The New Year heralded 365 days of potential and promise. Every day brings us new opportunities for change and growth, which is why setting New Year’s resolutions has been a long-standing tradition.
Here are some suggestions for New Year’s resolutions to help you get the most out of 2023.
Reinvest in the things that make you happy
New Year’s resolutions have always been about the new: new habits, new goals, and new people in your life. They are about embracing discomfort and thinking outside the box. But as the years go by, I find that I often get lost in the pursuit of something else and forget what makes me who I am.
If you’ve ever felt the same way, I suggest you look back instead of forward. Try to remember the things about yourself and your life that you love and adapt them for the new year.
For me, reinvesting in what makes me happy means getting back into painting because it’s been too long since I’ve used a brush. For someone else, it might mean playing the sport you loved in high school, a busy hobby, or something else.
There’s nothing wrong with sticking to things that make you comfortable—as long as they don’t hold you back.
Try something you think you’d hate
I know I just said to reinvest in something familiar, but two things can be true at the same time. You can look to the future while remembering the past, and it’s important to immerse yourself in unpleasant things to expand your worldview.
This kind of commitment is great in the long run, but scary in the moment.
Trying something you think you’d hate goes beyond trying something new—it’s more difficult and rewarding. It challenges your preconceived notions of what you think you would enjoy and allows you to fly far outside of your comfort zone.
This resolution forces you to have brand new, weird and fun experiences that can turn into a new hobby. Or you can confirm that you hate the thing and never have to hear someone say “don’t knock it until you try it” ever again because you tried it!
Call your loved ones more often
I understand how messy life can be. I’m one of those forgetful people who can go weeks without talking to people I care about. I find myself meaning to call someone for days until weeks go by and never call them back.
With school, work, other friends, and extracurricular activities, it’s hard to keep up with people who aren’t right in front of you. On the other hand, I feel for parents who tell their kids, “You should call more!”
All relationships—whether familial, romantic, or platonic—have mutual cooperation. You may not mean to “scare off” your old friends by not calling or texting them, but that doesn’t change how frustrating it is to be the only one trying to maintain a relationship.
If you want to maintain these relationships, the best thing you can do is reach out to them, even if it’s random and not perfectly planned. Calling is a great way to show people that you want them in your life.