As we head into the Xmas period, New Year also begins to loom on the horizon. This sees us welcome in the new 12 months and put the previous year behind us. Many people love New Year for the optimism it brings to their lives and the chance to look forward to what awesome things may happen in the coming months. One big part of the celebrations is to make New Year’s resolutions. These are basically promises you make to yourself on how you will change your life or habits for the better in the next 12 months.
To give a better idea of what it is all about, here are the ten most popular resolutions that you could also think about making.
10 – Drink Less Alcohol
One of the most popular resolutions many people make which you could also sign-up for is drinking less alcohol. Although some countries drink more than others (yes, I’m looking at you Britain!), the fact is that many people globally drink too much alcohol throughout the year. This can have serious health effects and also is very expensive. To help look after your body better and spend less money, why not give up the demon drink or cut back in the New Year? While this might be hard to stick to at first, it is really worth it for the positive benefits it brings.
09 – Spend more time with family
We all know how it is during normal life. With rushing to work, looking after kids and doing chores, there is not a lot of time left for much else. This can mean that we neglect to spend time with people outside of our immediate family unit, such as parents or grandparents. Why not make a resolution this year to spend more time with them and make the effort to see them more often? It might not be easy and might make you even busier but it is really worth it.
08 – Read More
It is often said that being well read broadens the mind and makes you a more interesting person. This means taking a resolution to read more in the next 12 months is a good idea. Even if you are not a big fan of reading novels, you could at least buy a print newspaper each day to keep up to date with current affairs. Of course, reading classic novels or blockbuster modern hits is also a great way to increase your general knowledge and vocabulary. The great news for tech freaks now is that you can do all this online or with an e-reader if you like!
07 – Change Careers
Another very popular resolution many people make each New Year is to switch jobs. This is understandable as many people struggle through jobs they hate each year in order to pay the bills. When they get a break over Xmas to reflect on where their career is headed, this gives them the time to take decisive action. If you do not like your current job, then taking out a resolution to find something better is worthwhile. Being happy in your work will not only mean you are more fulfilled in your career but also happier mentally.
06 – Quit Smoking
It is strange to think that people still smoke cigarettes and cigars in the modern age. We all know how dangerous they are to our health and what they do to our organs after all. The fact is though that many people around the world still smoke and this makes giving up a popular resolution to make. If you smoke then it really is one you should make to prolong your life and get healthier. There is no denying it will be hard at first but there are many aids to help now such as special chewing gum or nicotine patches. If you manage to stick with it, you will be glad you did.
05 – Take up a new hobby
One other classic New Year’s resolution that people make is to learn a new skill or take up a new hobby. Taking up a new hobby is well-known to help you meet new people and grab some much needed me time while learning a new skill is a very satisfying process. All this is great for your mental health and remaining in a positive mindset. Our busy lives though mean most of us struggle to do this which is not ideal. In the coming year, why not make a concerted effort to take up a hobby or pick up a new skill? From learning to build a brick wall or woodwork to taking up yoga or painting, there is lots you could try out.
04 – Save More Money
This popular resolution usually comes into play when you look at your bank balance after Xmas! There is no getting away from the fact that it is an expensive time of year and also that many of us do not save enough in general over the year. Any spare money that does come in can soon disappear on takeaways or night’s out. While you should still make time for fun in the New Year, it is also worth trying to save more as you go along. This not only will give you money for special treats after a while but also give you emergency savings to fall back on if needed.
03 – Move Home
Many people head into the New Year looking to change things up and break out of any rut they feel stuck in. For lots of people, this means making a resolution to move home and start afresh in a new area or country. If you find yourself bored with your current life, then this is a resolution which could work for you too. By being in a different home in a new area, you will begin to build a new life and live in a way that you find more exciting.
02 – Exercise More
After we have spent a few weeks over Christmas and New Year eating non-stop, we all feel a little bit heavier than normal. This means that making a resolution to exercise more is not only popular but wise. Many of us do not exercise as we should in normal life either so this resolution can make a big difference to how you look and feel. Whether you hit the gym, jog around your local neighborhood or workout at home, fitting in a few regular sessions each week is wise. Many people feel that they need to lose weight in the New Year and this is the ideal way to go about it.
01 – Follow a Healthier Diet
After the excess of Christmas and New Year, we all tend to feel that our diets are totally out of synch. Too many puddings and too much buffet food means eating healthily is a distant memory for most. When you also add in plenty of wine, spirits and beer, the desire to eat in a healthier way in the New Year is understandable.
This is a very popular resolution for many who also have fallen into bad habits during the whole of the previous year too in terms of living on high-fat, sugary or processed food. If you want to follow suit, make sure to include lots of fresh fruit and vegetables in your new diet. Drinking plenty of water is also crucial – 8 glasses a day is the usual recommendation. Once you have followed your new diet for a while, you should feel much more energetic and healthier.
While it is not compulsory to make resolutions at New Year, many people do. This is because the break from normality gives us chance to reflect on our lives and they could be changed for the better. If you want to take steps to make positive changes in your own life, the resolutions above are a great place to start.