In the new year, do you work on improving yourself? Not quickly. In a recent survey by Forbes Health/OnePoll, only 20 percent of participants said they stick to the resolutions they make. If you feel empathetic, we assure you the problem isn’t you but the tough resolutions you take. You likely have good intentions, but either you push beyond your comfort zone or you’re fixated on perfection. Or both! The secret is to choose a change that fits and enhances your current life. We asked friends, family, and colleagues about the easy changes (some daily and some one-time) that made a real difference for them. Pick one and share it with others.
Protecting My Inbox from Promotions
“This year, I challenged myself with a ‘No Shopping November’ and started deleting my Gmail inbox two or three times a day to resist temptation. (I don’t have the stamina to sit and unsubscribe from everything.) It was so easy to maintain and felt wonderfully rebellious. Better yet, I cut my Amex bill in half for the month, which is a great incentive to keep going.” – Jenny T
Mirroring My Friends
“A few years ago, I made a list of key qualities I value in my closest friends (like being a great host; not gossiping; being unbiased; funny) and worked on mirroring those qualities in myself. Now I have less black-and-white thinking and find myself not being as gossipy or bad.” – Emma I
Finding Our Inner Voices
“I implemented a rule: no calling family members from downstairs or across the house. No one likes being yelled at from afar. At worst, the voice reminds you of feeling ‘in trouble.’ At best, it feels intrusive, followed by the annoyance of having to stop what you’re doing to go to the stairs to ask the person to repeat their question, which always gets lost between floors.” – Pilar G
Diving into a Book
“I decided to read at least one book a month, and I exceeded my goal. It brought me joy, helped me focus less on my phone, and reminded me how important it is to connect with the paper in my hands.” – Damien S
Adjusting My Workouts
“I invested in a personal trainer to ensure I was exercising in a sensible way. They worked around my physical abilities and made sure I wasn’t getting injured. After a year and more, the gym has become my place for ‘me time.’ I miss it when I skip a day.” – Eliza L
Silencing the Music Critic Within
“I decided to stop criticizing music I don’t like, because it really annoys people when others criticize what means a lot to them. It’s not fair, it’s not acceptable, and it doesn’t make me look like a nice or cool person. The only exception? Phil Collins. I will criticize him at every opportunity and shame the world for listening to him.” – Alex C
Settling into My Body
“I practiced yoga for 30 days in January after giving birth. It made me feel much better physically and mentally. I learned to be more present in my body and in the moment. I helped teach a yoga class at the high school where I worked and pushed the PTA to fund me for a 200-hour training. Now I’m a certified yoga instructor.” – Elizabeth G
Making My Bed
“This year, I challenged myself to make my bed every morning, regardless of the circumstances, because a messy bed equals scattered thoughts. It helps me start my day in a productive way. Plus, a made bed has become the perfect backdrop during my Zoom meetings (where I even get comments on how well-designed it is). This new daily task takes no more than a minute to do, but it rewards me every time!” – Cassie C
Show
Money for Myself
“I decided to become more financially literate and stop burying my head in the sand when it comes to money. I realized that personal finance doesn’t have to be scary. I started scheduling a monthly check-in where I look at my accounts, add to my savings, and do a deep analysis of what I’ve spent. Now I even listen to the occasional money podcast.” – Rosie H
Getting Up from My Seat
“The biggest change that impacted me was getting a standing desk. My legs were hurting for a few weeks, and I had to take breaks to sit down, but now I can stand all day. My posture is better, and I’ve slowed my butt’s impact. Studies say sitting is killing you, so I hope to slow my potential death too.” – Lexi N
Rescheduling My Skincare Routine
“I used to go to bed a lot without washing my face or using retin-a, so I decided to wash my face and do my skincare routine before dinner instead of waiting to do it before bed. That way, I’m not tempted to go to bed without skipping any steps. It’s worked wonders for me. My skin feels better, and I don’t see the worsening skin redness I used to have. Only time will tell if the retin-a habit is worth the effort.” – Lisa G
Turning Off Notifications
“I turned off all social media notifications. I got tired of the red dot – I’m not built for constant communication. It was liberating.” – Dave L
Eating with Compassion
“After learning about dairy cows’ lives, I decided to commit to a plant-based diet without strict rules. For me, that means having fish, eggs, and dairy on special occasions – an excellent cheese plate at a restaurant, ice cream on a summer night, and the like. I’m not perfect at it, but I’m very successful, and it makes me feel good. It’s a somewhat more peaceful life, and my skin looks better.” – Megan C
