It’s nearly that time of year when we become flooded with the dreaded “New Year, New Me!” posts. Yes, it’s time to start planning your New Year’s resolution.
We all say we won’t make one, but then we inevitably find ourselves promising that: “I’ll lose weight”, “I’ll join a gym!”, “I’ll cut back on coffee!” and many similar resolutions that most of us, let’s be honest, fail. It goes without saying that these New Year’s Resolutions have become boring and monotonous after all these years. so this year, why not give something else a try? Take a look at this list of 7 unique New Year’s resolutions to inspire you (and hopefully have a bit of fun whilst doing so!):
1. Random Acts of Kindness Resolution: Challenge yourself to perform a random act of kindness each week, also known as “paying it forward”. It could be something like paying for a strangers coffee, which often is the go-to example of “paying it forward”. But a random act of kindness doesn’t always have to cost money. Something as ‘small’ as paying someone a compliment every day could create a positive uplift in someone’s life You never know when someone might need to hear those oh-so-important words of encouragement. Or if you have the time to spare, vow to volunteer. Whether that means nice a week, once a month or a couple of times a year, anything can help make a massive difference. Whatever you choose, it’s your opportunity to spread positivity and make a difference in the lives of others.
2. Monthly Adventure Resolution: Get outside and explore! Try something new every month and get some fresh air whilst doing it. This could be a weekend road trip to an unfamiliar town, learning a new dance style, or participating in a craft workshop. After all, you’ll never know if you like something until you try! Again, this doesn’t have to be an expensive excursion – it could be something like finding a new local walk (and apps such as Strava and Komoot can help with this). Or if this seems like too daunting of a task to try by yourself, have a look for local walking/running groups where you can tackle this as a team – and make some friends in the process too!
3. Gratitude Journaling Resolution: Think of this as a reverse ‘bucket list’. Instead of writing down all the things you want to do but haven’t yet, start a gratitude journal where you jot down things you’ve already accomplished. Focusing on your achievements this way can help shift your perspective and enhance your overall sense of well-being. Sure, it’s good to have goals and dreams – it can help us stay motivated, but sometimes we forget to recognise how far we’ve come. “I got out of bed and made my bed today” can still be an accomplishment for many, and deserves to be celebrated.
4. Fear-Conquering Resolution: Identify a fear and commit to facing it head-on. Side note – not every resolution in this area has to be a sky dive! It can anything that challenges your comfort zone. Scared of spiders? Try starting with joining online groups of spider lovers. Not a fan of public speaking? Consider researching groups such as Toastmasters that can help you conquer this fear. You could vow to conquer a series of fears or address a big fear you feel is impacting your life. If you find yourself struggling over something big, try breaking it down into manageable ghhysteps and conquer it throughout the year. You got this!
5. Personal Time Capsule Resolution: This one can be as creative as you make it! Create a personal time capsule to be opened in the future. Include letters to your future self, a list of current goals and aspirations, and items that represent your current interests. Heard a joke that made you laugh? Write it down and store it for future laughs. Other examples include a photo collage of your favourite moments (so far), an article of clothing that reminds you of something or someone special, or an old loyalty card from your favourite coffee shop. Absolutely anything can be included Just make sue you store it in a safe place and set a date for its opening.
6. Go Greener Resolution: This doesn’t have to be a complete overhaul of your life – you can start small. Most of us know by now that recycling plastics, glass and paper is good for the planet, but living a eco- conscious lifestyle is on the forefront more now than ever. Work towards being more sustainable this new year and also save some money by adopting practices such as:
- Repair broken appliances rather than binning them. This will help those budget-conscious among us, and you can also learn new skills! There are endless amounts of videos on YouTube you can watch for tutorials on how to fix things
- Look up food scrapping recipes rather than wasting food. Composting is the obvious solution many of us use but there are plenty of zero-waste recipes you can find on the internet. Save those vegetable trimmings, turn broccoli stalks into soup, make your own salad dressings and chicken broth … there are endless possibilities, and the end results are cheaper and healthier than store-bought alternatives.
- Shop at zero waste and refill stores if you can. These are becoming more common place – just bring your own jars and containers from home and refill, cutting down on plastic and other waste.
- Cycle, walk and use public transport more. Save money on petrol and improve your fitness at the same time. on’t have a bike? There are plenty of second hand bikes you could purchase. The extra fresh air will help improve your mental wellbeing as well.
- Shop at thrift stores. With this one you can even do it online! Apps such as Vinted offer an easy way to shop second-hand items from the convenience of your own home. Or learn ways of repairing your own clothes. Stitching up your own clothes is one way, or research ways to use patches to add character and charm to old clothing. Even taken broken jeans to a tailor to fx can save you money compared to the cost of buying a whole new pair.
7. Digital Detox Resolution: Take time away from all the screens and learn to appreciate your family, friends and finer things in life more. Take notice of how much time you’re spending on your phone (most phones now offer weekly or daily screen reports). Get rid of apps you feel are taking up too much of your time, and step back from spending so much time on social media. Instead of obsessing over how someone else is living their life (remember, a lot of what we see on social media is staged anyway!) and look at improving your own life. You could start with something small, like ‘no screen time after 8PM’ or ‘Screen-Free Sundays’. And with the extra time you find yourself with, you could find yourself a new hobby, learn a new skill or invest more time into personal care. Plus, you may also find your sleep and mental health improves, so it’s worth it just for that!.
In conclusion, setting unique New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to challenge yourself and try new things. By focusing on goals that are outside the norm, you can push yourslef to grow and develop in ways you. never thought possible. Whether it’s learning a new skill, taking up a new hobby, or improving the way you impact the lives of yourself and others around you, there are countless ways you can achieve this.. So, if you’re looking to make the most of the new year, why not consider setting a resolution that’s truly unique and inspiring?