It’s that time of year when thousands of us make pledges to turn over a new leaf, kick start a new hobby or try to be a bit healthier.
The start of the 2015 is a chance to look back over the last 12 months and muse over what changes we can make for the forthcoming year.
If you’re stuck for inspiration as to what to do, we’ve come up with a list of Top Ten New Year Resolutions to consider.
Whether it’s taking time out to help others or taking steps to improve your own health and wellbeing, there’s something here for everyone:
Spend more time with family and friends: With hectic working lives, it’s easy to make such promises but much harder to see them through. Make plans to meet up with friends and family in advance and get the dates in your diary. Choose a new café or restaurant for you all to try out to make it less likely you’ll cancel at the last minute.
Lose weight: There’s no better way to help you feel better about yourself than losing weight. While it’s one of the most popular New Year resolutions, the key to success is setting realistic goals and staying focused. Joining a local weight loss group can help make shedding the pounds easier as you’re doing it together as a team, or sign up to a gym and get help finding an inspiring training programme to suit your needs.
Quit smoking: Even if you’ve tried to quit before and failed, the New Year is a great time to try again. On average, smokers try about four times before they finally quit for good. Stamp out your smoking habit with help from over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies to help cull the cravings, or speak to your doctor about free support services and groups available locally.
Get fit: Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else. Studies have shown it reduces the risk of some cancers, maintains weight loss, increases longevity, enhances mood and lowers blood pressure. Why not try out a new sport, join a local gym or pull on your running shoes and hit the road? Download a training schedule to get you started then set yourself a goal such as a local charity run.
Quit drinking: After the indulgences of the festive season many people use the New Year as an incentive to curb their drinking habits. If you’ve decided that this is the resolution for you, there is support out there to help you succeed. Most heavy drinkers are not equipped to make such drastic lifestyle changes at once and could do with a helping hand. There are many alcohol support groups available locally and your doctor’s surgery will be able to point you in the right direction. But if you’ve just decided to go sober for a month or two, why not take up a new hobby to divert your focus?
Sort out your debt: If Christmas has left you in the red, now is a great time to get a handle on your finances. Your local money advice centre can help you draw up a detailed spending breakdown and provide support in assisting you in driving down debt. Alternatively, get a spending breakdown form online from the money advice service.
Take time out: Given our hectic, stressful lifestyles, it’s no wonder that “enjoying life more” has become a popular resolution. It’s an important step to a happier and healthier you. Why not pledge to visit a spa on a regular basis and indulge in a relaxing treatment, plan a trip to the theatre or even join a holistic healing centre to try out something new?
Learn a new skill: Whether it’s learning a new language, fixing your computer or taking a decent photograph, there are hundreds of courses available at nearby colleges and learning centres to develop new skills. Whether you take a course or simply set a goal to read a book once a month, you’ll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating New Year’s resolutions to keep.
And don’t forget all those new sports on offer at your local leisure centre.
Volunteer to help others: Volunteering can take on many forms and is one of the most rewarding things you can do with your spare time. Whether you choose to help out in a charity shop, clear litter, mentor a child or help the elderly, there are many organisations that could use your help. Visit your local community centre or log on to your chosen charity’s website for more details. For more advice check out the governments get involved website.
Declutter your home: If you are short of time you can still support your local charity by having a clear out and donating unwanted items which can be resold to raise money. Sifting out the clutter is extremely therapeutic too. Or raise some cash yourself by holding a car boot sale.
