4 Resolutions to Start the New Year Off Right

With the new year already here, you might be thinking about keeping some resolutions for 2020. The start of the year is a great time to think about your goals, what you want to accomplish in the year ahead and what are the best ways to make this happen. While it might seem disheartening, or difficult to plan for the future, resolutions are a wonderful way to refocus on what you want to do and motivate yourself to stick to these goals. 

To give you a headstart, here are some resolutions you can think about keeping in the new year. Even if these don’t specifically strike your fancy, use it as inspiration to craft one of your own!

1. Get active

One of the more common resolutions tends to revolve around fitness. And while being fit and active is always a good thing, many become intimidated by the idea of getting more fit and tend to shy away from keeping these types of resolutions. However, the key to fitness resolutions is all about breaking them up into smaller chunks and defining what active means to you. Some might make a resolution around running a marathon, for others, it’s about finding something more relaxing like yoga. 

Either way, think about what kinds of activities you’d like to do more of to be more active, and how to make that easier. For example, you could keep a resolution like “I would like to go to 3 fitness classes, every month” or “I will try a yoga tutorial on Youtube once a week” and build from there for a resolution that works for you.  Check out these tips and start today!

2. Take more financial responsibility

Budgeting and fiscal responsibility are tow very difficult tasks, so keeping a resolution to monitor your financial health more can be a great way to stay proactive when it comes to finances. In the same vein as the previous resolution, think about what changes you’d like to make. Is that you want to start saving more? Or do you just want to be better about sticking to a budget? 

You can use online budgeting tools to keep on track of your finances. Or set a savings goal for yourself to put aside a certain amount each month so that you can become more disciplined about money overall. 

3. Make new friends

One of the more intimidating ones, it’s important to remember that it’s never too late to make new friends. While it might seem scary and unnerving at first to talk to new people or make the effort to meet people, it’ll definitely be worth it. You can choose to go to your local senior center more often to do this, use websites such as Meetup to find events that you are interested in, or maybe take up a part-time job or volunteering position to meet more people. 

If this seems like too much, you can always start with small steps and work your way up to that. For example, our app has a forum feature where you can start conversations with other members. This can be a great way to meet likeminded people and make new friends from the comfort of your own home. For more ideas how to meet new people continue reading here.

4. Take up a new hobby

New year, new hobbies! This one can be a fun one, so think about some of your craziest hopes. Did you always want to be a famous musician growing up? Or maybe you have always had a passion for art history and painting, or you’ve been inclined towards science. Use this as a chance to explore your passions and make it a hobby. 

You can take classes at your local senior center as a start, or look for community colleges in your area. This can be a good way to explore different subjects at a slower pace, and many colleges offer senior discounts as well. You can also look for local music and art teachers as well if you’d like something a bit more tailored and one-on-one. 

 

New Year’s resolutions can be tricky, but keeping one is a great idea nonetheless. It allows you to refocus on what’s important to you and motivates you towards a goal. Even if you find yourself losing sight of it sometimes, don’t be disheartened. Do your best, remind yourself why you picked what you did, and pick up back where you started rather than thinking you’re too far behind.