a pantry audit. Have a look at the foods you have in your cupboard and fridge. If it's packed full of Twinkies and other nutritionally deficient treats then now is the time to bin them and replace them with fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

So, it may not be spring just yet but it's still a great time to clear out the old and make way for the new. Have a look through your wardrobe and see if there is anything you can take to the thrift shop or sell online. Have a look throughout your home and see if there are unnecessary items taking up space and cluttering up the place.

These are some of the things I will be doing in January. How about you, can you think of anything else you must do in January for a great start to the new year?