With 2023 soon to be firmly in the rear view mirror, it’s time to shift your sights on the upcoming year. While many common resolution examples focus on goals such as creating a new workout routine or trying to lose weight, we suggest a more simple resolution: try something new. Sure, for many of us, the past year may have meant a lack of opportunities to travel or enjoy our favorite pastimes.
But this year can be the start of experiencing new things and setting achievable goals, whether you choose to do things by yourself or with others. Instead of focusing on restrictions, experiment with new hobbies to try or bucket list ideas that you have been putting off. After all, there is no better time to try new things than at the start of a new year!
This year, take that “New year, New Me” mentality and set the best resolution for yourself. Or, don’t set a resolution. Set an intention. Set a mindset. Focus on spending the year living, enjoying small moments and big events, relishing in self-care, or doing something that you truly enjoy. If you’re still asking yourself, “What should I do?” this list of goals for 2024 can help set you on your way to the best year yet!
40 New Things to Try in 2024
Learn a New Language
With more of us working from home than ever, many language learning opportunities have come completely virtual. Language apps, such as DuoLingo, have made it easy (and free!) to learn languages from the comfort of your home, sometimes in just minutes per day. For a more immersive experience? Consider taking an online class at your local university or community college.
Take Control of Your Health
Been putting off a long term health goal for the new year? Stop procrastinating and get started today. Starting a complete lifestyle change can feel overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into easy-to-manage tasks can help with the stress and anxiety of starting something new. Start with planning a long term goal—that is, a goal to achieve by the end of the year—and break it down into achievable monthly goals. This provides monthly feedback and milestones that you can use to check in on your progress.
Create a New Budget
Admittedly, money and finances are something that most people would attest to struggling with, especially as we head into economically uncertain times. If this is you, the start of the year makes for the best time to create a budget to set for yourself in the new year. This doesn’t mean forgoing all of your favorite activities, but it can encourage you to take a look at your spending more in-depth and see if there are unnecessary expenses hiding on those monthly statements.
Try Cooking One New Recipe a Month
Cooking slumps are real. If you’ve been struggling with home cooking inspiration, try pulling up a few of your favorite recipe sites (or cracking open those cookbooks!) to experiment with a new recipe this month. It can be a great way to not only try a new tasty recipe but also share in a new activity with a partner.
Save More Money
Creating a budget and saving money go hand in hand, but this isn’t exactly about simply cutting expenses. Save money by making small, almost unnoticeable changes in how you go about your daily life. For example, could you switch to a generic or house brand version of your favorite items on your grocery lists? Bulking in bulk at the grocery store can also save you tons of money and help you cut down on wasteful plastic packaging as well.
If you are a big online shopper, consider using apps, such as Rakuten (Get $30 when you sign up!), that give you cash back when you shop. While we don’t advocate for carrying a balance on your credit cards, using a cash back or points rewards card can help add a few extra dollars into your bank account each month or create an easy way to save up for a trip or purchase that you really want. Just make sure to pay it off at the end of the month to avoid any interest or late fees.
Read More Books
A great way to unplug (and set down your electronics!) at the end of the day is by picking up a good book. Amazon offers a variety of books with their Kindle membership or you can rent books both online and at your local library.
Start Journaling
One of our favorite parts of our morning routine is setting aside 10-15 minutes to journal. This simple exercise can be a great way to shift your mindset for the day and allow you to have a few moments to yourself to plan for the day, prioritize your well-being, and start your morning on the right foot.
Start Journaling
Create a Cleaning Schedule
Did you know that clutter can impact your mental health? Messy or uncontrolled areas of your home can lead to unconscious anxiety and stress in your brain. While you may not have time to give your home a full deep cleaning each week (and let’s be honest, that is anxiety-inducing), set up a schedule to do one small task a day or spend a short amount of time organizing your home. This small task can add up throughout the week and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list.
Become a Plant Owner
Plants can not only provide a bit of greenery to your home aesthetic, but they can be potent air purifiers, too! If you don’t have a green thumb, consider getting a low-maintenance houseplant. These are the perfect options for poorly lit rooms or those who forget to water. Not only that, but plants have been shown to have an effect on your mental health. Bringing houseplants into your home, could help create a calming environment and allow you to increase focus and concentration, while reducing stress and anxiety.
