24 Realistic New Year’s Resolutions for a Happier Year

 

As your calendar runs out, ushering in a new year, it brings with it a endless possibilities and opportunities for personal growth. So, it’s that time again when we can reflect on the past and look to a new beginning. New Year’s resolutions, though often met with scepticism, can serve as powerful catalysts for personal transformation. In this blog post, we will explore 24 realistic new year’s resolutions designed to pave the way for a happier and more fulfilling year.

 

The Benefits of New Year’s Resolutions

 

I know that over the years, new year’s resolutions have become less popular, with many people swearing them off completely. But, beyond the scepticism and negative stereotypes, the core of the new year’s resolution tradition provides a profound opportunity for positive change. Setting intentions for the upcoming year can give us a significant boost when it comes to reaching our goals.

I have also always found that New Year itself provides you with a sort of “blank slate”. So tasks and goals that I felt I couldn’t achieve in December suddenly feel more doable now I have a whole new year to achieve them.

Here are some more benefits of New Year’s Resolutions:

 

• Reflection and Self-Awareness: Making resolutions prompts us to reflect, allowing us to assess our values, desires, and life goals. It’s a chance to become more self-aware and align our actions with our aspirations.
• Goal Setting for Growth: Resolutions provide a structured framework for goal-setting, fostering a sense of purpose and direction.
• Increased Motivation: The act of setting resolutions stimulates a motivational surge, helping you strive towards personal growth more easily.
• Positive Habit Formation: Resolutions often revolve around cultivating positive habits. The repetition of these habits over time can lead to lasting behavioural changes, contributing to an enhanced life and personal well-being.
• Can Boost Confidence: Accomplishing resolutions, even in small increments, gives you a sense of achievement and boosts self-confidence. These victories, no matter how minor, lay the groundwork for greater success in various aspects of life.
• Better Life Satisfaction: When resolutions align with our core values and aspirations, their fulfilment contributes to an overall sense of satisfaction. Setting regular goals helps to create a life that resonates with our true selves and our real dreams.

 

Stick to Small Resolutions!

 

New Year’s resolutions are not supposed to stress you out! They should be small changes that you can implement in order to improve your life and happiness over time.

We have all announced huge New Year’s resolutions, dreaming of climbing a mountain or finding our soulmate but how quickly did you abandon those ideas? If you’re anything like me you may have just about made it to February!

Sticking to small, realistic resolutions is the key to implementing change and carrying it through the whole year.

With that in mind, let’s get to my 24 Realistic New Year’s Resolutions for a Happier Year. These are all either resolutions I set last year and achieved, ones I am still working on, or ones that I intend to set for the coming year.

I have categorised them into different aspects of life so it is easier for you to decide which resolutions may be right for you.

 

Mindset

 

 

GO OUTSIDE EVERY DAY

Getting outside is a great and simple way to give yourself a small mood boost every day. It is especially beneficial if it is sunny as getting Vitamin D is essential for your mental health.

 START A CREATIVE HOBBY

Having a creative outlet is a great way of de-stressing and unwinding after a long week. Being able to de-stress is a vital skill that will help you throughout all of life’s challenges.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW

Learning something new will help your brain health as you get older. It will also help your mind stay sharp and keep the boredom away! I chose to learn a language on Duolingo and I have honestly seen such a difference in my mental ability.

PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN

We all use our phones too much. Set aside an hour at first, then an evening, where you leave your phone in another room and just unplug and live in the present for a while. Establishing this habit early in the new year will set you up for an incredible, peaceful and productive year.

DON’T TALK NEGATIVELY ABOUT YOURSELF

If you talk negatively to yourself, your self-confidence will be low and your insecurities will always be able to control you. And if you talk negatively about yourself in front of others, you are affectively setting the bench mark for how they can treat you. Slowly incorporate some nice things about yourself into your inner monologue and you will soon feel a difference.

ROMANTICISE YOUR LIFE

Being able to romanticise your life is a great skill to have. It can help your positivity and will let you see your life in a new and beautiful light. This will also help you be mindful and more present. Don’t miss these 25 Affordable ways to Romanticise your Life this Year.

 

Health

 

 

WALK EVERYDAY

I could say aim for 10,000 steps per day, but that sounds very overwhelming! So just aim to walk a little more each day and you will soon feel better in both your body and your mind.

EXERCISE

I know the gym is not for everyone, but finding your favourite type of exercise will set you up for life. Once you have found your way of exercising, you can aim for at least 3 times per week to keep you fit and healthy.

