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12 Steps to Saying YES

In the spirit of all things Christmassy and feeling festive, Hannah Doyle – author of the hilarious The Year of Saying Yes has given us a guide to saying YES. Twelve steps – what could go wrong?

Start small

Even the tiniest changes can make a difference. In THE YEAR OF SAYING YES Izzy never does anything on a Thursday because that’s her night for finances and Thai takeaway . . . until she’s challenged to mix things up and finds out that saying yes to something other than her spreadsheet can be a lot of fun.

Don’t rule it out

Stop! Have a little think! Mull over what’s on offer before making a decision. (And hey, it’s Christmas, so why not mull it over with an actual mulled wine in your hand?)

Ditch your comfort zone

‘I can’t, I’m washing my hair.’ BUT SERIOUSLY! Lame excuses are no longer acceptable when it comes to saying yes.

Shake it up

If you spend every night in December OUT out, then gurl, give yourself and your stilettos a night off. And if you spend every night in December curling up on the sofa, then shake off your joggers, slip on some sequins and get yourself out.

Make it a YASSSS!

Nothing makes you feel more positive than an injection of enthusiasm. Whether it’s making your own Christmas cards / party dress / family lunch, tell yourself that you can do it. One thing’s for sure, you’ll have loads of fun along the way.

Try something new

Confession time: I’ve never tried eggnog. I mean, what even is it? Wait, I’ve just googled it . . . Cream, sugar and bourbon. I’ll be saying yes to one or three of those this Christmas!

Sleigh all day

See what I did there?! Wake up, tell yourself that today is going to be great and it might just be a corker.

Stay positive

It’s Christmas! Officially the season to be jolly! And I guess the most important thing is that you do what feels right for you. A happy balance of cosy Christmas knits and prosecco-fuelled parties sounds pretty ideal to me.

Just do it

Time flies as the big day approaches and often your festive to-do list ends up taking a back seat. (Mine includes Christmas markets and a minibreak to somewhere snowy.) So book that thing you’ve been wanting to do for absolutely ages, go forth and enjoy!

Get your skates on

Literally. Nothing says Christmas like flailing around an ice rink, desperately gripping onto those little penguins that are meant to be there for the kiddies. (Just me?)

Partner in crime

Rope your BFF into joining you for your something new. I’m about to call mine and see if she fancies an eggnog making masterclass!

Treat yo-self

The festive season can be a bit of a minefield when it comes to trying to please all of your loved ones. But don’t forget to say yes to good things for you, too.

The Year of Saying Yes is available now in eBook – the perfect book to kick off your New Year!