It shouldn’t take a new year for you to start making changes in your life. Besides, how many of us stick to our New Year’s resolutions anyway? There are times throughout our lives when we think about how we can change, whether it’s to become a better person or simply just happier in life. I wanted to know how to change my life for both of those reasons, so hopefully this list of 14 changes is as effective as it was with me.

Start changing your life with positivity today.

1. What do you want in life? – It may sound like such a simple question, but how often do we really ask ourselves this question. We are so caught up in our daily routines, responsibilities and relationships with people that we don’t stop to reflect on ourselves. Take some time out of your busy schedule to think about your goals in life and what makes you happy. Expect your answers to change often over time also, as we change as people and there’s nothing wrong with that.

2. Think positive – Try to always see the glass as half full and not half empty. People say this all the time, but it’s not as easy as it seems. However, positive thinking can change the way you feel and make your life more enjoyable. So the next time a negative thought creeps into your mind, stop yourself and ask yourself why you are thinking that way in the first place. Then try to find the positive outlook to your thought. It may be difficult at first, but the more you practice the better you’ll get!

3. Spend time with yourself – Not many of us like to be alone. And with cell phones and computers easily accessible to us, we never have to be. Spending time alone though can help separate us from outside distractions, which can be both educational and therapeutic. We can learn to think for ourselves without having to rely on others. It also allows us to be free and relaxed.

4. Don’t take it personally – Almost anything someone says or does that sounds personal is really just a reflection of our own insecurities, values and perceptions. The way that someone treats you is a mirror image of what they are personally feeling inside of them. If you understand that nothing is personal, you can release the burden of what other people think and how they behave. However, when we find ourselves judging others, we need to look at ourselves and ask what our thoughts and behaviors say about us.

5. Stay active – Humans are designed to be active creatures, but a lot of us are guilty of being glued to our chairs and couches throughout most of the day. Exercising and moving our bodies around is liberating, detoxifying, energizing and straight out fun. We need to stop viewing exercise as a chore and more as a necessity. Go for a brisk walk after dinner, learn a sport, or start using the stairs instead of the elevator. Your body will thank you and you will feel overall happier.

6. Set your limits and boundaries – It is solely our responsibility to understand what makes us feel respected and communicate that message to others. Nobody wants to be taken advantage of or taken granted for things we are uncomfortable with. For example, if you don’t want to loan your new laptop to a friend, you should respectfully say just that. Lending it to your friend when you don’t want to will only lead to a negative outcome. We should never expect others to behave accordingly with our wants or expectations.

7. Build new habits – In order to actually change, you must practice that change constantly. If you want to start exercising at the gym, the only way to get accustomed to that change is by forming the habit. Otherwise, you will probably go for a few weeks and then eventually stop going. Choose something that you really want to do, and do it every single day. Focus on the positive result of doing that particular thing to motivate you to keep doing it.

8. Stop making excuses – It’s a lot easier to make excuses than to actually put the effort into doing something. “I can’t become a doctor because I’m not good with science.” Once people start making excuses, it tends to become a habit and they start making more of them. More often than not, the excuse is not even that valid. So the next time you catch yourself making one, think about whether it’s really the reason or not.

9. Be selfish – Some of us are so concerned with pleasing others, we forget to make ourselves happy. This doesn’t mean that you should always be selfish, especially if it’s at the cost of someone else. But you should do at least one selfish act a day to treat yourself. This could be reading a book, going for a jog, watching a movie or get a massage. See how much happier and more relaxed you feel afterwards.

10. Make healthier choices – Our overall health should be one of the most important factors in our lives. So why not start changing the way we eat now? Not only will you start to look better, but you’ll feel healthier and happier. I’m not saying you should start dieting and limit your caloric intake, but just make wiser eating choices and cook your own meals more often.

11. Anything is possible – The only person that is usually holding you back from accomplishing your dreams is yourself. We must believe that what we want in life is possible no matter how far away it seems. Just because you’ve never done it before, doesn’t mean it’s impossible to do. At the same time, you must know that it’s going to take dedication and hard work to get to where you want. Not many things in life are handed to you.

12. Money management – They say money can’t buy happiness, but understanding simple money management practices can make your life a lot less stressful and worrisome. Learn how to budget your spending, stay clear of debt, and start saving money. It’s one of the more under-looked life changes, yet one of the most critical.

13. Be patient – Remember that when you are making big changes in your life, don’t expect results right away. If you were to start a weight-loss program, would you expect to lose ten pounders after your first day? Sometimes don’t go as well as things are planned either, so expect problems to occur during your progress. Things take time to pan out, so stay patient and soon enough you will notice the outcome.

14. Trust yourself – If you can’t trust yourself, how can you trust anyone else? Be confident in your choices and don’t ever forget who you really are. You have gotten this far in life already, and it was probably because of the choices you made, not anyone else. And in order to change who you are, you have to accept yourself and trust that you are doing the right thing. Second guessing yourself or trusting others before yourself will push your progress backwards. When you truly trust yourself, there’s no one that can stop you from achieving your goals.