Each year, the month of December brings about holidays, presents, gatherings, celebrations, and a new year to look forward to. With a new year often comes New Year’s resolutions—commitments to try to improve some part of our lives. Each year, around 40% of Americans make a resolution for the new year. However, only about 9% of them succeed. But why is that and how do you keep your New Year’s resolutions?
The concept of resolving to work on or change an area of our life is great, as it shows that we want to be better. But we often choose to take on large, unattainable goals with our resolutions, and that often causes us to fail in keeping them. Good New Year’s resolutions don’t need to be complicated or completely life-altering. Instead, we should focus on simple resolutions that are actually attainable and will have some type of positive impact on our lives. So, what are 7 simple resolutions you can make to start the new year on the right foot?
7 New Year’s Resolutions Ideas
- Read Each Day – Many of us love reading, but often feel like we don’t have enough time to do it. However, resolving to make reading a part of your daily routine will help you get back into it. It doesn’t have to be for long either, as even reading for just 5 minutes a day can get you back in the habit. It also doesn’t matter if you are reading a novel, the newspaper, articles, comics, or anything else. All reading provides us with benefits like reducing stress, strengthening our brain, building our vocabulary, preventing cognitive decline, and more.
- Cook a New Meal Once a Week – Another simple resolution is to cook a new meal each week. This can help you get creative with your food and try new things that you wouldn’t normally try. This can also be a way to eat out less and get more vegetables in your diet, helping your budget, your body, and even the planet. If you aren’t able to cook, then make sure you are getting healthy, diverse foods as part of a balanced diet. You can even start tracking your macros so you know everything that is going into your body!
- Block Out Time for Yourself Each Day – Taking a few moments to yourself each day is another good resolution to commit to in the new year. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, make a conscious effort and plan to ensure you have time on your own each day when you don’t have to worry about anything else. This time can be used for reading, meditating, listening to music, exercising, or whatever else helps you to calm down and de-stress.
- Get Active – Many New Year’s resolutions involve working out and getting in better shape. However, those are lofty goals that are both hard to achieve and difficult to stick to. If you’re looking to improve your physical fitness—much like with reading—try to do little things each day that get you active and help you build a routine. This can be as simple as going for a short walk or doing 5 push-ups a day. Then, once you’ve done that consistently, you can incorporate longer and more challenging exercises and continue to build upon your sustained success.
- Join a Club, Group, or Team – Another great resolution is to join a new club, group, or team. Whether you get involved with a reading club, start running with others in your area, learn how to play pickleball, or volunteer at a local nonprofit, doing something out of the ordinary can create some new excitement in your life and provide you with opportunities to meet new people. It can also help you pick up a new hobby or enjoy something that you’ve always liked but maybe haven’t had time for recently.
- Drink Water – Many of us have plants that get more water than we give to ourselves. That’s why it’s a good idea to make a simple resolution to drink more water in the new year. Drinking enough water is essential for our bodies to function properly and remain healthy by getting rid of waste, regulating our temperature, and protecting our tissues and joints.
- Focus on One Thing at a Time – No matter how hard we try, there will always be tasks, to-dos, chores, and errands that we need to complete. We often think that multi-tasking will make things more efficient and help us complete tasks more quickly, but it can actually end up stressing us out more. That’s why it may be a good idea to try focusing on one thing at a time when you’re crossing tasks off of your list. That way, they can get your full attention and you can complete them in a timely manner and move on to the next thing.
Thompson-Markward Hall (TMH) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the academic and professional success of young women. Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., TMH offers safe, affordable, and convenient housing for women working, attending school, or interning in our nation’s capital. Included in the room and board rates are utilities, free high-speed Wi-Fi, breakfast and dinner, and a diverse, welcoming community. Visit our website to learn more about our accommodations or to submit an application today to start enjoying all of the benefits of living at TMH!