Consider Therapy
Most of us can agree, the past few years have not been easy. While many people may be resistant to traditional therapy methods, we firmly believe that meeting with a therapist is a valuable part of anyone’s wellness routine. With more virtual options than ever, you can meet with therapists in your living room using affordable options, such as TalkSpace or BetterHelp.
Not sure about virtual therapy? Try BetterHelp for a free week!
Let Go Of Hustle Culture
Sure, the internet is full of motivational slogans, savings, resolutions, and encouragement—all suggesting that we should spend the entire waking day focused on self-improvement and productivity. While the world has continually gotten more tech-focused, we have eschewed time-off in favor of working longer hours. The result? A high-level of burnout. This mentality, often referred to as “hustle culture,” suggests that working more is the key to better results. We say the opposite. Instead of focusing on doing everything, spend this year focusing on the things that you know that you are best at. Whether this is in your personal life or professional, focusing on—and becoming an expert in—a specific activity, topic, or process will lead to greater returns.
Use Your Phone Less
Technology is an ever-evolving landscape and, as a result, we are more connected to our phones than ever before. But, the incessant notifications and endless alerts means that we are always on edge. Instead, consider putting your phone on “Do Not Disturb” during the day or setting your push notifications to only alert you for important phone calls or texts (such as a child’s school). At night, make your bedroom a “No Phone Zone” to allow you to fully relax without the temptation of late night scrolling.
Try a New Workout
Sure, making it a point to work out with a friend is an example of a fitness goal that we have all heard of. But, workout burnout is also a very real problem. If you’re feeling unmotivated to exercise, break your slump by trying a new workout. There are a variety of free fitness apps or online workouts that make breaking a sweat and getting in some feel-good movement a breeze.
Put A Focus On Intentional Movement
Sure, trying a new workout is great (in fact, we made it a goal to try this year)! However, sometimes there is a high level of pressure when it comes to getting your sweat on. The best part about moving our bodies is that there isn’t a qualifier. Movement doesn’t have to look like a sweaty, heart-pumping workout or an hour long sweat sesh. Movement can be what simply feels good for our bodies. In many cases, overdoing it in the gym can cause more harm than good, so a focus on intentional movement can take the pressure and guilt away from workouts and put your focus into the self-care of your body.
Start Meal Prepping
Lack of time during the week is one of the leading causes of a poor diet. The most convenient foods—such as fast food, microwaveable dinners, or processed, packaged options—are often full of artificial ingredients, preservatives, and empty calories, all of which do not serve your body. Instead, make it a point to spend some time in your kitchen each week, meal prepping nutritious meals and snacks that you can easily reheat for easy lunches and dinners. Your body will thank you!
Create a Healthier Relationship With Food
You might be thinking: But you just suggested meal prepping! We sure did! The thing is, creating a healthier relationship with food can go hand-in-hand with meal prepping. However, for many, the pitfall lies in an all-or-nothing mindset. Simply meal prepping food doesn’t make food “good” or “bad,” just as there isn’t a right or wrong way to pre-plan your food. Creating a healthier relationship with food is about being intentional with what you eat and allowing yourself to enjoy food.
If you want to have a sweet treat or greasy dish, go for it! Intuitive eating grants you that flexibility, while also allowing you to honor what your body wants. Sure, spicy cheese fries on the regular might give you a pretty big stomach ache, which is why listening to your body (and its needs) will help you to make the best choices to fuel your body with what it craves.
Organize a Room in Your House
Much like creating a cleaning schedule can help you from feeling overwhelmed with household tasks, so can organizing a room in your home. Create a zen space by setting aside time to focus on one room. Not only will it keep you focused on one area, but it can create a cozy, controlled oasis for you to retreat to after a stressful day. Or, if you’re feeling in need of a refresh, rearrange the furniture in a room to give it a completely fresh feel.
