It’s that time of year once again when we look ahead to making positive changes in our lives. From quitting smoking to losing weight, all the way through to saving money and drinking less alcohol, many of us are in the process of setting our new year’s resolutions. But if you’re still yet to decide, and you’re looking for a bit of inspiration, keep reading as we’ve got a few suggestions that you may not have considered, but may just be able to achieve!
Take more time for YOU!
Looking after your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health, but we often forget to be kind to ourselves. So, why not use this opportunity to put yourself first from time to time and be happier and heathier this year. This is a time for change and self-improvement, and it won’t just be you that benefits from taking a bit of time out to relax and do the things that you love. When you’re happier and more relaxed, this positivity will be infectious! It’ll put others in a good mood, too!
Make more of an effort to talk to and see your friends and family
Never have we been more aware of the importance of social contact and spending time with your loved ones. Having not been able to see our friends and family as regularly as we would have liked in 2020, has brought with it more appreciation for the moments that we are able to share with others. So, whatever 2021 brings with it, this is a resolution that we should all be making. Be it face-to-face meet-ups, a quick text message to let friends/family know you’re thinking of them, a video call, or a thoughtful letter or card sent in the post, make as much time as you can afford to connect with those who you care about.
Make plans to do the things you’ve always wanted to do but have never gotten around to!
How often do you catch yourself saying, “I’d love to…” Well, this could be one for you. While this phrase may often end with something like “… win the lottery” or “be invisible for a day”, some of the things we wish for are perfectly achievable. They may just need a bit of planning, budgeting and/or motivation. So, start making your dreams come true and put your plans into action! Maybe it’s getting yourself out of a job that you’re unhappy in, or perhaps you’d like to learn how to do something new, like ballroom dancing or a new language. Whatever it is, make 2021 a can-do year and see what happens when you put your mind to it!
Put down your phone
While mobile phones are incredible tools and, quite frankly, we’d be lost without ours, mobile phones can be a bit of a worm hole when it comes to spare time! How many of you spend more time than you’d like to admit on your phone (playing games, scrolling social media, etc.)? Our phones may be reducing the time we spend with our family and our friends. Plus, there’s evidence to suggest too much screen time could be contributing to higher levels of anxiety and depression. If you think this is an area where you could make some improvements, check out Moment, an iOS app that tracks your phone usage and helps you learn how to reduce it. For Android users, check out QualityTIme.
Be kind
This is sometimes easier said than done, especially when someone else isn’t living by the same code, or when you’re just having a howler of a day! But this is a good rule of thumb that we can all try to live by. After all, we don’t always know what’s going on in someone else’s life, and a small act of kindness – even as little as a smile – can make a world of different to another person.
Think back to the last act of kindness that someone paid you, how did that make you feel? Maybe someone let you jump the queue because you only had a couple of items or maybe you received a Christmas card from a friend that you had fallen out of touch with? There’s a lot we could all do to improve another person’s day. So spread some love in 2021 and make the world a happier place!
Main image credit: Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels