Happy 2012 everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful celebration with family and friends. Ushering in a new year usually means making New Years resolutions. Now is a great time to reflect on the past year and figure out what changes we want to make in the coming year. We’re not talking about drastic, unrealistic changes; in fact, small changes can make a significant, positive impact. Here are 11 easy New Year’s resolutions to stick to in 2012:
1) Take the stairs
Going to the gym every day is a common new year’s resolution, but while gym membership enrollments rise in January, many of them are never used. Be realistic about your exercise goals. Why not try incorporating more physical activity into your every day? For example: Take the stairs instead of the elevator and walk or bike instead of driving whenever possible.
2) Turn off your cell phone
In this day and age we’re all wired all the time. Why not try to live in the moment a little more? Turn your cell phone off — completely — during work and social occasions. That phone call or text can probably wait until you’re done; it will also make your face-to-face time more valuable and productive. But don’t stop there: Why not turn it off even when you’re alone? You’ll probably notice more on your walk if you’re not stopping to tweet about it!
3) Eat in more than you eat out
Busy people often reach for the take-out menus or head to the restaurant for almost every meal. Why not set a goal of eating in more than you eat out? You are likely to hone new skills in the kitchen, eat healthier, save some money, and enjoy quality time working creatively with your hands. Not to mention you’ll probably have greater appreciation for the food you eat when you’re the one who labored over it!
4) Be better than punctual
Being on-time is a fine resolution, but if you really want to learn time-management skills, be better than punctual! Indeed, try to be five minutes early to everything.
5) Bring back the phone call
Yes, texts are a really efficient way of reaching somebody — it’s also arguably a better of way not interrupting the person you’re trying to get in touch with. But when was the last time you had a long phone conversation? Next time you want to contact someone, try to call them instead of texting. It’s more personal, less prone to miscommunication, and a great way to catch up with someone who is far away.
6) Get out of your comfort zone
Do something every day that takes you out of your comfort zone! This, of course, will be different for everyone. It can be as simple as speaking or smiling to a stranger, signing up for a dance class, running an extra mile, going to dinner by yourself or reading a book you’ve always meant to cross off your list. You may surprise yourself.
7) Turn off the Internet
Continuing on the theme of “unplugging,” consider turning off the Internet at 10 pm every night and getting your content fix out of a book instead!
8) Make more eye contact
An easy to way to show people around you that you’re engaged and interested is simply to make more eye contact during conversations. In this age of communicating through all kinds of at-a-distance contact, making the most of face-time with other people is a rare and highly appreciated skill.
9) Leave your credit cards at home
How much of what you spend do you really need? What if you gave yourself more time to consider what you spend? An easy way of forcing this considerate financial behavior is to leave your credit cards at home. This way you can only spend whatever cash you walk out with. If you still want it a few days later, maybe it’s a good choice after all. This is a simple way to cut down on impulse buys.
10) Write handwritten letters
Writing letters used to be an art. What happened? A special way to thank people and remind others you care and are thinking about them is to write handwritten letters, postcards, and thank-you notes for friends, family, and co-workers. It’s an easy sentiment that goes a very long way, particularly because it’s so rarefied these days.
11) Start your day off right
In our busy lives, we often forget to eat the most important meal of the day. Breakfast can set the tone for your entire day — providing you with the nutrients you need to have a productive day. If you’re a perennial breakfast-skipper, try giving yourself a mere 10 minutes more each morning to eat. It can make all the difference, so eat up!
I know I’m going to try to work on unplugging, being punctual and getting out of my comfort zone. Do you have any resolutions you’d like to share? Better yet, any tips on making small daily changes to accomplish big goals? Feel free to share!
(information from the Huffington Post: Healthy Living.)
