Halloween is almost over, and we are hurtling rapidly towards Christmas. Before we know it, it will be the end of the year, and we will all be thinking about making resolutions for the new year ahead of us. Next year seems even more important for fresh starts and changes – it is the beginning of a whole new decade. However, many of us start off the year with the very best intentions, and before we know it, those promises to ourselves of losing weight, hitting the gym every morning before work, or learning a new language have fallen by the wayside, and we are back to square one. Here, we look at three new year’s resolutions that you should put into practice next year.
1) Make a will
A will is an incredibly important document – probably one of the most important ones you will ever have to deal with. It is physical proof of what you want to happen to all of your assets after your death, so it is essential to a) have one and b) keep it updated if your financial or family situation changes. They sound really complicated, but they don’t have to be –
WillTemplates can be found online to give you an excellent starting point. By making a will as part of your resolutions, you are setting up your family and giving them peace of mind.
2) Improve sleep habits
Very few of us get a full 8-hours of quality sleep every night, but it is one of the best things you can do for both your physical and mental health. Of course, some things can’t be helped – if you have young children, for example, you probably aren’t going to get a good night’s sleep very often! However, there are things that you can do to improve your sleep habits so that even if you aren’t getting the recommended amount, what you do get is good enough. Cut out caffeine (remember, it is in some fizzy drinks, tea, and chocolate, as well as the obvious coffee!) after 2 pm, have a warm, milky drink before bed, and don’t look at screens an hour or two before bedtime. All of these things can help to improve your sleep patterns and leave you feeling physically and mentally rejuvenated and refreshed.
3) Aim for random acts of kindness
A random act of kindness, or a RAOK, as they are often known, is precisely what it sounds like. It’s helping someone or doing something nice for someone without any intention other than to be kind. It can be easy to build these into your life – perhaps paying for the coffee for the person behind you in Starbucks or letting someone have your parking ticket if there is time left on it. These little deeds can really brighten up someone else’s day and leave you feeling good.
New year’s resolutions do not have to be big and dramatic. A couple of practical ones and a couple to make you an all-round better person are much better – and much easier to stick to – than generic ‘lose weight and get fit’ style resolutions. Good luck!
