Not a single December 31st goes by without setting some New Year’s resolutions for the upcoming year. Thus, it being the last month of the year, now is the time to start brewing New Year’s resolution ideas.
Here are some of the New Year resolution ideas that will hopefully inspire your personal goals for the following year.
1. Instead Of Texting A Friend, Call Them
A recent study found that calling is better than texting for establishing connection. People reported feeling more connected when speaking rather than typing. Bonding seemed to depend largely on voice, even without visual clues.
2. Write Down Your Goals
Writing down your goals sharpens your focus and boosts inspiration and enthusiasm. Whether jotted in a notebook or saved on your phone, goals prompt important decisions that align with your values. This clarity helps weed out distractions and prioritize tasks that support your ambitions.
3. Get Rid Of Anything That Makes You Feel Bad
Memories often require triggers for recollection. Remove objects associated with negative experiences to avoid unwanted reminiscing. It could be a perfume, a shirt, or even a song. If you can’t part with the item, store it away. One day, you may confront it without pain.
4. Travel To A New Location
Traveling offers incredible experiences, whether it’s a family trip or a romantic getaway. Start researching destinations and plan your upcoming adventure. If traveling alone, connect with locals or fellow solo travelers to share and split the adventures through Facebook groups or local contacts.
5. Each Month, Read A Book
Unread books on your shelves? Make time for the benefits of reading. Whether it’s fiction or romance, it’s good for your body and mind. Track your progress with Goodreads, join the “2023 Reading Challenge,” and aim to read twelve books. Stay accountable to your plan.
6. Visit A Place Without Sharing It On Social Media
We dare you. If you constantly have the Instagram app open and ready to capture the perfect story, now might be the time to stop living “for the Gram” and learn to enjoy the moment without sharing it on social media.
7. Practice Positive Self-Talk
Self-talk is our inner conversation, and it can impact how we handle anxiety. Positive self-talk reduces worry and obsessive behavior. Constructive self-talk helps us cope with feelings and stress. Examples of positive self-talk include affirmations and logical thoughts that counter negative thinking. Replace negative thoughts with encouraging and logical ones for a positive mindset.
8. Avoid Gossiping
Knowledge is powerful, but gossip can harm by spreading false or embarrassing information. Those who gossip seek power and pride at others’ expense. Reputation is fragile, easily damaged but hard to restore. Spreading rumors contributes to destruction. Choose not to participate and preserve what’s invaluable.
9. Exercise Not To Lose Weight But To Feel Good
If your main goal in working out is weight loss, your resolution may fail. Viewing exercise as punishment for overeating hinders enjoyment and long-term commitment. Prioritize well-being over weight, focusing on improved mood, stress reduction, and feeling physically and mentally better. Don’t rely on the scale for motivation, but on how exercise makes you feel.
10.Do Volunteer Work
Volunteering offers personal benefits like self-esteem, life satisfaction, and self-confidence. Helping others and the community brings pride and a sense of accomplishment. It also fosters a deeper connection to oneself. Engaging in volunteer work is truly one of the best things a person can do.
11. Take A Day Off From Checking Your Email
Checking email often? Get news and updates from friends. But do you need shipping updates for recent orders? Checking won’t speed it up. Set a time to log off and put the phone away. Less screen time means more time for present activities.
12.Don’t Waste As Much
Unsuitable for donation? Reuse old or ripped clothes at home. Use them as rags instead of paper towels. Saves money, reduces fabric production. Use reusable grocery bags to be more environmentally conscious.
13.Avoid Making Unnecessary Purchases
Unnecessary purchases vary based on personal comfort levels. Affordability is key. For example, buying a car isn’t enough; expenses like petrol, repairs, and insurance must be considered. Splurging on knick-knacks brings temporary joy but no lasting value. Prioritize purchases that align with your dreams and goals to save money.
14. Obtain A New Interest
Pursue your passion or try something new. Knitting, photography, gardening – invest time in what you love or long to try. Overcoming initial intimidation can lead to unexpected paths. Develop new interests or even a career with newfound skills.
15. Learn How To Cook
Turn your love for cooking shows into action. Learn to make those dishes you admire. Dust off cookbooks and family recipes. Use existing kitchen tools for beginners. Invest in specialized utensils or cooking classes if your hobby becomes a commitment. Get started now!
16. Use Less Plastic
Plastic products like bags, cups, and containers have a negative impact on the environment and our health. By reducing plastic consumption, we protect both. Studies show that even “BPA-free” plastics can contain harmful chemicals that seep into our food and may lead to health issues like cancer and hormone disruption.
17. Use Sunscreen
Prevention of cancer and sun damage should not be taken lightly. Using sunscreen daily is essential for both short- and long-term health, whether it’s a sunny day or not. With so many fantastic sunscreen options, it’s easy to pick the one that suits your skin type.
18. Every Morning, Make Your Bed
Making your bed not only improves your bedroom’s appearance but also offers unexpected benefits. According to Admiral William H. McRaven, it preps you for success by helping you achieve goals. By straightening up your covers, you start the day with a small triumph that can inspire more accomplishments. Making your bed also promotes improved sleep, reduced stress, a calmer outlook, and better mental organization.
19. Eat More Vegetables And Fruits
Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is a healthy New Year’s resolution. The vibrant colors are attributed to phytochemicals, which provide antioxidants that help defend against diseases. Foods like tomatoes, berries, seafood, peppers, sweet potatoes, cabbage, kale, beets, and blackberries contain beneficial antioxidants.
20. Stop Putting Off Making A Difficult Choice
Making decisions can be challenging, requiring time and effort. Feeling self-doubt and indecision is normal, as it shows you’re considering options rather than impulsively acting. However, stress can hinder decision-making, and procrastination can worsen tension, creating a cycle.
21. Cuddle More
Hugs have benefits for the heart and overall well-being. Research shows that they lower blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels. Hugs also communicate feelings of love and safety, reducing stress and improving mood. Cuddling for no reason can have therapeutic effects on both individuals.
22. Travel On A Low Budget
Traveling on a tight budget allows you to explore more destinations for less. Entry tickets can be cheaper than guided tours. Budget travel is not limited to students; working professionals can do it too. With wise financial decisions and planning, anyone can visit more places. Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone!
23. Avoid Those Who Constantly Complain
Chronic complainers negatively affect those around them. Psychologists call this “projective identification,” where negativity is projected onto others. Our brains have mirror neurons that imitate emotions, helping us survive and form social bonds. However, constantly complaining spreads negativity and influences others to join in.
24. Go Somewhere Without A Map Or Navigation Apps
At some point, we humans have lost the ability to navigate on our own while driving. Nowadays, we mainly rely on technology to guide us. We merely enter our destination into our phones and leave the rest to that tiny device. But doesn’t that eventually defeat the purpose of a road trip? We follow instructions rather than choosing our own course of action. And ultimately, going where we want to go and seeing what we want to see is the whole point of a road trip.
