I’m not much for making resolutions. I never seem to keep them and just feel discouraged when I break them. Perhaps it’s because I’ve set goals that are too lofty. Or maybe resolutions are often too restrictive. Usually we try to give something up or promise to stop a certain behavior. It’s often what we think we should do and not what we really would like to do. These days, instead of making resolutions, I make a list of things I’d like to do or explore in the new year. It’s feels less prohibitive and more positive to me. I’ve come up with 19 ways to help make 2019 the best year yet.
19 Ways to Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet
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1. Get Healthier
You’re right. This one sounds like a resolution. But what makes it less restrictive and more positive is it’s openness. There are so many ways to get healthier. It could be going to the gym. But it could also be getting outside more often, eating more fruits and vegetables, or working on your mental health by talking to a counselor or practicing meditation. Living a healthier life is a good thing for anyone. Instead of making it a resolution to beat yourself up with, turn it into something you’d like to try out and see where that gets you.
2. Start a Journal
If you’ve never kept a journal, you should know that there are nearly as many styles and types of journals as there are people who keep them. A quick search on Pinterest or Amazon will render dozens of ideas for you to try. Some only require writing a couple of lines per day. You can also check out my post about journaling for self-care here. I have been using a bullet journal for several years. I wrote this post on how it helps me feel happier. Studies have shown that writing down thoughts and feelings help us lower our stress levels. You never know, starting a journal might help make 2019 your best year yet.
3. Let Something Go
Resolutions are usually about adding something to our to-do lists. What if instead of adding something, we let something go? Let go of a grudge or an old hurt. Donate old items that are cluttering your closets. Let go of something that is holding you back. Check out a book on minimalism is you’re really interested in letting things go. It could inspire you.
4. Use Your Imagination
Not sure what might make 2019 the best year yet for you? Try imagining what your best year yet would look like. Imagine yourself in the places you might want to be or doing the things you’d like to try. Painting a picture in your mind is often the first step in creating something new or making an important change.
5. Learn Something New
One way to stay mentally healthy is to participate in life-long learning. Take a class. Read a book. Watch an instructional video. There are as many way to learn something new (and new things to learn) as there are learners. Find something that interests you and start studying.
6. Practice More Gratitude
I have long extolled the benefits of gratitude. It’s an ongoing theme for My Cup of Cocoa. Gratitude is good for our physical and mental health. It build better relationships. And it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort to get started. Check out one of my gratitude challenges here or here. You can even get your kids involved with one of these great books about gratitude.
7. Share With Others
One of the best ways to improve ourselves is through helping others. Studies have shown that altruism and simply doing a good deed daily improve our lives just as much as the lives of the people we serve. Volunteering and serving give us a sense of purpose, a boost of self-esteem, and a sense of gratitude and peace. Plus, we are actually improving the world at the same time.
8. Strive For Progress, Not Perfection
Forward is still forward no matter how slow you’re moving. As a recovering perfectionist, I often have to remind myself that the goal is to make progress and to let the obstacle of perfection go. We don’t have to do something perfectly to make it worthwhile. If you’re like me, practice letting go of your perfectionist ideals. Focus on the small victories instead.
9. Adopt a Pet
One of the best things we’ve done as a family is adopt our dogs. I know many people who would say the same about their cats, horses, bunnies, etc. So you don’t have to be a dog person to adopt a pet. My dogs give me a reason to wake up and get the day started on time. They give me a good reason to get outside for a walk. And they are always happy to greet me, no matter how the day has gone. If I’m sick or otherwise feeling low, they are my biggest cuddlers. I currently own two rescue pups and they’ve rescued me every bit as much as I rescued them.
10. Make a New Friend
If a pet isn’t the sort of friend you’re in the market for, maybe 2019 is the year to make a new human friend or two. Lately I’ve seen some funny memes about how difficult it is to make friends once we reach adulthood. I don’t think they’re necessarily true. The best way to meet new people is through our various activities. If you have kids in school, you’re more likely to make friends with other parents. If you participate in a sport or class or other social activity, you’ll likely make new friends there. You can even make friends through blogging if you’re the type who stays home most of the time. Whatever your interests are, you can meet people who share them. The idea is to meet some new people and add to your circle of friends.
