Go beyond losing weight and hitting the gym this year by making resolutions that will uplift, educate, entertain, and help you become a better person.
New Year Resolution Idea #1: Read a new book every month
There’s a reason this one is one of our favorite New Year’s resolution ideas yet. Between your job, social media, and all your favorite online activities it may feel like all you do all day long is read stuff but there’s a huge difference between reading information on the Internet and getting lost in a great story. In fact, reading a novel actually changes your brain, improving memory and increasing brain connectivity for days after you finish the book, according to a study published in Brain Connectivity. Both types of reading have their place but don’t let Internet articles crowd out reading a well-crafted, compelling book. For maximum brain benefits, carve out time each day to do a little reading.
New Year Resolution Idea #2: Do something that scares you
This isn’t an easy one, but it is one of the best New Year’s resolution ideas, too. Make a list of things that scare you: public speaking, sky diving, holding a spider, eating Brussels sprouts, asking your boss for a raise, calling your crush. Now, pick one thing off the list and find a way to do it. You don’t have to go from arachnophobia to crawling into the spider house at the zoo, but find a safe, incremental way to conquer one of your big fears. Bring a friend, get educated, read a book, take a class, or do therapy to help you face your fear. Each time you do it, you’ll feel stronger, more confident, and more in control over your life because you’ll have power over one more thing, instead of your fear having power over you.