Non New Year's Resolution: 10 Alternatives

open jar filled with folded notes — NASTENKAPEKA/ISTOCK

Whether or not you’re a fan of making a New Year’s resolution, it’s never a bad idea to look at January as a fresh start and another opportunity for growth and change. If you’re a little tired of the same old resolution that may or may not stick, don’t be afraid to get creative and try one of the following instead.

Keep a mason jar in your kitchen or living room next to a pad of sticky notes. Any time you make a fun memory, whether it’s a dinner with your family, a memorable weekend or even just a funny inside joke with a friend, jot it down on a sticky note, fold it up and stick it in the jar. On December 31, 2020, empty your jar and relive the moments that made your year unique.
Try one new activity each month. Use “A Year of Fitness for 2020,” featured on page 32 of the Nov./Dec. 2019 TOPS News*, for inspiration.
Clear any clutter by removing one thing that no longer serves you every month.
Set a new week’s resolution.
Read one new book or follow one new podcast every month.
Choose two or three things you’d like to learn more about. These may include a historical event, a cultural tradition or watercolor painting.
It’s easy to carry emotional baggage on your shoulders from one year to the next. Choose one thing to let go of in 2020.
Instead of adding to your ever-growing to-do list, focus on these three “don’ts.”
Set a monthly date night … with yourself! It can be to try a new recipe, read a good book or do absolutely nothing at all.
Plan to do something kind for someone you care about completely out of the blue. You can choose to do this once a month or every month, and it can be as simple as a surprise cup of coffee or a handwritten note. No matter how bleak things can sometimes feel, little acts of kindness nourish your spirit and make the world a better place.