There’s an immense amount of pressure to have an ambitious New Year’s resolution. If you think about it, New Year’s resolutions are nothing more than a way for us to reflect on how we can achieve the best version of ourselves. Successful self-improvement efforts, as we all know, don’t have a start date or a deadline. They’re constant.
But with that said, let’s skip the basic resolutions like saving money, losing weight, and quitting smoking. Take the pressure off making resolutions and do things in 2024 that are totally within reach.
Here are Four Practical and Attainable New Year’s resolutions to Try This Year!
1. Recycle more
Last year, I vowed to recycle more. I think in all of my 30-something years, it’s the one resolution I’ve stuck to for an entire year. I recycled as much as I could–and gave thought to every item I was about to stick in the garbage can. I even learned why those pesky plastic bags can’t go into the average recycling bin.
If you already recycle, maybe work on cutting down on plastic use outside the home–bringing a steel or reusable straw with you when you hit up a coffee shop or fast food restaurant. Keep reusable tote bags in your car for when a shopping trip hits–or consciously decline a paper bag when you’re making a run for an item or two at the convenience store. Because I carry a giant duffle bag with me everywhere and call it a purse–the last one was especially easy for me to achieve last year.
2. Practice self-care in one small way each day
Smartphone app stores come with a bunch of great meditation and hypnosis apps, which are great ways to take time out each day and consciously work on your mental health. Other ways to stop the chaos of the day for a personal time out can include: taking a 20-minute walk around the block while listening to your favorite music, podcast, or audiobook, grabbing a coffee and enjoying it in your silent car while mindlessly scrolling through your phone, writing in a journal, yoga, or visiting the gym.
3. Practice gratitude
Work on practicing gratitude and starting each day with a grateful heart. I’ve been reading a lot of articles on this and I find myself to be a much more centered person when I practice gratitude.
Wake up each day and start mentally giving thanks for the fact that you woke up to another day on earth, that you have the ability to effortlessly get yourself out of bed, that you have the privilege and the ability and good health to take care of your children that day, that you have a job to go to or food to serve for breakfast. It’s easy to get caught up in our daily stresses, but negativity begets negativity. It’s a vicious cycle that’s very hard to break. If you start working on practicing gratitude, it will soon become a state of mind.
4. Learn something new
There are sites like Skillshare, SimpliLearn, and Udemy, where courses are offered online for about $10 apiece. Udemy has more than 80,000 courses available in a wide range of topics, such as photography, web design, piano, investing in stocks, energy healing, IT, homemade skincare, and so many more.
BONUS! Give this fun New Year’s resolution a try with your kids this year: Trying New Foods – My New Year’s Resolution for My Kids!
What New Year’s resolution have you set for 2024? Is it attainable? Let us know in the comments.
Need help sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions? Read New Year’s Goals: Tips for Not Giving Up on Your Goals!
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Guest Writer: Jessica Cantarelli
Jessica Cantarelli is the incredible mom of two impressive boys. She is the public relations and communications manager at Centier Bank. She oversees all public relations, social media, and marketing communications for Indiana’s largest, private family-owned bank. She previously worked in print and digital media as a journalist at the Chicago Tribune for 11 years, and the Chicago Sun-Times for two years. Jessica has a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism from Eastern Illinois University.
Follow Jessica on Instagram @thejessicacantarelli
