Forget promising yourself that you’ll go to the gym every day or you’ll never touch chocolate again. Why not start 2017 with some more original, not to mention realistic, New Year’s resolutions. Here are three pledges that everyone should consider making.
Do more to help others
You might already be making an effort to help others, but why not step up your altruism this year? Lots of people in the UK and elsewhere around the world are in real need of a helping hand. From families who can’t afford to feed themselves to refugees fleeing war or natural disaster, millions of people are struggling to survive and forge a future for themselves.
The scale of these problems can seem overwhelming, but there are concrete steps you can take to help. For example, you could consider donating to good causes that you feel passionate about. Whether you sign up to make regular payments or you make occasional contributions, you’ll be helping to fund important projects.
As well as money, you can give your time. Organisations like Human Appeal, which delivers aid and development programmes to help transform lives, accept donations and they encourage people to get involved in fundraising events, volunteering and spreading the word.
Doing more to help others is a win-win. As well as making a difference to people’s lives, you get the satisfaction of knowing you’re contributing to something really worthwhile.
Resolutions: Try new things
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and you might find yourself doing the same things day after day, week after week. So, why not mix things up a bit for your resolutions in 2017? Perhaps you could try out a new hobby or start an evening class. Whether you get stuck in a sport, test your skills at arts and crafts, join a cooking class, learn a language or anything else, this could give you a new sense of purpose.
In general, curbing your couch time and making an effort to fill your schedule with rewarding activities can be a great way to shake the cobwebs off and get a fresh outlook on life.
You could set aside time to travel to new places too. OK, so a round-the-world ticket might be off the cards, but even day trips to other cities or picturesque country parks could help you expand your horizons.
Resolutions: Be kinder to yourself
It might sound strange at first, but try making an effort to be kinder to yourself. For example, if you never seem to feel satisfied with the way you look, it could be time to stop comparing yourself to images of airbrushed celebs and instead. Learn to love your quirks!
Also, don’t feel bad about treating yourself from time to time. Whether it’s buying yourself something nice or simply freeing up an evening to enjoy a relaxing soak in the tub, you shouldn’t feel guilty about pampering yourself.
The best thing about these New Year’s resolutions is, unlike the usual promises about dieting and exercise, they’re easy to stick to.
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