20 New Year's Resolution Ideas for Fulfilling New Beginnings
/I think the problem of New Year's resolution ideas and the fact we don't get to stick to them is this – we don't set up our resolutions early enough. I know everyone is different, and you won't need to have the same 2020 goals as your neighbor, but I still think that doing it early enough will give you enough time to properly think about and pick the realistic ones and stick till the end with your choices.
For me, the New Year's resolutions aren't just activities, but also personal and professional development and everything else in between. From practicing gratitude to being kinder to only doing those extra 5 minutes of workout, is something as long as this is what YOU want and not the social norms imply you should be doing.
So, I put together a list of New Year's resolution ideas to make you look forward to the new year. Choose as many as you want, but make sure you will be happy with your decisions by the end of next December.
1. Do little acts of kindness. Ask people with a map that seems lost if you can help them. Buy a coffee to one colleague you rarely talk to or just hold a door open for someone (it doesn't have to be something big). If everyone did more of these things, the world would be a better place.
2. Make new Friends. I talked about this topic with a lot of you about this subject, and I know how difficult it is to make friends, not only when you move to a new city/country, but especially when you get older, but there's no reason you should ever stop. Join a group on Meetup, or become a member of a volunteer organization—others in these situations are often trying to meet new people, too, so it takes some of the pressure off.
3. Start budgeting—or stick to it if you are already doing it. Budgeting is never easy or fun to do, but at the end of the day, when you don't know where all your money has gone, you're going to wish you'd kept up with it sooner. The trick is not to make your budget too stringent (I've done that and wasn't able to stick to the plan). Instead, the budget for social gatherings and incidentals (e.g., a locksmith visit, an unexpected meal out, new clothing).
4. Call your family more. Chances are you don't live right down the street from your family. Make it a point to call those close to you, especially those that are older. It will completely make your grandparent's day when you call them to catch up. Even if you hear the same story 15 times, that's okay, remember, they don't have the exciting life you have.
5. Stop having FOMO. I know that feeling that if you are staying in on Saturday night, you are missing out on so much, especially if you live in big cities. Now I've finally realized that some nights I need to stay in and regroup for next week and that my glass of Gin on the couch with Netflix or just friends is totally worth it.
6. Do the one thing you keep meaning to do. This can be anything that you've been putting off because you don't have enough time or because you simply keep forgetting. Mine happens to be a calligraphy course I've meant to do for almost five years now.
7. Become more productive. Having a few productive hours go a long way. What makes you most productive is different for each person, but once you find your thing or things, you can get into a real groove.
8. Be kind to yourself. You are going to make mistakes and have bad days—it's inevitable. But instead of feeling bad about it or making yourself feel worse, you need to treat yourself kindly. Don't worry, I am not too good at this either, but we all learn. If I'm having a particularly bad day, I allow myself to go to bed earlier than normal, since a little sleep goes a long way and I can wake up refreshed to start the next day.
9. Dream bigger. Never stop dreaming and working toward big goals. You can either write them down on a personal journal or notes or even better, share them with someone close to you so you can be held accountable in a good way. Now start making those dreams come true.
10. Stop saying you're sorry all the time. A lot of us have this habit of apologizing when something isn't our fault. Learn to save the "I'm sorry" statements for when they're necessary (and for when you mean it).
11. Make use of your commute time. Instead of letting this time go to waste, download podcasts and listen to them when you're driving or catch up on some reading if you're on public transportation. I've actually gone as far as to write a whole article on my phone on the train from The Hague to Amsterdam, so no excuses.
12. Be more optimistic and Learn to love yourself. It's not just what happens to you but how you handle it. Teach yourself always to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
13. Revamp your professional identity. Even if you're not looking for a new job at the moment, it's wise to prepare yourself for when a good posting catches your eye. Get a new headshot for LinkedIn, update your résumé, and start networking in your free time. When you're not in a rush to do these things, you're able to go over them with a fine-tooth comb.
14. Learn how to cope with stress. Stress is one of those things that can lurk unnoticed for a while, and then it rears its ugly head, and you're in trouble. Instead of waiting for anxiety to show up to tackle it, learn which methods of reducing and managing your stress work best for you. Some people prefer meditation, others yoga, and some like having a support system to lean on. I personally prefer to be violent, so a class of box really puts me in a good mood.
15. Start giving back. Whether you decide to volunteer once a week or once a year, it still matters. Increase your charitable endeavors and realize that you're not just making a positive impact—you're positively impacted, too.
16. Satisfy your wanderlust. If all we do is wait until we hit the lottery to go on a dream trip, we'll never go anywhere. Pick a destination you've been dying to visit and make plans to go. No matter what your idea is, you'll come back feeling refreshed, and with memories, you'll never forget.
17. Have more compassion. Isn't it true that we never really know what's going on in someone's life? Before you get mad at a friend for canceling plans or mutter under your breath when a stranger does something to annoy you, remember that it's probably not really about you at all.
18. Be okay, just being. Become comfortable just being in the present moment as you are. It's a tough feeling to be okay with—but once you get used to it, you're golden.
19. Consider the haves, not just the have-nots. So often, it's about "keeping up with the Joneses." Switch your way of thinking, so you're able to acknowledge and appreciate all the things you do have, rather than just focusing on those that you don't.
20. Give up a vice. We all have one thing we want to stop doing. Take the time to quit that bad habit once and for all finally.
Looking for more New Year's resolution ideas to add to your list? Here are Tips for New Year Resolutions
