Don’t Underestimate These 5 Powerful New Year’s Resolutions
As the year 2023 approaches, many people are thinking about their New Year’s resolutions. I mean, we all do that, right?
Every. Single. Year.
One common resolution is to improve physical health by exercising regularly or eating healthier.
Another popular resolution is to focus on personal growth.
Some people also resolve to be more organized or to spend more time with loved ones.
Which is all great. But what about tinier, simpler new habits that anyone can easily stick to?
5 Simple, Yet Powerful New Year’s Resolutions
What follows are a few tiny New Year’s resolutions you can try in 2023.
1. Stretch as soon as you wake up and before going to bed
This small habit can be great for both your body and mind.
When you wake up, your body has been inactive for several hours, and stretching can help loosen up your muscles and improve your range of motion.
As explained in Harvard Health Publishing, stretching before getting out of bed can help you wake up the body, improve the circulation and turn on the parasympathetic system.
Stretching before bed can also help to relax your body and mind, preparing you for a good night’s sleep.
A popular study showed that gentle stretching resulted in better sleep than tougher exercises, such as aerobics.
2. Focus on your breath
We often forget of breathing deeper and of how beneficial it can be for both our mind and body.
When you take deep breaths, you inhale more oxygen, which helps improve your circulation and energize your body. Deep breathing can also help to calm and relax your mind, reducing stress and anxiety.
Sometimes all it takes is just trying to be more mindful of how you are breathing. A good habit is stop whatever you’re doing just for a few seconds and ask yourself “Am I breathing in the right way?” “Am I breathing deep enough?”
Try to do it every 15 to 20 minutes.
Recommended read: 30+ Surprising Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs
3. Watch more documentaries about success stories
I don’t know about you, but watching documentaries of people who achieved a lot in life inspires and motivates me.
By learning about the challenges, failures and triumphs of successful people, you can gain a greater understanding of what it takes to achieve your own goals.
You may also discover new ideas and approaches you can apply to your own path.
Here are a few documentaries I loved:
- My name is Francesco Totti (My rating: 9/10)
- Dulceida al desnudo (this is an inspiring mini-series about the influencer Aída Domenech; my rating 8.5/10)
- The playlist (My rating 10/10)
- Chiara Ferragni: Unposted (My rating 7.5/10)
4. Learn to spread kindness and break the cycle of rudeness
A few days ago I went to the hairdresser. She was stressed and nervous. And she was being not-so-polite with me.
I let it slide and didn’t tell her anything, but I was feeling so angry and frustrated that I started thinking about the honest review I would later write on Google and the app I used to book my appointment.
However, in the end I loved how she made my hair. She did an amazing job. So, something in my heart pushed me to not take that personally — because I knew that was not personal — give her a tip, smile, and thank her.
The moment I gave her the tip I could see it in her eyes: she knew how she behaved with me and she wasn’t expecting that tip, her face expression changed, and I could see and feel a sudden shift in her mood.
That small thing clearly made her feel good.
And it made me feel so good, because I realized I made something nice not just for her, but for myself as well. I stopped feeling angry, and I felt at peace — because I realized I was breaking a cycle of rudeness.
We live in a chaotic world. Most people are stressed, nervous, worried, trying to face — and survive — a global recession, which means that people may also be more prone to being rude.
And you may face rudeness more often.
It’s difficult to deal with a situation in which you feel verbally or psychologically attacked. But how you respond is totally up to you. It can break the cycle of rudeness — and it will completely change how you feel.
5. Avoid toxic people
Now, this might sound obvious, and you’ve probably read it already somewhere else, but I included it in the list because it’s too important not to mention it.
As Jim Rohn said,
“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”.
So you definitely can’t let negative people influence you and ruin your life. Life simply isn’t that long.
On the other hand, surrounding yourself with good, supportive people who truly care about you can have a positive impact on your mental health and even change the course of your life.
Recommended read: How to Succeed in Life: 4 Mental Shifts You Must Make
Final Thoughts
New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to set goals and make positive changes.
Whether you’re looking to improve your physical health, learn something new, spend more time with your loved ones, or focus on personal growth, there are endless possibilities for resolutions.
The key is to set specific, achievable goals and to stay consistent and motivated.
Remember, New Year’s resolutions are not about perfection or achieving overnight success. They are about taking small steps towards becoming the best version of yourself.