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Follow Friday + Nicki’s Personal Updates: 16 Secrets to the Best 2016 Ever

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New Year’s Day for me is a little like my own Super Bowl. It’s a chance to celebrate how far I’ve come in life in the areas where I’m winning, and it’s also the time where I re-evaluate my approach to life where I’m falling behind. Either way, there’s always a celebration and a lot of introspection.

Here are 16 thoughts I’m going to live with in 2016:

1.) Believe in myself and my dreams.

2.) Make the most of everything. I want to stop taking everything so seriously. When I’m 85, I’m going to look back on my life and wish I had lightened up, taken more risks, had more fun, and gone for it all. Heck, I’m 31 and I have those regrets now! Time to start living life to its fullest!

3.) Put one hour of white space in my schedule for every hour of scheduled time. 

4.) Know that I’m already good enough, even before I achieve my goals. I tend to beat myself up, compare myself to others disfavorably, or compete with others I see succeeding online or on Facebook. It’s time to let all that go! I am enough and I am doing enough. Even on days I do very little! Knowing that ironically keeps me inspired to do what I need to do to reach my goals.

5.) Continue to pick up one new positive habit every month. In the past seven months, I’ve quit overspending, drinking Diet Coke, eating fast food, eating junk food, not exercising, and sleeping in, and I’ve started meditating. And that’s just the beginning! I’ve lost about 20 pounds and feel fantastic — all with simple monthly changes.

6.) Realize that setbacks, limitations, or restrictions are only temporary plateaus. See above. Don’t take it all so seriously — all hard times eventually end.

7.) Be less critical of myself. Perfection is a subjective perception. No use in striving for what does not definitively exist.

8.) Be accepting of others. Even while driving.

9.) Stop priding myself on being “busy.” Says no one in life ever: “Oh, you’re so busy. You’re so much busier than I have ever been. Oh, I give you so much credit for being busy!” Nobody cares if you’re busy. Nobody is impressed. Just chill out. Invest your time with people, work, and activities you genuinely love and that fulfill you. And don’t talk about it all of the time. You have nothing to prove to anyone. And they’re not impressed anyway.

10.) Stop priding myself on being “stressed.” Same story as above. Plus, stress limits you from seeing the good in your life.

11.) Feel more loved and supported in my life. I have an amazing husband, wonderful parents, and awesome friends. And yet I still let my thoughts be racked by negative thoughts too often. I’m going to start focusing on love and support that I am getting, and appreciate it more.

12.) Breathe deeply whenever I need to reset. And relax my shoulders. Ahhh.

13.) Go out a lot less. Be more selective about how I use my time. I have had a few ideas for inventions, so I’m going to Pittsburgh’s TechShop and building my prototypes in 2016. And I’m finally finishing the FutureDerm Book! In exchange, I’m giving up a few dinners with friends, a couple of social events here and there, and some unnecessary shopping.

14.) Continue to be more vulnerable, authentic, and honest. I used to feel I had to impress others constantly (see #9-10), but I don’t. And you don’t. People aren’t judging you, because they’re usually too worried that you’re judging them. Relax. Don’t take it all so seriously.

15.) Wear body lotion everyday. Body skin care is skin care too.

16.) Realize the best things in life are the things I never expected. I was planning to move FutureDerm to NYC when I met my husband, Gabe. I was planning to become a doctor when I started FutureDerm. I was planning to go out and buy a sweater when instead I followed my instincts and ended up with one of my dogs, Pookie. Sometimes you worry less when you realize God (or whatever divine source you believe in, or the Universe) has plans for you greater than you ever anticipated. Sometimes you just have to relax and roll with it.

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