A new year and new beginnings are right around the corner. After a year like 2020, thank goodness! Speaking of new beginnings, it can be easy to get caught up by your new year's resolutions. In this blog I will discuss 6 New Year's resolutions you can try, that do not involve calorie counts or weight loss techniques. Some of these suggestions were brought forward from our Facebook community which you can join through this link!

1. First of the 6 New Year’s resolutions would be to visit somewhere new. Although it is not the ideal time to travel far distances, considering our circumstances, travelling does not have to be luxurious hotels and tropical islands. Travelling can be a small day trip,  to new locations, like Farmer’s Markets, with your family or partner or discovering a new park.

2. Another New Year's resolution would be to invest time learning a new hobby. It could be something you had previously learned before but due to time constraints lost touch with the activity or something brand new you’ve always wanted to learn. For example, I sent my mom a macrame kit earlier this year which reminded her of being a teenager! And I picked up cycling again, for fun and for commuting purposes.

3. Another challenging yet rewarding New Year's resolution could be to pick up a new language. Languages aren't the most simple task to grasp however there are many online resources available to support you through the learning. Plus a new language can come in handy when speaking to locals, if you pair it with your New Year's resolution travel plans. Having studied french for 13 years, I could really use some more practice! My sister has made this her goal for next year, good luck to her.

4. Fourth item on the list could be to incorporate some meditation throughout your day. Meditation has proven to decrease stress levels, lower anxiety, and improve self awareness. In addition, meditation can help prevent mind wandering and increase your focus level when executing tasks. After the stressful year that we’ve had, I think most of us could benefit from more meditation. It has helped me a lot this year.
   

5. In addition, another activity you can add to your daily lifestyle is experiencing new foods! Maybe it’s a food item you casually pass by at the grocery store or a vegetable you completely hate. Find recipes online and experiment with that food to get it to your liking. You’d be surprised how different ingredients and spices can completely alter flavours. Moreover, new foods will allow you to add variety to your diet and enhance your daily meal plans.

6. Lastly a New Year’s Resolution could be to make simple changes to your lifestyle habits. For example waking up and making your bed, drinking an extra glass of water, or just reducing your screen time by 10 mins a day. Small achievable goals are better for New Year’s resolutions because it motivates you to get the task done as it is simple and you aren’t setting yourself up for failure with large unrealistic goals. 

Hear me out, New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be overly complicated or involve intense diet regimes. It can be as simple as going to a new park or incorporating some short meditation to your morning. So with that being said, what are your New Year’s resolutions for next year?