The new year holiday is celebrated around the world. Although each culture celebrates differently, the concept of self-reflection and self-improvement is universal. We see it as a fresh start, a chance to release the negativity of the past and to embrace the challenges of the future. This allows us to focus on aspects of our lives that need improvement, but all too often we shift the focus from internal growth to external change. Weight loss resolutions can lower self-esteem and trigger eating disorder behaviors. The disappointment and frustration associated with weight loss resolutions can be harmful to our emotional health. Instead of resolutions centered around diet fads, choose a resolution that will make you happier, wealthier, smarter or better balanced. Look inwardly and create a goal that you can stick to that will make you feel more fulfilled by the end of the year. Here are eight potential resolutions to choose from but get creative and choose the resolution that is just right for you!
- Get Organized
According to
How To Get Organized – 7 Organizing Tips That Will Work (time-management-success.com), everybody can benefit from learning to get organized. They offer some easy solutions to keep your space in order. Some of their simple suggestions to help calm the clutter include: make sure everything has a designated space, put an item away as soon as you are done with it, and start small and organize one section at a time. An organized environment can help organize the mind as well.
- Learn a New Skill or Hobby
Have you ever wanted to speak a different language, play an instrument, sew, or knit? The New Year is a great time to tackle a new learning opportunity. It’s easier than ever to learn a new skill because there are so many different resources available. There are multiple apps, YouTube tutorials, Pinterest boards and other online resources, but many schools, clubs and community groups offer in person learning opportunities as well. Joining a live class is a great way to learn while meeting people with similar interests.
- Improve Your Finances
Learning how to better manage your money is a great goal, but it can be so intimidating.
10 Best Finance Books for Women (hermoney.com) offers a list of easy yet comprehensive books to get you started and help you stay focused on your goals,
Increase Travel If you have decided to gain control of your finances as your New Year’s resolution, you might find that you are better able to add travel as a goal, too. USNews.com suggests traveling to locations during off peak season when rates are lower. This might also help reduce crowds at some of your dream destinations. Another strategy to travel on the cheap is to visit state or federal parks. Many parks have campsites and cabins that are significantly less expensive than hotels.
Increase Reading This resolution works well in conjunction with many of the other resolutions. Want to learn a new skill? There’s a book for that. Want to plan a vacation? There’s a book for that. But whatever you’re interested in, from learning about something new to being carried away to an imaginary world, there is a book for that. If you are actively trying to resist diet fads and weight loss resolutions, reading books and articles that focus on body positivity can be very helpful. One such book is
The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self Love, written by poet Sonya Renee Taylor.
- Less Screen Time
You might be too busy reading, knitting, or traveling for screen time if you’ve selected one or all the resolutions above, but if not, limiting screen time can be especially helpful for your mental health. You can start by unfollowing social media accounts that do not promote body positivity. Resist spending hours online comparing yourself to people who make life seem easy or effortless. Some alternatives to being in front of a screen include reading, getting in touch with nature, or calling up a friend.
- Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude may have very positive impacts on your mental health. If making thankfulness part of your daily life is your resolution, then keeping a gratitude journal might be good for you. Writing down one positive thing that has happened to you each day, or even just once a week, could give you a positive perspective during difficult situations. Writing thank you notes to share with friends, family and colleagues is also an excellent way to spread gratitude.
- Meditation
Thousands of studies have shown the positive effect of meditation, so making it your resolution is an excellent idea. Meditation is a practice that involves training your attention to stay involved in the present moment.
How to Meditate: a Complete Mindfulness Guide (insider.com) offers two minute, five minute and ten minute meditation guides. Of course, if you want to learn more about meditation, there’s a book for that!
As you can see, there are many New Year’s resolutions that have nothing to do the way you look, but everything to do with the way you feel. Focus on goals that will make you a happier, better-balanced person and leave the resolutions behind that just make you feel bad about yourself. This list is just a small sample of all the ways you can improve in the new year. So, choose the resolution that is right for you, do your best to stick with it, but most importantly, have fun with it!
