January is inevitably that time of year where we start contemplating our lives and thinking about what we can do better. And whilst making new years resolutions is in theory a good thing, many of us make wild declarations and promises that we know we won’t keep. But if you are ready to make actual, real-life improvements this year, here are four achievable resolutions that could have a huge impact on your life.
1) Be more active
Forget the idea of losing weight or transforming your body. Rather than waste money on a new gym membership that you will use twice in January and continue paying for throughout the year, just commit to making small changes to boost your daily activity instead.
You could try just getting off the bus one stop early and walking the rest of the way to work. Or, if you have the time, why not go for a twenty minute walk before breakfast or during your lunch break? If you have the means, why not cycle or walk to work once a week? Whatever you choose, just make small adjustments to your daily routine. You’ll be surprised how much it can affect your physical and mental health.
2) Learn a language
Learning a language is an item that appears on many a bucket list yet often remains un-ticked. But you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars and commit to endless hours in classes to learn a new language. You don’t even have to commit to becoming fluent any time soon (or ever) either. In fact, you can gradually learn a new language from the comfort of your own home (or on the commute to work) without pressure.
There are plenty of free apps and resources online that allow you to learn a new language at your own pace. In fact, spending as little as five minutes a day could improve your memory, boost brain functions, enhance your ability to multitask and get you a little closer to ticking another item off your bucket list.
3) Get a degree
Whether you want to change careers or just advance your current one, getting new qualifications could open a lot of doors. Understandably, many people put off getting the qualifications they need for their dream jobs because it requires a lot of time, money and energy.
But getting a degree doesn’t have to mean going back to Uni full time. In fact, there are many online bachelor degree programs in Australia that allow you to get your qualifications on a timeline and schedule that suits you. So if you’ve been dreaming of a new career, you can start working your way towards just that today!
4) Get off your phone
It’s widely acknowledged that the overuse of phones and other digital devices is negatively affecting our lives. Research suggests that it’s affecting our sleep, memory, attention span, self-esteem, relationship and more.
Now we’re not saying you have to give up your phone entirely. In the digital age, that’s simply not realistic. But this year, why not try to put your phone down more often? For example, once you get home in the evening, switch it off or put it in a different room for a couple of hours. You can also reduce screen time by deleting any apps you don’t really need on your phone. If you find yourself mindlessly scrolling through Instagram or Facebook, delete the apps and just check in once a day via your laptop or computer instead.
Taking some time away from your phone and social media will not only help your mental health, but it will also free up a surprising amount of time for other things such as learning a language, getting a degree, being more physically active or simply just enjoying some quality time with friends.
Conclusion
The key to a good new years resolution is picking something realistic. Whether it’s walking 10,000 steps a day or committing one hour a week to study for an online degree, pick something you feel strongly about that you know you can achieve. And above all, dare to be great this year and stick with it!