Resigning as the Social Secretary
“I got tired of doing all the work in my friendships, so I decided last year to stop being the initiator in my social life. No more organizing for me. If someone wants to connect, they can take the lead on planning that. I’ve stuck to it and feel no regret. My social life has changed – I’m still active, but I’m connecting with different people who actually contribute.” – Kristen C
Starting the Day with Breathing
“People hate the idea of breathing exercises, but doing it really helps reduce anxiety. My decision was to take a minute or two to focus on my breathing before I start my day in the morning. When I inhale, I completely empty my belly (without sucking in my stomach to look slimmer), and when I exhale, I pull my belly button towards my spine. It’s a great way to set an intention for the day.” – Amu O
Tending to a Small Garden
“A few years ago, I bought a houseplant and vowed to keep it alive. I chose a peace lily, which is a very hard plant to kill. I have to water it every 10 to 14 days when the leaves look tired. It’s huge now, and the green plants in our apartment make a big difference. It makes me happy and relaxed to look at them. With really minimal effort, the returns have been significant.” – Rachel C
Embracing Small Victories
“I’ve decided to keep practicing Pilates. Unless I’m on a trip or caught COVID, I’m there at least once a week. When my dog passed away in May, it gave me a reason to leave the house. I can be in a room with people but don’t need to talk. That helped change my thinking about goals. I’m someone who requires a big win. If I don’t have a big win, I give up. I realized my body doesn’t work that way – I achieve goals gradually. The best part? I trust my body more. I’m stronger and less afraid of losing my balance when I climb a ladder.” – Gloria Y
Going
Alone
“One of my goals for 2023 was to learn how to enjoy spending time alone. It was a hard way, but I managed to accomplish the huge task of sitting in a bar alone to have a couple of glasses of wine (with a book, of course). It was a little embarrassing at first, but I left feeling proud of myself. Here’s to the opportunity of having a full meal alone next year.” – Cassie H
Balance to Maintain Balance
“I had a balance board that was gathering dust, and I read about the importance of balance as we age. So I started standing on it after my HIIT workout – that’s my cue so I don’t forget, and it means I do this twice a week. My rule is that I should balance on it for at least 16 seconds and do it twice. I know, very random! It has no basis other than it usually takes a few attempts, so it’s difficult enough, but not so hard that it takes more than a few minutes.” – Michelle C
Quiet Meditation
“If I don’t have time in the morning to exercise, I practice meditation via YouTube for five minutes to focus my thoughts and tame any tension that spreads during a busy week. I lie on my yoga mat in my room when I wake up, and I feel greatly relaxed afterward. It seems like anything I was worried about is less significant.” – Morgan B
Song Exchange
“After feeling like the pandemic affected my friendships, I decided to be consistent in reaching out. In the case of my long-distance friend, Tiffany, we settled on something simple. We met in our freshman year and always shared music, so we started exchanging texts of ‘Song of the Month.’ At the beginning of each month, we recommend a song we love to each other. Even though we only talk once or twice a year, I feel connected when I play ‘her’ song. Often it leads me to discover new artists – those I will always associate with my friend.” – Karl K
Gratitude for Three Good Things
“Every night before we go to bed, my fiancé and I share three specific moments we are grateful for. It could be a great meal, seeing friends, taking our dog to the park, working out, calling our parents, a good hair day, or a win at work. It makes us realize how important the little things are.” – Sarah K
Staying Home Sometimes
“I try to please my family and friends by going to parties, restaurants, bars, and clubs, but sometimes I don’t really feel like going. Instead of being hard on myself, I decided to stop doing social things I don’t want to do. Life is too short to waste time doing things I don’t enjoy.” – Aaron R
Simplifying Things
“I used to make long lists of things I would do, then beat myself up for not accomplishing them, so I decided to stop putting myself in failing situations by making resolutions. I still feel guilty for not doing them, as if I’m not being intentional about my growth. This year, I’m reframing it as one thing I want to do for myself: prioritizing my physical and mental health.” – Denise G
Continuing with Splits
“When I was five years old, I was the only girl in ballet class who couldn’t do splits. Two decades later, I decided to tackle that. I love yoga, but I often lack motivation, so training and stretching for something specific – and fun – in mind really helped. I’m not there yet, but I’m determined to make 2024 the year of splits!” – Sophia L
Source:
https://www.aol.com/25-resolutions-ll-actually-keep-193900565.html
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