Show Notes
The jury is out on whether setting New Year's Resolutions is a good idea or not, but personally, I feel there is never a bad time to reflect on where you are and start making some positive changes.
The important thing to remember is not to try and change everything at once.
If you want to build new positive habits, aim to introduce just one, maximum two, at a time.
More than that and you'll be overwhelmed and you'll find yourself going back to your old habits faster than a bottle of Verve disappears on New Year's Eve!
Stuck for ideas, here are 12 New Years Resolutions ideas to help you enjoy a happier and more productive 2023.
12 Resolutions for a Happy & Productive New Year
1. Start a Gratitude Diary
This is such a simple habit to start and it will have a profound impact on your life and happiness.
Find a notebook that you love and commit to writing in it every day, listing 3 or more things that you are grateful for. Most people do this first thing in the morning or last thing at night.
Not sure what to write? Here are some ideas of what you might be grateful for: events in your life, the unique possessions, skills or opportunities you have, people who have helped and supported you in some way, moments when you've felt happy or loved, things you've learned...you can even list things that you will be grateful for in the future.
2. Start a Morning Routine
When you start your day right, you become happier and more productive throughout your entire day.
Get up an hour earlier and intentionally follow a routine that might include things like:
- 10-minute meditation, apps like HeadSpace make this really easy to do
- 20-40 minutes of exercise or stretching
- Writing in your gratitude diary
- Journalling
- Reading 10 pages of a self-development book
- Watching a motivational video
- Mindfully preparing a healthy breakfast and packed lunch
There are lots of options, but it's important to get up without hitting the snooze button. And here's why...
When you get up straight away, your body is flooded with productive chemicals and you have your most focused and productive two-hours of the day - or more if you start your day with some exercise.
Hit snooze, however, and even if you drift off for just a few minutes, you put yourself back into a sleep cycle, and your body will struggle to shake that off.
To set yourself up for a great day ahead, stop reaching for the Snooze button!
3. Read more
There are so many great benefits to reading. As well as giving yourself a knowledge boost and mental stimulation, reading can improve your memory, expand your vocabulary, improve your ability to focus, inspire you to greater success.
Not sure what to read? Check out these Inspiring Books.
4. Take a walk every day
Just like reading more, walking more has lots of benefits besides keeping your waistline trim - which is reason enough already!
As with all forms of exercise, walking prompts the brain to release 'happy' chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, that can lift your mood both during and after your walk.
Walking can also lower stress and depression, strengthen your body and bones and ward off disease, with walking outdoors being more beneficial than on a treadmill. It's also the cheapest way to get exercise into your day ... so no excuses, get out there already!
Have you set your resolutions yet? Here are 12 ideas to help you enjoy a happy & productive 2023.
5. Turn off your phone
Mobile phones have become an important part of modern life, but we don't need to be attached to them 24/7.
Make a resolution to take some time to unplug every day and enjoy the people and environment around you. You already know that your family and friends will enjoy more quality time with you, and without the distractions your business will certainly benefit - your health and happiness too!
6. Try out a new healthy recipe every week
Get out of that pasta pesto rut and expand your culinary repertoire in 2023.
It's not only fun, but can help build your self-confidence and support your good health. The great thing about most healthy recipes is that they usually contain around 5 ingredients, making them quick and easy to prepare. You'll no longer have to rely on the pizza-delivery man and you'll save a fortune on expensive ready-meals!
Why not invite a friend or two to enjoy your creations with you?
7. Learn a new skill
Learning something new requires you to grow in some way, which is always a great feeling. It also gives you access to people and opportunities you wouldn't have otherwise had, builds your self-esteem and confidence, provides mental stimulation and can be a lot of fun to boot!
For this resolution, list all the things you've ever wanted to try out or improve, choose one, find a class or group that focuses on that subject and go for it!
Stuck for ideas?
What about trying your hand at painting or pottery. You could join a local cookery class. Toastmasters is a great way to grow your leadership and communication skills while also building your network and confidence, vital skills for any business owner. Visit your local sports centre and see what inspires you. Or ask your friends and colleagues what they do they you might also enjoy.
8. Eat more mindfully
Did you know that how you eat can impact your health almost as much as what you eat?
Today we are always in a rush and with that comes the temptation to eat fast and make unhealthy food choices. Being more mindful of your eating practices is a simple way to counteract this.
9. Attend a networking event each month
Many people fear networking, but it's a powerful way to boost your career, business, knowledge, confidence and more!
Find some networking events or groups close to you that are focused on a subject that is relevant and interesting to you, then make it your resolution to go at least once a month.
As an introvert, I used to avoid networking like the plague, but once I decided to go for it, I actually started to enjoy meeting new people and, over the years, my network as supported my new ventures and kept me inspired.
Check out this post where I share my best tips on how to start a strong network from scratch.
10. Start a Side-Hustle
If you want more money, growth and fun in 2023, why not start your own business?
With as little as 10-hours a week, you can start a business from home that you can fit in and around your existing commitments such as a job, studies or a family.
This resolution is easier than you might think. Some home options even provide you with free training and coaching, making it an inexpensive way to learn new skills and meet new people too!
You'll find some helpful advice in this article on Why You Should Start a Home-Business in 2018.
Or check out my eCourse 8 Steps to Your Business Success and start working towards your business success today?!
11. Fail more
It might sound a strange thing to aspire to, but failure can be a very beneficial as it shows you are trying something new.
Life rarely goes according to plan, especially when you are pushing boundaries, learning new things and aiming high. But the unexpected can be a great mentor - you see we learn more from our mistakes than we ever do from what goes right first time.
Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back from this resolution. Instead, let it be the fuel that moves you forward!
So embrace failure and recognise that it's part of the process of making a difference, having an impact and creating success.
It's not just me who believes that failure is good for your personal and business growth - check out these inspiring quotes on failure.
Embrace failure. Recognise that it's part of the process of making a difference, having an impact & creating success.
12. Smile more
Since we looking at resolutions that will make you feel happier, the list would not be complete without including smiling.
Make a conscious effort to smile more in 2018 and it will do more than just make you feel happy. Smiling relaxes the facial muscles and calms the nervous system helping to reduce stress levels. It helps us connect with others and since smiling is contagious, your smile can spark a whole wave of happiness around you.
Looking for more success or a new partner? Smiling can make you more attractive and so could help you land that dream job or find Mr. Right.
What resolutions will you be making?
Have you set out your resolutions yet? What changes are you planning to make? What's worked well for you in the past?
Share your ideas and experiences in the Comments section below!
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