Upgrade Your Workout Gear
Sometimes getting motivated as putting on a new pair of workout leggings. New activewear doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, just putting on a cute workout outfit can be an instant way to improve your mood.
Switch Up Your Skincare Routine
Whether it’s a new moisturizer, or a complete overhaul of your daily skincare routine, incorporating a new or different product into your skincare arsenal can reap big benefits. If you’ve struggled with dry skin, acne, or skin problems in the past, changing the skincare products that you use can be a game changer. Plus, making simple changes can be a great way to practice self care.
Make a To-Do List The Night Before
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by everything in your daily life, start by creating a to-do list the night before. Sure, making a list seems like a simple—dare we say “duh” task—but it can have an amazing impact on how organized you feel the next day. This easy step allows you to effectively plan your day before you start rushing around in the morning and prevent accidentally forgetting anything you need to do. An added benefit: you’ll sleep better knowing that everything is taken care of.
Commit to Moving During Lunch
Chronic back pain can develop from poor posture while working desk jobs. Break up your workday by getting away from your desk. If you’re working from a home office setup, commit to taking small breaks in between important emails or Zoom calls.
Set Work/Life Boundaries
Home offices make it hard to separate work from personal time. Not to mention, with more electronic devices and virtual connections, it’s becoming increasingly more common for employees to find themselves accessible 24/7. Help break this constant “on call” cycle by creating boundaries, such as setting office hours and committing to not checking your email until the next day. If you wouldn’t respond this way if you were going to the office, don’t make a habit of responding while working remotely.
Unfollow Social Media Accounts That Don’t Serve You
We’ve all seen them—the endless accounts on Instagram and TikTok that say they want to inspire mental health and wellness, while simultaneously making you feel as though you’re doing it wrong or that it’s not for you. Following accounts in your areas of interest should be about connecting and feeling stimulated, inspired, and encouraged, not leave you feeling worse about yourself than when you started scrolling. The common saying is “Instagram is a highlight reel.” It is. There’s messy clothes behind the closet door; there is a countertop full of cooking ingredients; there’s a leaf blower roaring outside the window of that oh-so-zen looking yoga pose.
Only follow those social media accounts that you truly connect with. Anything else? This is your sign to cut them loose.
Create a Quiet Nook in Your Home
Creating a work life balance is as much about setting boundaries as it is separating your space. While you may not be able to fully close off your workspace from the rest of your home, you can create a quiet nook of your home for relaxation. This place could be anywhere—your favorite chair or a spot on the sofa—but it’s sole purpose is to be used to unwind. Use this place as a space to read a book, meditate, or listen to a podcast. Not work.
Make Your Bed in the Morning
A quick productivity tip for each day? Make your bed each morning. Although a quick task, making your bed is the first thing that you can check off that to-do list each day and it immediately makes your room feel cleaner.
Commit to Moving at Least 10 Minutes Per Day
Move. Take a walk in the morning before your day gets started. Get in a short workout. 10 minutes can be a tiny fraction of your day but can be just what you need to shake off an afternoon slump.
Get Spontaneously Dressed Up
With work from home becoming the new norm, there’s a chance that if you aren’t on video calls, you might not be looking like you’re about to step into the office. While we are all for the messy bun and comfortable leggings, staying in your pajamas all day (every day) may have a negative effect on your wellbeing. If this is you, set a goal for the upcoming year to get dressed and ready…even if you aren’t going anywhere. Sometimes, taking a long shower, putting on new clothes, trying out a different makeup look, or simply adding a step to your morning routine can break you out of a funk and give you a boost for the day.
Or, get dressed up and take yourself out on a solo date. The opportunities are endless, but treat yourself to dinner, a movie, or spend the day in your favorite bookstore.
And remember: Getting dressed up and ready is about feeling good for you, not anyone else.
Make Breakfast a Habit
Rushing around in the morning and forget to eat? As 11am rolls around, you’ll probably be reminded by your growling stomach. Start your morning with a healthy breakfast to fuel your body for the day ahead. Don’t have time in the morning to cook? Try making overnight oats for a quick grab and go morning meal.