DRINK MORE WATER

Dehydration is the core problem for so many common ailments; make sure you stay hydrated and give your body and brain the fuel it needs. If you often forget to drink, this 1 Litre BPA Free Water bottle with time markers will help to remind you to drink enough at regular intervals.

BECOME A MORNING PERSON

Becoming a Morning Person changed my Life! It has countless benefits, it can help you get more work done and improve your productivity. A good morning routine will set you up to face anything the day can throw at you!

STOP SITTING FOR 8 HOURS STRAIGHT

Make sure you get up from your work desk at least every hour and walk around so you don’t sit for too long. You could even invest in this Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk  so you can keep working whilst improving your health.

 

Work

 

Create a work life balance

Finding a healthy work life balance is something we all struggle with at certain times in our lives. Trying to juggle professional work and personal responsibilities can become very overwhelming and could lead to unnecessary stress and even burnout. Take control of your life this year and finally create the work life balance that you dream of.

Start working towards your dream career

We spend so much of our lives working, it is only fair to ourselves that we find something that we love. But that can be hard when you have to keep up your current job. Commit to taking one step towards your dream career every week.

 

Finance

 

 

SET A BUDGET

Setting yourself a realistic budget can help you keep track of your spending and consciously improve how you spend and save.

IMPROVE YOUR FINANCES

There are so many ways you can instantly improve your finances. Doing this will set you up for life and can help you save quicker and live better.

CHECK YOUR BANK ACCOUNT REGULARLY

As much as we like to put this off, it is important to check your account regularly to keep tabs on your ingoings and outgoings. This will also help you catch if you have been a victim of any scams.

STOP BUYING THINGS YOU DON’T NEED

It is so easy to buy things you don’t need out of habit or convenience. Stop buying these 15 things if you want to save hundreds every month!

EARN AUTOMATIC CASHBACK

One of the best ways to earn money by doing nothing is with automatic cashback. My favourite app for this is Cheddar. It offers automatic cashback at a growing number of online and instore retailers. Simply connect your bank account and that’s it! When you shop with one of their selected retailers you will automatically earn cashback which will appear in your account in just a few days!

You can download and join Cheddar for free today!

BUILD AN EMERGENCY FUND

An emergency fund is a pot of money that you set aside and only use in emergencies, like your car breaking down, or your kitchen flooding. Many people choose to save a few months worth of bills in case they can’t work for a while due to unforeseen circumstances.

Start a passive side hustle

Learning how to make Passive income is the secret to reaching financial freedom. If you can make money whilst you sleep, your earning potential will never be limited by the time you have per day. If you don’t know where to start, here is my guide to Passive Income for Beginners.

START INVESTING

By investing, you can make your money work for you, and it won’t just sit in your account gathering dust. I started my own investment journey this year so I am certainly not an expert. I would recommend doing your own research before risking any of your well-earned money. All I can tell you is, in my personal opinion, it is well worth researching.

 

Social

 

SOCIALISE ONCE A WEEK

Making time to socialise with your friends will help you emotionally, and will make sure you never become isolated. You can always start small. At the beginning of this year I committed to meeting up with one different friend each month. Sometimes adult life makes getting together really difficult!

CHECK IN WITH YOUR PARTNER

Have a monthly relationship check to make sure you are both happy, healthy and on the same page. This will help prevent miscommunication and relationship burnout.

TAKE MORE PHOTOS

Taking photos can help you treasure more memories and help you see how beautiful every day life can be. This year I committed to taking at least 1 photo per day as a sort of visual diary of my life. I love being able to see my life through pictures.

 

 

Conclusion

 

There you have it!

24 Realistic New Year’s Resolutions, each designed to enrich different dimensions of your life. From cultivating a healthier mindset to achieving financial stability, these resolutions are meant to be achievable, effective, and, above all, realistic in the hectic world that is modern life!

I hope you have got some ideas for how you are going to make 2024 your best year yet!

Share your New Year’s Resolutions in the comments below so you can hold yourself accountable through the year!

 

• 25 Affordable Ways to Romanticise your Life
• 5 Weird Ways to Stop Being So Negative!
• 8 Bad Money Habits You NEED To Break in the New Year
• These Crucial Mistakes are Robbing you of Happiness!

 

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and/or referral links which means I may earn a small commission or incentive if you choose to purchase or signup (at no additional cost to you). Please note that I will only ever promote products that I truly believe in and would recommend with or without earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Save for Later!