A new year is here and with that comes a chance to do better. Here are some great ways to start off your year.
1. Get healthier
Health really is wealth. If you haven’t been working out and eating a healthy diet, this is a good time to start. You don’t need to make drastic changes to your lifestyle like go on one of those crash diets. Simply cut down on your junk intake. Every time you want to reach for a soda, have water instead. Replace fries with healthier options and have a fruit when you have a craving for sweets. Of course, junk once in a while is a great indulgence but the key is to limit frequency and portions.
Working out can be boring especially if you’re not good with regimented workout spaces like the gym. If that’s the case, you can get one of the many workouts available in the market. Pilates, Zumba and Insanity workout I find are efficient for a good workout. You can also simply jog or walk every day, take the stairs or if you’re more adventurous, take a dance class or join a hiking/running group.
2. Work on your relationships
We need other people to be better human beings. Go out of your way to mend any broken relationships, forgive past hurts and put in effort to make the good relationships in your life even better. Also go out and make new friends. It never hurts to enlarge your social circle.
A relationship we forget to work on is the one with ourselves. Make a habit to spend time with yourself. Meditate and have sessions of self-talk. The more comfortable you are being with yourself and being yourself, the better your relationships with others will be.
3. Challenge yourself
Whether it’s getting a new job, that promotion at work, making moves on your crush, running a marathon or finally going back to school, go for it. We become better by pushing our limits. Decide who you want to be and where you want to go and begin to move towards that goal.
4. Increase your knowledge
Most knowledge isn’t gotten from attending a school, contrary to popular belief. Have more meaningful conversations with people, you’ll learn a lot. Also, read books. I can’t go on about the benefit of interacting with someone else’s ideas in a book.
Another way to increase your knowledge is to travel. Save and see the world if you can. However, before you go globetrotting, make sure you’ve seen enough of your country and your continent. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive or even long distance. You will learn a lot too from going to the museum or the orphanage.
5. Give to the needy
There’s something wonderful that happens to us when we lend a helping hand to those in need. You don’t have to be rich to make a difference in someone’s life. Identify a cause you believe in and give to it. Whether it’s a children’s home or a school for the differently abled, give away. Giving doesn’t have to be monetary either. You can give your time or expertise or even donate clothes and other items the charity you’re giving to needs.