The Alternative New Years Resolution List

I think new years resolutions are silly. I think they create unnecessary pressure, comparison, and sometimes even anxiety for people. January can already be pretty pants (goodbye Christmas sparkles, afternoon naps, and mince pies for breakfast), so I don’t agree with making it any more miserable than it needs to be. Inspired by this, I thought I’d put together a few suggestions for a more meaningful and happy new years resolutions ideas list, for a happy 2020. I’d personally suggest picking off 1 to 3, and really enjoying them; or, if you wanted to go full whack, you could choose one a month. Regardless, I hope it gives you some lovely ideas…

1. Re read your favourite book / book collection. For me, it’s going to be the Harry Potter series.
2. Consider investing in a new friendship. Age UK and Macmillan (to name but a few ) run wonderful partner volunteering schemes. Age UK provide an opportunity to befriend an elderly person who may be struggling with loneliness; and Macmillan offer a volunteering scheme where you can support someone going through cancer, and you never know, both could lead to a wonderful new friendship. (I’ve attached the details in the links).
3. Try out a new beauty treatment. Reflexology, acupuncture, hot stone massages? Something you’ve never tried before. Some of these provide wonderful benefits, I got into Reflexology last year, and it’s been pretty life changing… and if not, well you got to enjoy a lovely, relaxed hour!
4. Dedicate one Sunday a month to just having a complete guilty pleasure tv / film day, where you do nothing else but eat amazing snacks and catch up on all those shows and films you secretly love. Bring your duvet downstairs for extra bonus points.
5. Have a complete wardrobe detox and re haul, and donate anything you cleared out to charity. This will make you feel good because you’ve de cluttered, and because you’ve more than likely helped someone else in the process.
6. Learn to cook something completely new and out of your comfort zone, then wow your family and friends with it.
7. Think of one thing that brought you utter joy as a child, and dedicate one full day this year spending time indulging in it again. Trampolining anyone?
8. Dedicate 1-2 days per week to going vegetarian or vegan. You’ll help make such a positive impact on our world, but will also discover lots of new and exciting recipes and food products.
9. Write down your absolute favourite dessert and commit to having it for breakfast, in bed, completely guilt free – one day this year. Birthdays don’t count (you should already do that then anyway) – it needs to be a completely random, non event day.
10. Set yourself an achievable goal that scares you. Thinking of getting into running? Make it your aim to take part in a 5K, or a Park Run, by the end of the year.