Practice Self-Compassion
Have you ever noticed that you are your own worst critic? Or, have you noticed that you don’t take the same advice for yourself that you give to your friends? Self-compassion is about reaching through the “be strong and be tough” exterior to ask ourselves what is really wrong and what is really going on. It’s about focusing on being kinder to ourselves—not just by practicing self-care, but also by changing our internal narrative. Think about the last time that you’ve had a negative talk track running through your head. What if you could spend time this year rewiring those thoughts to stop criticizing yourself and instead, start uplifting?
Create a New Morning Routine
While many don’t have a luxury of a 20-step morning routine, you can a simple difference in your day by changing up your morning routine. If you often short on time in the morning, get in the habit of setting your alarm 10 minutes earlier. Struggle with waking yourself up in the morning? Try a morning workout, stretches before work, or a hot shower. Even adding one new thing in the morning can create a change for the entire day.
…Or Ditch The Morning Routine
Does actually making a to-do list feel overwhelming? Are you someone who dreads going to bed because you feel that you already have a laundry list of items to complete in the morning? Sure, the lengthy morning routines of sipping matcha, journaling, yoga, and a full breakfast spread are what the aesthetic dreams of Instagram and TikTok are made of. While that may be attainable for you (rock on!), a dedicated morning routine might feel like too much for others. So your goal for the new year? Ditch the routine! See if a morning without a rigid routine grants you the grace and flexibility to start your morning without the stress and anxiety of completing a checklist.
Create a New Nighttime Routine
Just like a new morning routine, try something new in your bedtime routine. Having a hard time falling asleep? Take a relaxing bubble bath or set a “bedtime” for your screen time before it’s time to go to bed.
…Or Ditch The Night Routine
Now, we don’t mean staying up to 2am, avoiding the reminder of a 6am alarm. But, just as in a rigid morning routine, an overly strict nighttime routine might cause your brain to go into overdrive and do the opposite of let you relax. So, take out the pressure, and choose 3-4 things that you like to do in the evenings. Rotate through each thing as you feel that you need it without thinking about checking off the perfect nightly routine.
Make More Time For Self Care
It’s not all roses and bubble baths. You can practice self care by simply adding one new thing to do for yourself. Get bored often? Try a different self care item each month and keep your favorites!
Listen to Podcasts
Put down your phone and put in your headphones. Podcasts are not only educational, but can be a break in your day that requires you to simply be present and listen. Even better? No matter what kind of podcasts you enjoy, you can find one to fit your mood!
Pay It Forward
The definition of “pay it forward” literally means to pass on kindness to another that you received yourself. The next time you pick up a coffee, offer to pay for the person behind you. Don’t have extra money to spare? Return the smile you receive from a stranger. Offer to help when you see someone in need. A simple act of kindness can pay huge dividends without spending a dime.
Use a Planner
New year, new you? Or new planner? Stay organized with daily, weekly, monthly and even yearly goals by making a resolution to use a planner this year. Stop letting work and personal obligations sneak up on you by keeping track of it in one place. Besides, it’s the perfect way to make sure you’re making time and scheduling any of the other new things on this list!
Create a New Habit (Or Break an Old One)
The new year is most often symbolic of a fresh start, with many people setting resolutions that they will ultimately break. But, just like large and small goals, you can also start and end habits in the same bite-sized pieces. Not all habits are bad; not all habits are good. But, if there is something that you have been wanting to incorporate into your daily/weekly routine, or something that you wish that you could change about your current self, then using a habit planner is a great way to write down the steps towards actionable goals and your pathways to succeed in starting (or quitting) a habit.
Let Go of Toxic People
With the start of a new year, it’s time to let go of the things that are no longer serving you. This especially includes people. Just imagine what you could do with the energy that you expend on people who don’t return the favor.
Live Fearlessly
While there may be many tangible goals on this list, there’s one that will always be true: living life to the fullest. With so much uncertainty in the world, and the next day never promised, it’s important to soak up each and every moment—visiting with a loved one, calling a friend on the phone, or spending time with your dog. So, this year, set yourself free from limitations. Set yourself free from fear. Give yourself permission to truly live.
