Why do we make new year resolutions? Mainly, it is to push ourselves to the limits that we know we are capable of reaching. These are the new resolutions that you will be very motivated and excited to make and carry out. Other new year resolutions come from your curiosity about your abilities and interests. These resolutions are born from your need to explore new interests and capabilities that you never knew you had.
The list I have curated here is a balanced melody of both. As important as it is to better yourself, it is even more important to allow flexibility in your goals and avoid rigid expectations. Not being able to meet rigid goals can quickly become frustrating. The feeling of inadequacy can prove to be detrimental to your mental health.
The common theme you will see in the list I have curated here is variety. It is about trying new year resolutions for a shorter amount of time to avoid the pressure of carrying them on for the whole year. It is this pressure that usually keeps people from carrying their resolution for longer than February. Make this year about experimenting with new year resolutions and forming habits the healthier way with more flexible rules.
Personally, I am taking up the 7th and the 10th new year resolutions on this list for the year 2023.
1. Try one recipe Each month from a Cuisine you have never tried cooking
No matter how well you cook or how much variety of dishes you cook, recipes from the same old cuisines you are familiar with are bound to get boring. Finding a new recipe that you absolutely love and can eat a thousand times can be a godsend. You will only be able to discover these gems and explore your abilities if you experiment. Experiment not only with new recipes but new recipes from new cuisines.
Make a resolution to try a simple recipe from an unexplored cuisine each month. If it works out, great! If it doesn’t, then at least you took a chance at exploring new options. I would recommend getting some basic spices from a friend or a coworker familiar with the cuisine. (LOL! you don’t want to end up with barely used containers of specific ingredients you may never use again)
I suggest you try making Khichdi (Indian cuisine), a one-pot comfort food loved by a billion people!
2. Find Someone to Mentor
Anything you are good at or have always wanted to share the knowledge? Make this the year of sharing your wisdom. You can become a mentor no matter what your age or expertise are. Regardless of what you are good at, there is someone out there that aspires to excel at the same thing. You will be surprised how much you can learn and expand your own horizons just by sharing your knowledge. The feeling that comes from being someone’s go-to person for queries and advice can be really empowering.
3. Host a Unique Yearly Event
Wouldn’t it be so cool to have a yearly event that your friends and family associate specifically with you? This one day for your friends and family is always booked for that one event that you are known to host. This is an amazing way to stay connected with friends and family that you only see occasionally. Plus, there is just something special about having a legacy that you will be known for years to come.
This can be any holiday that is your favorite or just a day that is made special for your friends and family because of the event that you host. Plan a gathering or a party that has a touch of you in each of its elements! Make it special! Make it an event that you will look forward to hosting each year. The possibilities here are endless: garden party, pool party, game night, girls’ night, etc. If it turns out that you just aren’t a big fan of the stress that comes with hosting, at least you experienced it yourself to find out!
This is the one thing I would love to incorporate into my own life, maybe not this year, but starting next year.
4. Find A New Source of Income
The recent Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of having multiple sources of income. Those who have achieved this dream started with one stream and kept adding more as they became knowledgeable in multiple fields.
Assuming you work full-time (your primary income stream), your most logical second source of income can be freelance work. Websites like Fiverr have made freelancing very easy and accessible. Do you have a hobby that you can monetize? Is there any monetizable activity that you have always been interested in learning?
In today’s world, knowledge has become abundant and easily accessible to anyone from anywhere. Freelance work is merely a suggestion. Your next income stream can be an investment in a business, stocks, or rental homes: the list is endless. Take up a new year’s resolution to actively look for a way to expand your income sources this year.
5. See A Therapist
Can you think of any internal issues that you thought you could resolve yourself? Have you ever thought of seeing a therapist about it, but never actually took the step? Promise yourself that this will be the year you will try it out and invest in yourself.
It is possible that therapy might not be the right path for everyone. However, if you have ever even once thought about seeing a therapist, it can’t hurt to try it once. Seeing a therapist has changed many lives. Make a resolution this year to invest in yourself and see a therapist for any issues that you have struggled with for a long time.
