A new year is here! Yay! It’s time to take advantage of all the energy that the new year brings and start planning an achieving all those new year resolutions!
I have to admit that I am not a fan of the “new year, new me” trend, but I do love the fresh energy that a new year brings. We all create a long, long list with thinks we want to take up next year such as: eat healthier, floss, workout and so on. It’s also a well known fact that most new year resolutions fail. And that is not just because we procrastinate, but also because we ask for too much from ourselves. Psychologists say that because we try to bring so many changes into our lives in such short period of time, we fail too achieve them. So one big piece of advice is to achieve one resolution at a time, not 10 in two months.
Related: 11 Tips & Tricks That Will Help You Stick to a New Year Resolution
But there are some small, not difficult things you can introduce into your routine that will actually improve your life.
Small New Year Resolutions That Will Actually Make Your Life Better
1. Drink enough liquids
The original resolution was “drink more water”, but I think it has a lot of negativity in it. First of all “drink more” sounds like you’re doing it wrong and you have to do it better, which is not true. Even though we are told we should drink eight glasses of water (or two liters) per day, that is not entirely true. Some people need more, some people need less. Those eight glasses is an average value.
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Secondly, water is not the only thing that will keep your body hydrated. Other liquids such as soups, natural juices without sugar or fruits also hydrate you and give you a lot of vitamins and minerals.
Related: Ways to Trick Yourself Into Drinking More Water
So drinking enough liquids is the go to recipe to success. Eat fruits, have a delicious soup and it will be a win-win.
2. Floss
I’ll have to admit that this is quite a hard one. I’ve struggled to take up flossing for quite a long time. I simply can’t keep it on a daily basis. Probably because it one of those things that you don’t actually see the results until you go to the dentist’s and he admires you perfectly healthy gums. Anyway, you will be thankful for taking up flossing when you’ll be older.
3. Regular doctor’s appointments
Because I had braces and eye surgeries, I go to the dentist’s and ophthalmologist every single year. I also go every two years or so to the dermatologist and gynecologist.
One really “health safety” thing that I’ve started to do a few years ago is to have blood samples taken every single year and run a general check up. It just makes me feel safer.
So if you know that you have health issues in your family – like a history of heart diseases – go to the doctor and run a general check up. Or just simply visit the doctor’s for a general check up to make sure that you’re healthy. It is so much worth it to be better safe than sorry. Health is the only thing that is difficult, sometimes impossible to get back once you loose it.
4. Appreciate more
Appreciating small things like being able to wake up in the morning in your own bed and have warm meals every single day is priceless. Having good friends around you that will support you when you need them to is also amazing.
Keep a small notebook where you write every once and a while thinks that you are grateful for in that day. It does not have to be huge things, maybe just a night out with your friends that made you feel really good and appreciative that you have them in your life. Read the notes when you feel down, it will give you an amazing feeling, trust me!
5. Give more
The act of giving is pure fuel for the soul. It makes you feel a better and peaceful person. Don’t think about donating money or things like that. Just smile to the shop assistant and say her “thank you”, she will smile back and it will be nice. Be kind and the world will be kind to you back.
Related: Touching gift for spring’s arrival | Faith in humanity restored
6. Walk instead of drive
Going to do groceries and want to take the car? How about having a nice walk and take a taxi back home? In this way you will avoid the traffic jams, stress and polluting. Having a walk is proven to be a strong weapon against stress and depression.
Related: 5 Reason to Choose Cycling for Daily Commute
7. Learn
We, human beings are weird creatures: we are lazy, but we also don’t like to be useless.
We are eager to learn new things constantly so that we don’t get bored or rusty.
Read a few pages of a good book, or surf throughout the internet to discover new things. Medium is one of my favourite websites for inspirations and not only. Don’t go for difficult skills to take up, choose small things that bring some added value to your knowledge.
Don’t forget to don’t take up all of these at once! As I mentioned earlier, the key to success is baby steps. Wanna read more books this year? Don’t set a “read 50 pages each day” goal, because it will be overwhelming and you will disappoint yourself. Start small: 5 pages today, maybe 8 to 10 next week and so on.
How does you new year resolutions list look like?
47 comments
Totally agree with these, especially appreciating more. I need to take time to be present and grateful everyday. It definitely makes a difference.
Lovely post! These are all possible for everyone to do, easy to achieve and also very effective ones. I always tend to set plenty of more or less difficult tasks to achieve next year. Sometimes it would probably be good for us to also focus on the basics. ๐
Best,
Nora / https://dreamerachiever.com
Love this, Cristina. This reminds me a lot of one of the first holiday posts I wrote for my blog two years back- we have the same perspective on this! I think we’d get along swimmingly ๐
https://www.livingminnaly.com/allposts/2014/12/23/4-things-to-do-instead-of-resolutions
Haha, thank you, Minna! I’ll check that blog post ASAP.