11. Spend More Time Outdoors
More and more studies are being done that link happiness and well-bring to nature. We live in a world that is increasingly removed from the natural environment. We spend most of our time indoors, often staring at a screen. Getting back to nature can help reduce stress, increase physical activity and better our overall health. I highly recommend reading The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative
12. Find a Fun Hobby
Maybe 2019 will be the year of finding a fun new hobby. And perhaps your fun hobby will take you outdoors. I have friends who go on gazillion mile bike rides on the weekends or who run in marathons for fun. Perhaps you’re more my speed and a nice hike in the woods or a walk on the beach is fun for you. You might enjoy gardening. Did you know it’s the most popular hobby in the U.S.? It’s followed closely by genealogy. Maybe that’s a fun hobby you’d like to take up. If there is something you’ve always thought you might like to try, then make 2019 the year you try it. And if you decide to try skydiving or deep sea diving, please tell me all about it. I’d never do either of them, but I’d love to hear about your adventures.
13. Give More Hugs and Compliments
Hugging raises the level of oxytocin and serotonin in our brains. It also lowers our stress levels and blood pressure. It doesn’t matter if you’re the hugger or the huggee, hugging benefits both parties. So hug your loved ones every day and you will all be a little healthier. Hugs also build trust, boost self-esteem, and can settle down our nervous system. Who doesn’t need that in this crazy world we live in?
Giving and receiving sincere compliments have similar benefits to hugging. Research has shown that expressing kindness toward others boosts our immune system, increases our productivity, and can even help with insomnia. Acting with kindness also has similar boosting effects on our oxytocin and serotonin levels as hugging. So compliment away!
14. Deal With It (Health Issues)
2019 is the best year yet to deal with your underlying health issues. If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or any other mental health issue, maybe 2019 is the year you talk to a mental health professional. I spent years calling myself a “worrier” before I recognized that anxiety was controlling way too much of my life. Talking to my doctor was such a relief. If you haven’t had a checkup in more than a year, it’s time to make that appointment. Don’t like visiting the dentist? Neither do I, but I deal with it. Maybe it’s time to get your teeth cleaned. Whatever the health challenge, make the call and get the ball rolling.
15. Be Yourself
Stop being what everyone else thinks you should be. Or, more likely, what you think everyone else thinks you should be. Try being yourself. Trying to fit into a preset image or idea of what you should be is often uncomfortable and deeply unsatisfying. Remember what Oscar Wilde said: “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.”
16. Make a Debt-Reduction Plan
This is another one that sounds like a resolution to me. But the truth is, if you are struggling financially, there is no time like now to make things better. There are loads of different ways to go about it. Check out a book on personal finances from your local library. Go to a website like daveramsey.com or usnews.com and see what advice you can glean from them. Write down a list of all your debt and all your income. Know where your money is going and make a plan to improve your circumstances.
17. Set a Realistic Goal
Like I said, I’m not big on resolutions, but if you set a goal, make it a realistic one. So often our resolutions fail because they aren’t realistic. Some people might argue that if you don’t dream big, big things will never happen. I say dream all you want, but set realistic goals to turn your dreams into reality, Sometimes it takes little steps, but if they are manageable, you are much more likely to accomplish them.
18. Use Your Creativity
If you don’t think you’re a creative person, think again. Everyone has the ability to create. Sure, there’s the more standard creative outlets like painting, photography, knitting, jewelry making or paper crafts. But even if the thought of entering a art and craft supply store sends chills down your spine, you still have the ability to be creative. It is human nature to create. Maybe cooking is more your speed. Perhaps you enjoy computer coding or industrial design. Creativity is in the eye the maker. Check out my post on the joy of being creative here.
19. Give Yourself a Break
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Yes, you will fall short sometimes. And that’s just fine. We’re only human after all. Have you ever noticed that we are our own worst critics? Can you imagine if we talked to our loved ones the way we sometimes talk to ourselves? Stop all that self criticism and give yourself a break in 2019. It might just make it your best year yet.
And there you have 19 ways to make 2019 your best year yet. If you’ve made a resolution or two, that’s great. If you’re not the resolution making type, why not try one of these 19 ideas and see where it takes you in the new year?
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2019. Thank you for reading and please use the social media buttons to share this post. I’d love to hear what your plans for 2019 are. You can leave me a message in the comment section below.
