Consider alternative New Year resolutions
Ditch those old tried and failed New Year resolutions and set yourself some alternative goals that are easier to reach.
A new year looms and like the first page of a new novel, there’s a story that will unfold that is hopefully filled with exciting twists and turns that will mirror your life in the year ahead.
It’s all very well making promises to oneself that this year is going to be better and that this is the year where you won’t repeat the mistakes of years gone by. New Year’s resolutions are notoriously fickle, so the trick is to set yourself goals that are easily achievable.
According to Time Magazine, the ten most popular new year resolutions are the following:
- Lose Weight and Get Fit
- Quit Smoking
- Learn Something New
- Eat Healthier and Diet
- Get Out of Debt and Save Money
- Spend More Time with Family
- Travel to New Places
- Be Less Stressed
- Volunteer
- Drink Less
Why not try something alternative like these resolutions.
Make a new friend a month:
Expand your social circle by making at least one new friend a month. Make an effort to get off the couch and attend more social events. Chat to strangers and get introductions to friends of friends. Making friends with new people will help your explore different sides of your personality, especially if your new friends have different interests to you.
Travel
Broaden your horizons. The exchange rate may not be in your favour, but that doesn’t need to stop your from exploring your own country. Set yourself a goal to have your photo taken in as many towns or places of interest in your province or the country as a whole. Can you say roadtrip?
Develop a good relationship with your body
Instead of making a resolution to diet or join a gym, why not resolve to love the body you have. This doesn’t mean you can’t make changes to your fitness and diet, especially if your health requires it, but rather, just love who you are and work on improving your body confidence by concentrating on the things you do like rather than those you don’t.
Learn something new
You’ve been around a while so chances are you are pretty much adept at a lot of things, but what was it that you wanted to do as a child and never did? Whether its learning to do a cartwheel, a handstand or ride a bike, this is the year to nurture that inner child and fulfill those childhood wishes. Your younger self with thank you!
Try a new food
Instead of cutting out foods from your diet, why not experiment with some new foods and add some exciting variety to your diet. Explore the fruit and veg aisles first and try something you’ve never tried before. You’ll be surprised and your tastebuds will rejoice!
Break the routine
Break out of your every-day rut and spice up your routine by doing one small thing differently each day or week. Run a different route, wear something you wouldn’t normally wear, try a different flavour coffee and brighten up a routine day every now and again by doing something you’d normally do on a special occasion. So drink the champagne, eat the fancy chocolates and wear those killer heels to the grocery store! Every day is a special occasion.
Do something nice for others
This world can do with a whole lot more kindness and caring, so instead of focusing only inwards, look outwards and help make the world a better place. Do one nice thing a day or week for someone else. It can be as simple as flashing a smile at a stranger, giving someone a compliment or donating blood or sponsoring a child in need. You’ll be making a difference and it will leave you with a feeling of achievement.
