New Year's Resolutions
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Happy New Year!!!
If I’im being honest, I don’t really care that much about New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. It’s just another day…(don’t hate me).
I do, however, love the idea of a fresh start…a blank page…turning over a new leaf…you get the picture! I am all for trying to become a better person. You go, girl (or boy!)! Today I’m sharing 25 ideas for New Year’s Resolutions to help you get your new year (and the new you) off on the right foot!
With that being said, I very rarely make resolutions. I always had the attitude that New Year’s resolutions are rarely ever kept, so why bother? (I sound like a real delight, don’t I?)
Casual Promises To Myself
This year, I’ve got a new attitude and a new approach. First of all, I think there is too much pressure on New Year’s resolutions, so this year I am making “casual promises to myself” instead. Secondly, even if a person only sticks to their resolutions for a month, it’s still a month of positive change. What’s not to celebrate about that? Lastly, if that same person was able to make those healthy changes for a month, maybe next time they will be able to make those changes for 2 months, then 3 months!
My resolutions/casual promises are focused mainly on carving out time for things I already enjoy. I really enjoy cooking and baking, so I want to make sure I dedicate time to focus on that. I also want to prepare clean, delicious food for my family, so that we can be healthy together.
Anywho, the “official” casual promises I’ve decided on are:
- Cook more from scratch
- Master 3-4 recipes. I want to know how to perfectly roast a chicken and make a delicious homemade pizza.
- Focus more attention on my blog.
- Clean out 1 drawer/closet every weekend (yikes)
- Drink more water.
Alright, now let’s get into more ides for New Year’s Resolutions…
25 Ideas For New Year's Resolutions
1. Practice Mindfulness
You owe it to yourself to be fully present in the New Year!
Here is a great resource for learning how to practice mindfulness daily.
2. Exercise Regularly
…or at all…
3. Try A New Recipe Each Week
This is a fun one if you are like us and try to eat at home a majority of the time. Trying a new recipe each week is a fun way to challenge yourself and possibly find a new family favorite!
4. Perfect A Recipe
Focus on learning how to make that perfect chocolate chip cookie, that amazing loaf of bread, or the most delicious spaghetti sauce. Keep trying throughout the year until you get it just right!
5. Clean out 1 drawer/closet each week
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. By cleaning out closets and drawers little by little, by the end of the year you will have cleaned and organized every area of your house! What a great feeling that will be!
6. Create A Cleaning Schedule
…and stick to it…
This doesn’t have to mean mapping out how to clean your entire house. It could be as simple as running the dishwasher every night before bed, always washing towels on Tuesdays, or dusting the baseboards of one room each week.
Check out these Cleaning Hacks for Working Moms for a few ideas.
7. Schedule all age-appropriate doctors appointments
This will look different for everyone depending on age and sex, but at the very minimum, make sure to get a visit to your primary care physician and your dentist in the books.
8. Plan A Vacation
Sometimes the thought of planning a trip seems like more money and more hassle than it’s worth. I’m here to tell you, it’s not! It is so worth it! Go somewhere new, even if it’s just a couple of towns over!
The more I travel the more I find myself wanting to travel. Now I have an endless list of places I’d like to visit.
9. Drink Water
Did you know that you are supposed to drink half of your weight in ounces of water each day? So, if you weigh 150 lbs you should be drinking 75 ounces of water each and every day.
10. Volunteer
Is there a cause you are passionate about? Find a local nonprofit dedicated to that cause and see if they need help. They usually have “current needs” listed somewhere on their website.
11. Explore New Hobbies
Is there anything you have always wanted to learn how to do? If so, now is the time to give it a try!!
Do you want a new hobby, but have no idea what you want to do? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! Here are a few suggestions:
- Gardening
- Flower arranging
- Photography
- Knitting
- Crocheting
- Punch Needle Art
- Woodworking
- Blogging
- Journaling
- Cooking
- Reading
- Videogames
- Yoga
- Bird Watching
- Puzzles
- Calligraphy
- Going to yard sales/rummage sales
- Explore where you live
- Follow a new YouTube channel
- Baking
If my suggestions don’t turn your crank, Parade created this list of 125 Hobbies To Try. Whatever it is that you decide, just make sure you are having fun!
12. Skincare Routine
Everyone should have some sort of skincare routine, and if you don’t, now is the time to get one together! I have learned so much from watching Caroline Hiron’s YouTube channel and reading her blog. I definitely recommend you check her out!
If starting a “routine” is too overwhelming, just commit yourself to remove your makeup, washing your face, and moisturizing every night and washing your face and moisturizing every morning. Start with that and see how it goes!
Current favorite makeup remover (here), face wash (here), daytime moisturizer (here), and nighttime moisturizer (here).
13. Make your bed every morning
The idea behind this is by making your bed every morning you are starting your day with an accomplishment.
However, if you work from home, making your bed makes it less likely that you will crawl back in it (trust me!).
14. Prioritize Eco-friendly choices
Become more earth-friendly in the new year. Make 1 or 2 swaps at a time so as to not get overwhelmed. Reusable hand towels instead of paper towels, reusable sandwich bags rather than plastic baggies, and/or a menstrual cup in place of pads and tampons (although here is why I won’t be using a menstrual cup ever again).
Check out this article by Good Housekeeping to learn more about eco-friendly products and ways to get started!
15. Compliment yourself more
When you love and respect yourself, so will the world.
16. Read more
Here is a list of all the books Oprah’s Book Club has recommended…in case you need a place to start!
17. Send cards
Make it a priority to send birthday cards, anniversary cards, thank you cards, etc. Your friends and loved ones will feel so special!! Plus, who doesn’t like receiving mail that isn’t a bill?
18. Use a day planner
There isn’t much I love more than a new day planner. I love making lists and getting organized.
19. Social media detox
It’s no secret that we are all a bit…dependent on our devices these days. It couldn’t hurt to set aside a few hours a day or possibly even an entire day a week to put down the devices and turn off the screens.
20. Shop local
Support small business, go to local Farmer’s Markets and farm stands, eat at local restaurants, etc.
21. Buy clothes that fit right now
I am guilty of this. I never buy new clothes. Like, ever! My usual logic is why buy clothes now for the size I don’t want to be. I should wait until I’ve lost weight to buy clothes, that way I don’t waste money. But, you know what, I don’t ever lose weight!
Buy clothes that fit your body right now. It will help you feel good and confident, which will, in turn, help you in other aspects of your life!
22. Buy exercise clothes you feel good in
I don’t know about you, but I’m much more motivated to exercise when I have cute, comfortable new exercise clothes to do it in.
23. Invest in your relationships
Spend time strengthening all the relationships in your life (i.e. spouse, parents, siblings, friends, etc). While you are at it, spend some time investing in the relationship you have with yourself too!
24. Start swapping toxic products
Similarly to transitioning to more eco-friendly products, start swapping out toxic personal care products, household cleaners, and/or cosmetics for more safe options.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a great website where you can search any product or brand to see how safe or not safe it is.
25. Practice Gratitude
Focus on being grateful – it will change your life!
Check out these Affirmations of Gratitude.
I love this post! So many good ideas!
I also love that you call them “casual promises” instead of resolutions! I have chosen to think of them as habits I want to build rather than goals or things to check off of a list. There’s always things you can learn whether or not your stick to the goal or not!
Yes, exactly!!!