Everyone wants to begin their year with some new resolutions. Often we try to immediately fill the first few months with all of our changes and expect to see instant results. But the thing is, that can leave us feeling burnt out too quickly. You lose enthusiasm and motivation which results in you giving up and feeling like you’ve failed. I have done this so many times!
This year why not take a new approach to your list of resolutions, we are already a few days in, but take a step back, and look at your year as a whole.
Instead of writing a list of things to instantly change or do, fill your year with resolutions for each season. Below I’ve given some examples of what you could do, but remember it’s your year, so fill it with plans and challenges that will inspire and grow you!
Hobbies
The start of the year is the perfect opportunity to pick a new hobby to get involved in. Is there something you’ve always wanted to have a go at? Maybe it’s an art class, picking up a camera, or trying your hand at some yummy cooking? It could be something that you decide to do on your own, or why not find out if there are any classes happening in your local area which you can get involved with. Either way it’s a great opportunity to pick up a new skill, meet new people, or just develop a passion. Who knows where it could lead?
Plan a trip
It’s really easy to get caught up in routines and the busyness of life that we forget to sometimes give ourselves a break. This year, make some time to explore a bit more of the amazing world God has given us and choose somewhere you’ve never been to before to go and visit. It could be an English city that has lots of interesting history or perhaps it’s a small coastal town with amazing landscapes. You could even get your whole family involved and plan a trip further afield. Europe is full of vibrant cities and cultures just waiting to be explored!
Volunteer
Why not dedicate a bit of your time this year to serving others. There are so many local charities and projects out there which you can get involved in and help make a real difference, plus it’s a great extra to have on your CV for future job or university applications! Often charities don’t have a lot of money to pay people so they have to rely heavily on people willing to give up their time and get their hands dirty. Last year I went with a group from my church out to a project in The Gambia and it was completely life changing. So much so that I am off again in 2017. Does your church partner with any charities or perhaps have projects abroad which they send volunteers on? Whether it’s UK based or abroad, spending some time helping others is a great goal to have in your year!
You can find local volunteer projects here.
Set yourself a challenge
I love to set myself a challenge, something that will throw me out of my comfort zone and push myself to be better than I am. Doing things that we have never done before helps us to build strength and stamina, and instills in us the belief that when we put our mind to something we are able to do it. It could be a physical challenge like a 10k run or learning to swim if you never have! Maybe you want to stretch yourself more intellectually and a challenge for you could simply be reading a book to the end! It’s totally personal to who you are and what you want to achieve. It’s always fun to do something with a friend so why not team up with someone else and tackle a challenge together!
I hope this helps give you some ideas and you feel inspired to make this your best year yet!
