10 Important Things to Do on New Year's Eve

Whether you celebrate New Year's or not, did you know there are some things everyone should do before the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve? Some of the suggestions below are good ideas, but can portend dire consequences if ignored. If you don't celebrate New Year's, there are many useful things you can do to ring in the new year with a clear mind and house.

1. Donate unused items

Sort out your wardrobe. This is the last day for charitable tax exemption qualification. On April 15, you'll be glad you took the trouble to clean the house for New Year's Eve. If you can't find anything to donate, consider writing a check to one of your favorite charities.

2. Take out the trash

One superstition holds that if you take something from your home on New Year's Day, you will lose it in the coming year. So take out the trash before midnight. If you made a lot of trash on New Year's Eve, save it for January 2nd.

3. Write down a short-term goal

New Year’s resolutions are notoriously impossible. So write down a short-term goal that you can celebrate. An effective goal is one that is visible. These goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and trackable. For example, you could submit to your doctor's appointment this month, write a 2,000-word novel, or eat at least 10 servings of fruits and vegetables this week.

4. Fill the pantry

One New Year's superstition states that if your cupboards are empty on the first day of the new year, they will remain empty all year. If you wish to continue to enjoy relative prosperity, fill your pantry or cupboards on New Year's Eve.

5. Update your resume

No one can predict the future. Even if you fill up your pantry on New Year's Eve, you may still find yourself looking for a job next year. Sometimes the achievements of our work fade in the background of our memory, when we desperately want an updated version. To avoid this panic, make a new resume every New Year's Eve.

6. Make some noise

Open the door before midnight to encourage the evil spirit that has been tormenting you throughout to leave. At midnight, make a lot of noise to get the new evil spirit to leave. If fireworks are illegal where you live, pick up some noisemakers.

7. Celebrate

Some celebrate the New Year because it’s been a tough year, some celebrate because a clean slate, a year full of possibilities, is just a few hours away. Regardless of whether your celebration is cathartic or anticipatory, allowing yourself to experience the new year is a psychologically positive emotional experience.

8. Kiss someone

The reason why New Year's Eve is associated with kissing is of course due to superstition. When you kiss someone at midnight, especially if that person is your lover, kissing can ensure a year full of affection and positive relationships. If you find yourself alone on New Year's Eve, go ahead and kiss your dog or cat.

9. Make a budget

Every year brings a different set of priorities. Maybe there's a wedding coming up. Maybe you’re planning on taking a vacation this year. You may even already know that your company will be laying off employees in the next year. Why not make a plan to meet the ups and downs of this year with grace and preparation?

10. Take care of your Christmas tree

Some superstitious people believe that you must take down the Christmas tree before midnight to avoid bringing a lot of bad luck from the previous year into the new year. On the other hand, some traditionalists say you must leave the tree up until 12 days after Christmas (January 5th) to ward off bad luck. If the first superstition sounds plausible, dismantle the tree.

Superstitious or practical, everyone usually has certain actions to take on New Year's Eve. These are just a few that might make your new year better than ever. Believe that the new year will bring success and happiness, and you will definitely have a most successful year! What do you usually do on New Year's Eve?