I love the idea of a clean slate, a fresh start. The beginning of each year always promises opportunities, adventures and the chance to start over.
Personally, I don’t like the term “resolution” when people are discussing their list things they want to do for the year ahead. They worry about making New Year’s resolutions, and then sticking to them. Lose weight, finish the study course, learn a new language etc. etc. To me, a “resolution” means you haven’t done something properly. You failed. You stuffed up. Not a great motivating factor for me. I prefer to call my New Year’s Resolutions – New Year’s Goals. Something I’d like to achieve, but if I don’t, that’s ok. Life gets busy sometimes, and I’m not going to stress about something like still not being able to finish the complete works of the Bronte sisters. Why stress about something like that?
What I’d like to do in 2016, are more things that bring happiness – to me, my family and friends. More acts of kindness. More new experiences, and actually get around to ticking some stuff off my list that I’ve been wanting to finish for ages 🙂
If you’re wanting to do something similar, here are some ideas.
- Go to that restaurant you’ve been meaning to try for the last six months.
- Clear out all the clothes in your wardrobe that don’t make you feel fabulous. If it’s too small and there is no way you’re going to fit in it and its presence makes you depressed – chuck it out. Buy yourself a pair of jeans that make you feel fantastic and confident, even when you’ve had no sleep…
- Cook a new recipe. You may discover that it becomes a new family favourite.
- Put together a food hamper of non-perishable goods for a local food bank or pantry or charity organisation.
- Find a new route for a walk / run / bike ride with the family.
- Have a board game afternoon.
- Find something that makes you laugh – and do it regularly. If you’ve found a great series on TV, see if it is available on DVD so you can watch it when you need a pick-up.
- Buy a copy of The Big Issue magazine, or something similar to help support someone to be independent.
- Contact your local animal shelter and see if they need donations of pet food or blankets for the animals. If they do, drop some off for them.
- Bake something delicious to take to work and share with your colleagues.
- Have an indoor picnic for dinner. Pop a blanket on the floor and use disposable plates and cutlery so you don’t have to do the washing up either!
- Visit your local library and randomly choose a book to borrow and read. You might end up enjoying it, or it could be crap. You’ll never know though if you don’t give it a try.
- Plant some flowers in garden that you can later pick and have in the house.
- Try to stop feeling guilty about taking time out for yourself.
- Clear out the Tupperware cupboard. Surely I’m not the only one who has somehow ended up with more containers than lids…
- Be kind – to yourself and to others.
- Wash and clean out your car more often. I always feel frazzled when the inside of the car is littered with kids’ hats, sultanas, books, tissues and about 10 empty water bottles.
- Catch up with friends more often. So often, we’re busy and keep promising ourselves that we’ll catch up ‘soon’. When is ‘soon’? Make a date and put in on the calendar.
- Eat breakfast for dinner. Cereal or pancakes for dinner? Why not? The kids will love it and I’m a huge fan of anything that makes dinnertime less stressful 🙂
- Reread your favourite book.
- Be a tourist in your own city and visit the local attractions.
- Take part in a fun run. Nothing too strenuous.
- Donate unwanted books to the local library, nursing home or shelter.
- Plan a holiday – a day trip, a weekend away, a longer family holiday.
- Unsubscribe from mailing lists you no longer want to be a part of. It could take a while, but go through your emails and unsubscribe yourself from any pesky lists you have somehow ended up on. Or find some blogs or news sites that you enjoy and sign up for regular emails – like getting posts from Life, kids and a glass of red delivered straight to your inbox!
If you’re wanting to focus more on setting achievable goals for yourself, as opposed to a list of things you’d like to get around to doing, I came across this great article Resolutions vs Intentions and Goals. Puts it all into perspective and has some great tips.
Here’s to an amazing 2016!
What are some suggestions you would add to this list?
Do you set goals or resolutions for yourself each New Year?
Make sure you’re following Life, kids and a glass of red on Facebook for extra giggles and snippets of silliness!
Linking up with Essentially Jess for #IBOT and Epic Mommy Adventures for #TurnItUpTuesday.
Life, kids and a glass of red 
All excellent suggestions. I love floor picnics and the library- one thing I am doing is keeping a list of every book I read this year- just for fun 🙂
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Floor picnics are awesome, and no washing up, too! Any recommendations for a great book to read?
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I always find the idea of new years resolutions so weird. IT’S JUST ANOTHER DAY, PEOPLE. It’s such a weird ritual – let’s set a bunch of unattainable goals for ourselves and then feel really inadequate and useless. I don’t do them. If I think something needs changing I just work towards it, no matter what the date is.
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Exactly, why set ourselves up to fail, and then feel even worse about it?! Let’s just be happy 🙂
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I love the way your mind works Emma! More acts of kindness is a beauty. There can never be enough kindness in this world. And….oh boy….did you read my mind? I reallly need to clean out my wardrobe. I have so many clothes in there that are too small for me and it depresses me every time I see them. I also love your ‘be a tourist in your own city’. Isn’t weird how when you visit other cities you race around and make sure you see all the main attractions but when it comes to your own city – you most likely have never seen the main attractions at all!! Love your list. Happy New Year! xo
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You’re so right, there can never be enough kindness in this world. If everyone did just one small kind thing, it would have a huge impact, I’m sure. Enjoy being a tourist in your own city! Here’s to a fabulous 2016.
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Fantastic list!!! I started the new year re-reading my favourite book (I do it every few years) and am loving it!!!
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Thanks Deb – its a great way to start the year, doing something you love. Out of interest, what is your favourite book? I’m always looking for book recommendations!
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Fantastic list Emma, I’ll follow some of these for sure! I’ll start with the try a new restaurant because I am so guilty of just returning to the same old favourites all the time because I know it’s good.
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Thanks Haidee! I hope you find some new favourites 🙂
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Dude, we could be the same person. I hate the term “resolution”, and prefer to use “goals” as well. Self care is my goal this year, and a by-product will be bringing more joy into my life.
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You must be awesome then! 🙂 Glad that you’re making self care a priority, hope you have a fabulous year!
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You too!
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You have a great list … A bit of everything really. That’s what life is all about
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Thank you 🙂
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What a great list of things to do!
I have just a couple of goals for the year at the moment. I’ll work on more as I go on.
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I love your over arching goal – to bring happiness. And as for cereal, toast or noodles for dinner – we’ve long done that! We call it a DIY night 🙂 … #teamIBOT x
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DIY night – love it!
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I really need to get rid of old clothes and unsubscribe from email lists {I have 14000 unread in one email address}. I don’t really make resolutions, I do love making lists though. I love being able to tick things off! #teamIBOT
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I love ticking things off a list too!
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I LOVE the idea of making your goal to bring kindness and creating plans around that. It reminds me of the word of the year concept. I can’t wait to see how you do!
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Thanks Morgan! I think being kind is a pretty easy thing to do. I hope you have a great 2016 🙂
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I’m not a big one for NY resolutions but this is a lovely list of things to do anytime of the year. We just donated a bunch of kids books to the kids ward at our local hospital. Might have to go through my own books and do the same 🙂
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I don’t want to deal with my tupperware cupboard – do I really have to? I agree with you on not making resolutions – it’s definitely goals all the way for me. Feel free to link this up to my #imustconfess linkup on Monday. The prompt is goals for 2016 – this post is definitely perfect for that prompt!
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I make goals, not resolutions, too. Resolutions feel too binding, too much like changing myself. I’d rather set goals. So far so good on my “run more” goal. “Drink less Coke” is going okay, too. My “save more money” needs more work, though 🙂 Love your list!
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