New Year , New You.

10 simple resolutions for the New Year to keep.

As we enter a new year, we experience anticipation and hope. We look for a fresh start.

I, personally feel the same except, that I try to look what worked and what did not for me in the previous year and to start from there to have an improvement in the New Year.

Everyone is an author of his own life book . People are saying , “the best way to predict our future is to create it”.

James Clear in Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones writes : “Here’s how the math works out: if you can get 1 percent better each day for one year, you’ll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you’re done. Conversely, if you get 1 percent worse each day for one year, you’ll decline nearly down to zero. What starts as a small win or a minor setback accumulates into something much more.

Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. The same way that money multiplies through compound interest, the effects of your habits multiply as you repeat them. They make little difference on any given day and yet the impact they deliver over the months and years can be enormous. It is only when looking back two, five, or ten years later that the value of good habits and the cost of bad ones becomes strikingly apparent.”

Small , almost imperceptible changes can make a huge difference when one will factor in time.

Clear writes further : “But when we repeat 1 percent errors, day after day, by replicating poor decisions, duplicating tiny mistakes, and rationalizing little excuses, our small choices compound into toxic results. . Habits and mental disciplines are controllable, offer enormous opportunity for returns, have extremely minimal risk, and you can use them for the rest of your life. More importantly, they allow you to diverge from the herd and advantageous divergence is the name of the game.”

When comes to self improvement the stoics are taking a hard look.

Marcus Aureus wrote in “Meditations”:” Stop drifting, Sprint…If your well-being matters to you, be your own savior while you can.”

Seneca stated : “Putting things off is the biggest waste of life,”

Epictetus wrote in “Enchiridion “: “Putting things off and always deferring the day after which you will attend to yourself…you will live and die as someone quite ordinary.”

Here are some New Year resolutions to keep:

1. Get outside .Even if you do not consider yourself the outdoorsy type, it’s a proven fact that connecting with nature reduces stress. So take a hike (or even a stroll), watch a sunrise or sunset with someone you love, or take that extra lap around the park with your dog. The fresh air will do you good!

2. Compliment Someone and Mean It: Although this may be harder for some than others (introverts, we see you), go the extra mile and pay someone a compliment — whether it’s a co-worker who has just killed it on her quarterly report presentation or the person in front of you in the coffee line whose jacket you love. A simple sentiment can go a long way in boosting the recipient’s mood, and yours as well. Share the love with those closest to you, too. It may be a while since you told your significant other how pretty their eyes are or your kid that you noticed them practicing good manners.

3. Grow something: Although gardening can be intimidating to some, start small. Try your hand at growing indoor house plants or even container vegetable garden to have fresh herbs and grape tomatoes later

4. Don’t hit snooze. You are not the only one who feels this way! But think twice before hitting snooze. Wake up when the alarm says so — you are the one who set it after all. Consider what that extra 5 minutes does for your morning routine — or just stay in the shower an extra 5!

5. Journal one line a day . Journaling is a way of reflecting to yourself and keep your memories for the future.

6. Read more , if you love to read, commit to reading one new book (or more) a month. One good way to keep yourself accountable is to join or start a book club. It’s a great way to discover new books and connect with friends, new and old. Bonus: your screen time average will decrease!

7. Walk or run a mile a day : It is possible that you’re already walking (or running) a mile a day. In that case, set a goal to be more active in general. Try parking at the back of the parking lot at the grocery store to get in more steps or take the stairs instead of the elevator when it makes sense. Set a step or distance goal and get creative about how you achieve it. We bet taking the long way to the park will make you (and your dog) happier!

8.Try something new each month , this will make 12 new projects : Shake things up by setting a goal to try something new and different each month. If you’re a foodie, consider trying a new restaurant, recipe, or ingredient. Whatever goal you pick, start small, and work up to signing up for that pottery or Barre class. Get creative and don’t forget to get your friends and family involved — they might help keep you accountable!

9.Pay off some debt: If you’re looking to pay off some debt this year, consider checking out Anna Newell Jones’s book The Spender’s Guide to Debt Free Living. She explains that one of the things that helped her was to go on a spending fast for a year. While it may feel daunting to fast from all extra spending for a whole year , approach the task in smaller doses, like a month or two for a particular area of your budget. It could be fasting from ordering out for 30 days and only cooking at home. Look at your budget to see what you’ve saved, pat yourself on the back, and apply that money to paying down debt.

10.Learn new hobby : Everyone needs a little down time, and a hobby is an excellent way to force your mind to think about things other than the kids or your job. When you’re looking for something to keep your hands busy (and, let’s be honest, give you a little zoning-out kind of therapy), try one of the many hobbies out there, like knitting, sewing, or embroidery. If getting outside is a goal, try your hand at gardening. Whatever you pick, remember that placing yourself into a new activity will help you stick with it if it’s something you enjoy doing.

Last thought:

If we do not have a specific plan and supporting strategies to follow through with our good intentions we lose the momentum and do not have anything done by the mid year or for the rest of the entire 12 months .

Every project can be broken down in small parts that can be executed in a timely manner even with dead lines and then assembled smoothly in something big.

Make simple resolutions you can keep, knowing your busy schedule and time limitations.

Finally, write the following statement : I can be better this year, somewhere, you can see everyday, like your mirror in your bathroom .

If you like my writing and want to read more, subscribe to Medium through my referral link (I will earn a small commission) to get full access!