Most New Year’s resolutions involve losing weight, going to the gym, getting a better job, or finding love.
Those resolutions are fine, but they usually don’t work out very well. Why not? Well, for one thing, you may not enjoy doing them. Who really wants to run on a treadmill or do mindless biceps curls inside a noisy gym with sweaty, obnoxious strangers?
Some resolutions are too unrealistic. Findling love sounds good, but it’s hard to just go out there and find a soul mate. It’s not something you can force. It’s something that tends to happen organically when you’re not expecting it.
How about setting some resolutions that are enjoyable, impactful, and attainable? Here are nine resolutions that are specific and can really improve your year (and your life).
Travel
1. Go one step farther than you’ve gone before
Start small. If you’ve never left the Midwest, then travel to the West Coast.
If you’ve never left the country, it’s really easy to explore Canada or Mexico. Vancouver and Montreal are very cosmopolitan cities with a European feel. Mexico offers a number of amazing beaches, jungles, ruins, and caves.
If you’ve never left the continent, then go to another continent. Europe is a great option as there are so many different regions, countries, and cities to explore.
And if you’ve never been outside the northern hemisphere, then venture to South America, Australia, or South Africa.
2. Try a new mode of travel
Almost everyone’s traveled by car, bus, or plane. This year, try traveling by train, boat, or ship.
Train travel has been around for over a century and is still one of the most scenic and relaxing ways to see the countryside. Here are some of the world’s most scenic train rides.
You may also want to try a cruise this year. Cruises are an affordable and adventurous way to see a number of different ports in one trip. The most popular cruises are in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas, but you can take a cruise almost anywhere in the world.
River boat cruises are another popular option. They provide a more intimate experience and can take you into many areas that you simply can’t go with the large cruise ships. Here are some of the world’s best river cruises.
Adventure
3. Get out of your comfort zone
Everyone has a comfort zone for their lives. And most people are either too afraid or cautious to try new things and leave that zone.
Why not make a resolution to expand your horizons and break out of your comfort zone?
You might try doing more public speaking or going to more social events. Perhaps you can take a different route to work, take public transportation more, or even try biking to the office.
Change up your appearance - wear something you never wear, try a new hair style, experiment with facial hair, jewelry, etc.
The idea is just to challenge yourself to do things that are scary, difficult, or uncomfortable. It’ll help you grow as a person.
4. Try new restaurants & cuisine
Do you get in the rut of going to the same restaurants and eating the same meals? Or making the same food every week at home?
This year, make a point to try a new restaurant at least once per month. It’s a great way to explore your city and all the latest culinary trends.
My father-in-law has a “Tuesday Night Club” where he and his buddies go to a different restaurant in NYC every Tuesday. The only rules are that it has to be someplace they haven’t been and it has to have decent beer on tap.
Need some suggestions? Most larger cities have a “Restaurant Week” during the slower times of year (typically January and June), where they offer pre-fixe menu at special prices.
If you want inspiration for making your own meals at home, check out Pinch of Yum for a wide variety of easy and delicious recipes.
5. Have more & better sex
I’m not sure how many people have this as their resolution, but everyone should add it! For many people, sex is an afterthought. They’re so stressed out, tired, out of shape, and busy to focus on this really important part of life.
Make a resolution to spend more time with your partner. It’s not so much the frequency of sex (although that’s important too), but it’s the quality of that time together.
Really focus in on your and your partner’s sensations and pleasure. Also, don’t rush your time together. Try to give yourself enough time to enjoy lots of foreplay and cuddling afterwards.
An extra bonus is you’ll also get some great health benefits from having more sex!
Body
6. Try a new exercise
The key to maintaining a fitness routine is to find one or two exercise that you actually enjoy doing! You’ll never keep going to the gym if you’re doing things that you find boring, painful, or just not fun.
Fortunately there are many options and variations for getting and staying in shape. Some great exercises include yoga, climbing, hiking, swimming, surfing, biking, or playing a sport.
Extra bonus if you can do it outside. Check out a local sporting goods store, some offer introductory classes to activities you may not have thought to try. Slacklining, anyone?
If you can find two exercises you really enjoy doing, you’ll get a well-rounded workout that you’re more likely to maintain. My personal favorites are yoga, swimming, and hiking.
7. Sign up for a race
Once you commit to a race, you have a built-in excuse to prepare and get in shape for it. Don’t kill yourself - it doesn’t have to be a marathon or triathlon. You can start with a 5K, 10K, half marathon, mud run, or themed race.
For a list of the world’s top races, check out Experiencify’s Running Events page. Or sign up for a mud run with Tough Mudder or Spartan Race.
If you’re really feeling adventurous, try a Themed Race, where you dress up (or “dress down” in the case of the Underwear & Nude Runs).
Mind
8. Explore your artistic side
Whether or not you feel you have any artistic ability, it’s wonderful to create something. Do you remember how much fun it was in school to draw, paint, write creatively, or learn an instrument?
Don’t worry about creating a masterpiece - the idea is to flex and train your creative muscles. If you can’t draw or paint, maybe you can try writing. Start a blog and write about your favorite topics, current events, or life in general.
Nobody even needs to see your work - think of it as a cathartic experience.
If you need inspiration, try taking a class. Check out your local community college and see if they have courses on art, music, acting, cooking, or writing.
9. Do more of nothing!
We live in such a frenetic world with demands from work, school, family, community, etc. Why not resolve to carve out some meaningful blocks of time each week for doing absolutely nothing.
There are actually health benefits to doing nothing:
“Regularly carving out time to devote to doing nothing, to sitting in idleness and dropping into a conscious state of being, produces many health benefits including, but not limited to, reduced heart rate, better digestion, improvements in mood, and a boost in overall emotional well-being.”
Believe it or not, doing nothing is a lot harder than you might think. You have to be willing to give yourself permission to put aside all your to-do’s. You can use this time to nap, meditate, or relax in a hot tub or hammock.
Whatever form of “do nothing” you practice, embrace and enjoy it to the fullest!
Have a great year
Most people fall off their resolution bandwagon within the first month or two of the year. But hopefully you’ll stay with the resolutions on this list, because they’re fun and good for you and easy to do throughout the year.
Just think how happy you’ll be when you’re having more sex, writing creative blog posts, and cruising in the Mediterranean!