6. Experiment With Cultivating 12 New Habits (One at a Time)
There are some habits that, once cultivated, will allow you to accomplish tasks to your fullest potential. These habits will increase your productivity in addition to improving your mental health.
Come up with a list of 12 habits that you have always wanted to take on. Now assign each habit to one of the twelve months of the year. Researchers say it takes at least 21 days to form a habit; to be on the safer side, I suggest trying each habit for 30 days. Now, it only works if you are honest with yourself. Make a promise to yourself that you will take on the habit for at least 30 days with no obligation to maintain it after 30 days. 30 days can be a bit too much for some people. Alternatively, you can take up the first week of each month to take on 12 habits that you take on for 7 days.
7. Experiment With 12 Morning Drinks
A good night’s sleep is key to giving your body the rest it needs to function efficiently, but it can be tricky for your metabolism. When you wake up, you are dehydrated. Sure, water will do the job. However, why settle for water, when there are many drinks that will not only hydrate your body but also provide a boost to your metabolism and energy?
I have listed twelve morning drinks that you can experiment with or do your own research on and find drinks that suit your taste buds. Having a morning hydration ritual will help you kickstart your day feeling energized to accomplish your planned tasks.
8. Experiment With Ditching 12 Bad Habits
As important as it is to develop healthy habits, ditching the bad habits holding you back can be just as beneficial. Pick twelve habits that you want to get rid of: these can be as simple as biting your nails to as severe as smoking cigarettes. Ideally, you want to have 6-7 simple habits: 2-3 medium-difficulty habits, and 2-3 severe habits. Now assign each habit to each month of the year.; make sure you separate medium and server habits by sandwiching them between simple habits.
Research shows it takes 21 days to unlearn any habit, so don’t give up on giving up until you have at least given your best for 21 days. I also suggest starting the year by ditching a simple habit. The confidence boost from ditching your first bad habits will have a ripple effect for the rest of the year.
9. Complete a No-Spend Month (Highly Recommended)
In today’s world, every time you go online, watch tv, or step into a store, you are surrounded by money-draining temptations. The goal of having a no-spend month is to increasingly become more cognizant of your bad spending habits.
During the no-buy or no-spend month, keep your expenses limited to the bare essentials such as grocery, rent, utilities, and personal hygiene items. You can not spend money on anything that you don’t absolutely NEED. During these money-fasting months, you will not only save your bank account from draining but also become aware of your financial weaknesses. More importantly, you will realize how easy it is to wait out your temptations to spend money and avoid bad spending habits.
Personally, this new year resolution will do you a favor that your future self will be thanking you for. This is coming from your truly, who successfully completed a no-buy year in 2020.
10. Practice The Elon Musk 5-minute method
Elon Musk breaks down his day into 5-minute slots: 5-minute lunch, 5-minute email checking, 5-minute meetings, etc. This is a twist on his method. It would be highly stressful to break down your day into 5-minute slots, but I do see how 5 minutes is the exact amount of time that is sufficient for quick tasks, yet not long enough to feel committed or strenuous.
Make a list of daily tasks that you should do but don’t do. I am sure you can already name a few right away. These can be tasks such as making your bed, cleaning the bathroom, organizing your desk, or planning your next day. Once you have a solid list of such tasks, you need to make a resolution to find 5-minute slots in your day and do as much of each task as you can within 5 minutes. You will find yourself closer to becoming an organized and productive person.
Sneak Peek: As I mentioned before, this is going to be one of my new year resolutions for 2023. I have already tried this for a couple of days; I can confidently say that it is very effective especially if you keep reminders on your phone. It also helps if you keep the digital list in the notes app of your phone and check off each task as you accomplish it throughout the day.
Wrap-Up
New year resolutions are about making a promise to yourself that you actually are excited to make and keep. The reasons for making a resolution shall come from within, not because that is the trend or that is what you think you are supposed to be doing. Here, we listed some resolutions for self-improvement, some to feed your curiosity, and some to experiment with your abilities and interests to get to know yourself better. Take your pick and have fun with it!