Make 2024 the best year yet
01 January 2024
By Allie Voyage
Resolutions don’t have to be just for the new year. And let’s face it, when we make promises to ourselves at the stroke of midnight on December 31, we abandon those resolutions pretty quickly. But changes are all about progress, not perfection.
If you need help to get this year off to the right start – and to keep it on track - try out some of the suggestions below to set you up all the way through 2024, not just January.
Book in important appointments
Your health should always be at the top of your priorities, and if you’ve been putting off that all-important check-up for a while, now is the time to take some proactive steps. Take a week to set up any crucial appointments you might need to see your doctor, dentist or other medical professional.
Additionally, don't overlook the significance of an annual skin cancer check as most parts of Australia have high levels of UV radiation from the sun all year round.
Go somewhere you’ve never been
You don’t have to go far to go somewhere you’ve never been - adventure lies just around the corner. Whether it's the joy of uncovering hidden gems in your local neighbourhood or finally venturing into the countless breathtaking landscapes of Australia, the thrill of discovery awaits.
As a My NRMA member you can get 5% off a booking with Intrepid Travel who take care of all the plans for you, just choose your destination.
Try something thrilling
Push your boundaries a little and do something you’d never thought you could. It could be skydiving, hot air ballooning, or even starting a new career. Doing something that scares us creates lasting memories and eliminates doubts.
Get creative
Don’t worry, you don’t have to paint if that’s not for you! Carve out time regularly in your schedule for activities to let your imagination thrive. Creative pursuits come in all forms whether it’s crafting, designing, restoring furniture or even an old car. Find what you want to create and make it so.
Give back to your community
To enrich the soul, find a local organisation doing work you believe in, and who would be grateful for your time. Time spent in service of others is always fulfilling and can be a great way to look beyond yourself to get a new perspective for the year to come.
My NRMA and GIVIT make it easy to find a volunteering opportunity near you.
Stop being late
Train your mind to associate certain actions or transitions with checking the time. For example, make it a habit to glance at your watch or clock every time you switch tasks, enter or leave a room, or start and finish a break. This helps embed regular time checks into your routine.
Look into meal prep or consider setting yourself up for the day the night before (lay out clothes, pack your bag). Being punctual reduces stress for yourself and lets the people you’re meeting know you value their time.
Being early is even better and you can use those moments to centre yourself with a breath and maybe even a coffee.
Declutter and donate clothes
A great habit to get into at the start of each season is removing the clothes from your wardrobe that you didn’t wear this time last year and donate them. You’ll be decluttering your home while also giving to a good cause.
Try the hanger technique: start by facing all your hangers the same way, when you wear an article of clothing, turn the hanger around. At the end of the season you’ll be able to clearly see what you haven’t worn.
Make sure to keep the motivation intact and drop the clothes off the same day so they don’t sit around in a bag for months.
Do your bit for the environment
Eco-anxiety affects us all and it can be easy to despair. But there are still things we can do to make our environment – even just the small one around us – a better place.
You can start a compost; commit to not buying more and reusing what you have already; try out an electric vehicle and experience why so many people are making the switch.
Practice gratitude
There are real scientifically proven benefits to practicing gratitude, but the task can seem daunting at first. To start, grab a journal or notebook and write down three to five things that happened each day you are grateful for. It can be as small as a yummy biscuit or as big as a promotion. Having them written down will cement them in your brain and allow you to reflect on them later.
Clean out your car
It’s time. Take out all the trash in the doors and in the cupholders. Throw away all the old parking tickets and pop the coins back in your wallet. Grab a vacuum and give the inside a good once over.
Restore your car to its pristine glory with a good old-fashioned wash by hand at home or drive to the car wash and relax while the huge brushes do their work.
Stretch or do yoga
No matter what stage of life you’re at, staying limber is essential. Keep your muscles strong by stretching each day or try out some yoga classes near you.
There are all different types of yoga to suit all bodies, and there are even dedicated stretching studios that offer assisted stretching to improve your posture, reduce pain, and ease stress.
Learn new skills online
With the growth of sites like Class Bento and Masterclass, learning a new skill has never been easier. Being able to do so in your own time and in your own space can make you feel more at ease with the process and less conscious if you make mistakes (which you should definitely be doing while you learn!).
There are also hundreds of thousands of free tutorials on YouTube for any skill you can imagine.
Read more by trying audiobooks
Every year we promise ourselves we’ll read more but the truth is, we can rarely find the time. Audiobooks are a great way to get through the best sellers while still being able to use your hands and your eyes for other tasks.
Whether you’re at the gym or making dinner, you can still keep up with the latest releases by listening to audiobooks.
Preserve precious memories
Though we are living in a digital age of everything getting recorded, our archival systems can be volatile – how many times have you lost messages or photos that weren’t backed up?
Take some time to physically print photos and write down your stories. You can even sit with other family members and record their stories too. Not only is this a lovely bonding experience, but these memories will also be more accessible and available than before.
Make time for family and friends
Loving relationships make everything better so remember that making time for family and friends doesn't need to mean exhausting yourself (or your bank account).
Invite friends over to run errands together or do simple tasks like go for a walk. Switch back to phone calls over text and you’ll be surprised at the connection it creates. Dedicated, quality time with our loved ones has been proven to make us happier and healthier – two of the top things always found on a resolutions list.
How to make them stick?
- Practice: Don’t be hard on yourself if you slip up or aren’t perfect. It’s all about practice and progress.
- Only choose a few: There's no need to tackle everything on this list. Choose a few for the year, or even just focus on one for a couple of months add another goal when you are ready.
- Be specific: Want to travel more? Choose a location and write down the steps to making it a reality. The same goes for any of these goals, be specific about how you will achieve them and do it your way.
- Prepare for change: Change in our lives, even when positive, can be scary. When making a change, make sure you’re prepared for it. Give yourself some run up time or think about how your schedule might need to adjust.
- Review and let go if needed: Just because you’ve started down one path doesn’t mean you have to stick to it if it’s not right for you. Try not to abandon a goal at the first hurdle but do recognise when it’s time to let go.
