With the new year just approaching, we thought it may be a good time to talk about New Year’s resolutions. Often people create lists of their new year goals and things they wish to accomplish in the new year. Some common New Year’s goals include going to the gym, working out regularly, cutting out bad habits, and eating better. While there’s nothing wrong with these goals, in fact, they’re great things to aspire to, but when we try to implement so many new habits in our lives so quickly we burn out more easily. It can be hard to follow through with a long list of goals and you can end up feeling disappointed as a result.

It’s always good to create new goals, and you don’t have to wait for the new year to do it. Every day, every week, every month is a new start and a new opportunity to find little ways to improve yourself and your lifestyle. So don’t be too hard on yourself and create unrealistic expectations going into the new year! To help give you some ideas for some healthy and realistic goals for the new year we’ve compiled a list for you! These are goals that everyone can aspire to, seniors, caregivers, family, and friends. 

10 Realistic New Years Resolutions:

1. Eat Healthy

This new year you can help care for your overall health by trying to maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet. Be sure to eat regular meals and snacks in between if you need to. Eating healthy contributes to whole-body health and will benefit various aspects of you and your life.

2. Get Enough Sleep

Getting an adequate amount of sleep per night is vital for how we perform and go about our day-to-day lives. Investing in a good sleep schedule and good sleep hygiene will benefit you and your health.

3. Stay Active

Staying active is one of the best things to do for people of all ages, but it becomes increasingly vital as we age. Staying active helps ensure independence as we age and enables us to live a more fulfilling and enriched life. Make sure to spend at least 30 minutes doing some sort of exercise daily, whether that be stretching and Pilates or a walk around your neighborhood, your joints and your heart will thank you.

4. Spend Time With Loved Ones and Friends

Spending time with our friends and family is something we can never do too much of. So this new year, prioritize your relationships and the value of human connection. Community and connection are so beneficial to us and help us in many ways physiologically. 

5. Practice Gratitude

Gratitude is something we should prioritize reflecting on regularly, not just during the holiday season. Express the people and things you’re grateful for and reflect on the blessings present in your life.

6. Spend Time Outside

Even small amounts of time spent outside can have significant benefits on our mental and physical health. Getting some fresh air and vitamin D is a great way to start or end your day!

7. Try a New Hobby

It’s never too late to try something new. If you’ve been wanting to learn how to sew or knit or play chess; whatever it may be, give it a try this new year and see how it goes. You may love it and be a quick learner, and if not, there are always other hobbies out there waiting for you! Don’t be afraid to try something new simply because you’ll be bad at it — we all have to start somewhere and no one starts an expert, we work up to it. 

8. Clean and Organize

Cleaning and organizing your space can be a great way to start the new year. Decluttering and deciding the most important belongings can help give you a sense of a fresh start. It’s never too early for a little spring cleaning and oftentimes cleaning your surroundings can help ease your mind as well.

9. Learn Something New

Whoever said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks was lying! It’s never too late to learn or try something new. Have you always wanted to learn French? Do it! Learning something new is a great way to keep your mind sharp and also a great way to spend your time.

10. Read a Book

Reading is a great way to relax and widen your horizons. It can give you the chance to escape into a fantastical land or learn more about a topic you find interesting. Books open us up to whole new worlds of possibility and can teach us so many things.

Whatever resolutions you make this year, make them with graciousness in mind. There’s no need to make unrealistic goals, instead set a few small goals to work towards and go from there. Feeling a sense of accomplishment over smaller things is better than feeling disappointment over not being able to tackle many larger ones. We know the saying is “new year, new me” but perhaps it is the same us and we have the opportunity for a fresh start every day if we simply take the opportunity to seize it. 

Written for Senior Industry Services by Lauren Hope Bartling