I just wrote a post about setting more realistic goals instead of unrealistic resolutions this year, so I totally jive with your ideas. I love the “learn” piece – I’m all about that life-long learning!
xo Kathryn
http://www.fashionablyfrank.com
Totally agree on all of these, but WATER! I need to drink more water – I’m so bad at it and notoriously always have been. I’m pretty busy at work so it’s hard sometimes to make the effort to keep refilling my bottle but it’s so important and good for you. Happy New Year!
I love these! Sometimes the small things make life better!
These are some great ideas and really realistic!
http://moosmusing.com
I never make resolutions, but these are definitely doable. I track many of these things in my bullet journal already.
I love this! Small resolutions are so much easier to stick to! ๐
Is it sad that I feel like an accomplished person when I make it through a week of flossing twice daily?! haha It is definitely good for you to do but a hard habit to make! These are all great tips! ๐
You’re definitely an accomplished person, Cara!
Love all of this. A fabulous list and happy new year! Bring on 2017! xx
I think one small goal each month would be the best bet!
It could work for sure, as long as you don’t ditch them after that month.
Yes, but focusing on one small aspect each month will get you into the regularity of something new to help it become a habit
Great suggestions! I don’t usually make big resolutions for the new year but these I can get behind!
I really like these! Learning is something that we all need to do more of, for sure! ๐
These are the best! Drinking more liquids is something I am really trying to do, and not drink as much pop! Love all of these ideas!
Fabulous list and one I definitely need to implement this year
Lovely thoughts. Awesomely mindful resolutions to have. Drinking enough liquids is on my list too! Happy year ahead!! ๐
Love all of this! Walking is my favorite and I do to need to hydrate more!
http://adornedinarmor.com
Appreciate more is something that is very close to my heart. I want to appreciate what I have and let my loved one’s know that I appreciate them.
It’s a very nice thing to feel and show indeed.
I like the idea of starting small, instead of putting a long list together, or resolutions that represent the finish line, instead of focusing on the steps to get there. Great list!
Thank you, Ashley!
These are great resolutions! So much easier to follow when you break them down the way you did. I definitely need to get in the better habit of making doctors appointments. To help me get into flossing I bought the floss pics instead of the roll and it’s helped so much.
I love realistic resolutions and I’m not sure resolution is the right word. Maybe my list of things to be better? I don’t know. Good luck with your resolves? Goals? There must be better than resolution.
I would call it long term vision.
I really like these resolutions because they’re simple, responsible, and attainable. And as hard as it is to be responsible sometimes, it just makes life feel so much better. Working on my water intake even as I read this! ๐
If there is one thing I have mastered already from this list, it is drinking water! I was sick all last week, and felt how important hydration is. Now that I am better, I cannot get enough water in my system! haha! It truly does make a difference in how you feel and look. I like all of the points you have made. Creating a new you every year can be exhausting and easily dismissed. However, working to refresh or improve for the new year is something that can be obtainable.
These are perfect goals! Often we take the little things for granted but they can have a huge impact on our lives. My big goal every day – be better than I was yesterday! ๐
True! What a nice goal to guide you everyday!
Love this! Perfect goals for the New Year!
I’m sooooo incredibly bad about flossing. I will get through brushing my teeth and then think, “Eh, no biggie if I skip it this time.” Well…10 days later and, yeah. You get the drift. I must do better!
These are great resolutions! I would love to do the drink more and walk more.
Belle | One Awesome Momma
These are great – all things we should be doing everyday!
Except for #6 (I live too far away from the nearest grocery store!) I wholeheartedly agree with this list! Taking small steps add up to a long journey ๐
I choose the grocery store trip because I though it was the most common activity we all do. But you can give up driving in other situations as well.
I also struggle with flossing daily! I try to do it at least once a week.
I’m relying to “fake it until you make it” approach. Maybe it will work, haha.
Once a week might turn in 3 to 4 times a week and before you know it, you will do it daily.
Love this post! Simple and refreshing! Thanks for sharing!
So happy you like it, Lali! Thank you for stopping by and reading it.
i could definitely do better with floss. thanks for the reminder ๐
Haha, anytime! I need that reminder too.
I love this post! These are totally honest and realistic goals that people can accomplish. It’s a great way to have a healthy start to the new year. Great post!
Thank you so much, Michele! You’re very kind. Glad you enjoyed the article.