New Year, New Perspectives: 7 Unique Resolutions for Growth

The beginning of a new year brings about a desire for change; a desire for a fresh start with new goals and nixing of bad habits. New Year’s resolutions are largely about bettering ourselves in whatever areas of our lives we feel we could use some improvement. Instead of focusing on our shortcomings and pressuring ourselves to commit to a goal that might not stick, which can be overwhelming and lead to disappointment, a better idea is reprioritizing our inner lives -- getting more in touch with who we are already instead of trying to change too much at once. 

Here are some simple but powerful ways to embrace ourselves and start living a little more meaningfully. 

1. Family Time

Spending time with family is so important but it’s not unusual to prioritize work and other obligations over quality family time. The new year is the perfect time to reevaluate what is truly important and carve out set dates and times to spend time with our loved ones. Meaningful connection is so fulfilling and if we want to be truly happy, connecting with our loved ones is a great place to start. 

2. Do Less

While doing less may sound counterintuitive to being more productive and achieving goals, having too much on our plate is a surefire way to lead to burnout. Instead of having too many commitments and obligations, try to intentionally lay out your main priorities and focus mostly on those in order to achieve more.

3. Embracing ourselves exactly as we are, where we are. 

This also sounds like the opposite of a resolution, but embracing and acceptingourselves for exactly who we are already is key to effectuating growth because it gives us a confidence boost instead of feeling like we always fall short of where we want to be. 

4. Practicing gratitude over perfection.

So many of us are focused on everything being as perfect as it can be all the time. This leads to unrealistic expectations, disappointment, and exhaustion. Focusing on being grateful, especially in times of trial, instead of trying to achieve perfection, will lead to more satisfaction and ultimately more happiness. 

5. Spending time in nature.

Studies have shown that as little as 20 minutes a day spent in nature can have a positive impact on our well-being. When it comes to growth and sticking to new goals, obstacles and challenges are sure to set in. Taking even just a short walk outside may be the necessary cure for a little clarity and peace of mind. 

6. Less screentime.

Most of us are so dependent on our devices these days that we don’t realize how much time we spend on them. While there is nothing wrong with using technology for all of its advantages, taking a break from screens allows us to be present and do more of the things mentioned above (see: family time and spending time in nature.) It may be uncomfortable at first, but it can be surprisingly refreshing to not be so in-touch all the time. 

7. Have more fun!

As we get older, taking on adult responsibilities like our careers, running a household and taking care of our families can make us more serious and less playful. Play is so helpful for getting our creative juices flowing, relieving stress and becoming more light-hearted. Simple activities like having a catch, building a fort with our kids, or playing board games is enough to bring out the playful kid in all of us and ultimately lead to more happiness and joy.   

Check out these phone apps that will help you succeed and stick to your resolutions and new priorities:

• HabitBull allows you to choose from a list of habits or create your own. You can then input how often you want to do the habit and mark your progress down each day. It will show you a calendar of all the days you were successful or a numerical percentage so you’ll know what things you might need to make more of a priority. Available on Android and iOS. 
  
• Insight Timer for being more present. Insight Timer is a mindfulness app with thousands of different courses, talks and guided meditations on all different topics. It helps you get focused, learn to be more present in your own life and allows you to connect with others with similar goals. Available on Android and iOS. 
  
• Gratitude Journal for daily gratitude tracking. Type even just one sentence about something you were grateful for that day and go back and read through your journal anytime you need a pick-me-up. You can even include pictures in your entries. Available on iOS.

Having a resolution is a grand idea, but it may be more beneficial to embrace who we are already and sort out our priorities in ways we always say we’re going to, but never get around to actually doing. Instead of looking at resolutions like these things we urgently need to change about ourselves to become better, if we embrace ourselves and get more in touch with who we are already, we might find that we already have everything we need to succeed.