A new year always brings with it the thought of all the resolutions you want to make for yourself as you try to be better than you were last year. In getting ready for the new year, let’s put the common goals aside and put our focus on some New Year’s resolutions you may not have considered yet. 

Remember, the best way to follow through with your resolutions is to set realistic ones. We’ve picked some that will make your life better in small ways. They’ll help you take good care of yourself while extending your focus to include those important to you. Ready? Here goes something!

1. Mindfulness is More Than a Cliché

One definition of mindfulness is living in the present, although this is harder to do than it sounds. Dwelling excessively on the past or future is a fruitless exercise while concentrating on the here and now can improve your life. Take time to intentionally focus on the present moment, and get in touch with your own thoughts and feelings. 

2. Gratitude Can Make You Appreciate Life

So often, we concentrate on what’s lacking in life. Taking the time to focus on the things we’re grateful for can lead to a realization that life is pretty good! As Sheryl Crow put it in a popular song, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.”

3. Practice Really Listening to Others

We’ve all done it – mentally rehearsing what we’re going to say next while someone else is talking. Try taking the time to really listen. Make eye contact and respond with body language like nodding. You’ll get more out of the interaction when you give it your full attention.

4. Break a Bad Habit or Start a Good One

Work on breaking a bad habit that’s been bugging you, or develop a new positive habit. Make it one that’s not too ambitious and that you can easily incorporate into your daily life. You’ll be surprised at the difference one small change can make.

5. Take Care of Yourself as Well as Others

Do things to enhance your own health and happiness. Many people, especially women and parents, get stuck making sure that other family members are doing well and forget about self-care. Make the time to do things just for you.

6. You Can Never Have Too Many Friends

Make new friends when you have the chance. Each individual has something to contribute to a relationship. The more open you are to new friendships, the more likely you’ll find others who are on your wavelength. Having compatible friends is a wonderful way to enrich your life.

7. Keep Learning New Things

Continuing to learn is one of the best ways to keep alert and sharp as we age. There are fascinating breakthroughs in science and computing emerging daily, and everyone has something to learn. Make time to fill in the gaps in your knowledge.

8. Expand Your Horizons

Take a step outside of your comfort zone. If you’ve been thinking about trying something for the first time ‘eventually’, how about now? Humans thrive on variety and challenge, and checking out something new will help you meet that need.

9. Focus on Others in a Positive Way

Do something nice for someone. Tell your best friend why you treasure them. The power of sincere compliments is vast. Not only will the people you interact with be happy, but the glow will extend to you. You’ll feel good about yourself!

10. Unplug and Be More Present

With how much social media and technology has made our lives easier, it can also consume a lot of our time and makes it tough to separate our digital life from the one right in front of us. Try being “unplugged” for at least an hour each day. Go for a walk, take a late night drive to watch the sunset, or just sit and listen to your partners’ day. Maybe there’s an upcoming trip you want to plan out or you just want to relax and play some cards – whatever you do, it’ll be special because you’re fully present and enjoying your time together.

11. Cook One New Meal Every Week

If you love food and cooking, this is a fun resolution to make! During the week it can be easy to premake meals or stick to the basics if you have a busy schedule. Break up the same old dishes by giving yourself some time to explore in the kitchen and find some new favourite meals in the process. Go on Pinterest and find some different recipes to try. The possibilities are endless and you’ll have one extra thing to look forward to each week.

12. Get Lost in More Good Books

Reading is a great way to unwind after a long day or unplug on a day off. Make it a goal to read more books than you did last year and see if you can surprise yourself. It doesn’t have to be a lot more, but write it down so you can track your new reads. Make a journal entry, even just in a simple list format, and add a new book to it once you’re finished. Write a few notes about what you enjoyed and if there was anything interesting you learned and want to remember.

These New Year’s resolutions are less about making you a better person and more about making you a happier one. Take small steps that you can handle, and you’ll gain a sense of pride from accomplishing your goals. Focus on things that bring you joy and won’t be a resolution for long as it turns into another aspect of your life. These little things will add up to a big difference in the coming year!

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Originally published Jan 2, 2018; updated Dec 28, 2022

Author: Sereena S.

Mom of two, wife to one, and a dog lover. Although cats can be okay too, but only sometimes...