As January rolls around once again, you may have found yourself making a mental note of all the things you’d like to be better at or maybe stop doing, like getting to the gym three times a week and spending less time on your phone, for example. But, try as you might, those goals can seem to run away from you faster than you can say ‘willpower’, meaning you’re left wondering how to make good habits stick. If 2021 wasn’t the best year for you, that’s totally fair. The pandemic hangover was still very much present and may have limited you from living your life to the fullest. The good news? Use that as motivation to make this year your best yet and leave those short-lived clichés at the door.
1 Spend more time alone
Don’t get us wrong, being surrounded by the people you love who bring positive energy into your life is something to strive for, but going solo every once in a while can give you the space for some self-inventory work that we rarely have time for. “Being alone is also a great time for personal growth activities, such as meditation or journaling because you’re not distracted, or worried someone’s looking over your shoulder,” says Francesca Specter, journalist, podcast host and author of Alonement: How to be alone and absolutely own it. “It’s also particularly important if you’re a carer for young children – being able to value regular time for yourself, even if it’s only 15 minutes a day, allows you to give back more to others without resentment because you’ve met your needs in some way.”
2 Learn something new
Whether it’s trying your hand at knitting or experimenting in the kitchen, learning a new skill can be a great motivation to have in January. The key to making it stick? Choose something that’s related to your passion in life. If you enjoy training and want to share your knowledge with other people, why not learn how to become a personal trainer, for instance? Or, if you picture yourself travelling a lot more in 2022, mastering a new language might give you a bit more confidence to order that pain au chocolat.
3 Be less afraid of making mistakes
It’s no secret that we tend to shy away from the things we’re bad at. It’s why we’d rather skip the Pilates class that we think is going to make us resemble a flailing baby giraffe and avoid it altogether, right? But it turns out, we don’t need to save face, and there are benefits to showing our more vulnerable side. “Being authentic means that you’re prepared to demonstrate your vulnerabilities and accept your fallibility as human beings,” explains Ryan Marcovich, psychotherapist at City and West Psychology (doctify.co.uk). “The more we accept that we’re vulnerable and develop a healthy relationship with our inner self, the better it is for us and the people we connect with.”
4 Stop buying things you don’t need
The latest marketing ploys might have you believing that you desperately need that mobile phone upgrade or the latest coat for the season, but before you pull out your debit card, stop and ask yourself whether it’s something you really want? If you’ve got a habit of getting to the end of the month and questioning where your hard-earned cash has gone, list all of your incomings and outgoings to see how much you’re spending the non-essentials. “Make a note of what you think you could cut back on – spending on clothes, cinema trips, restaurants – while also ensuring you treat yourself on occasion,” advises Emma-Lou Montgomery, associate director for Fidelity International, the investment solutions and retirement expertise company (fidelity.co.uk). “Take advantage of a money saving app that can help keep your finances on track; you’ll immediately become more aware of your spending habits.”
5 Let go of meaningless relationships
It can be daunting to walk away from a set of friends who you’ve been joined at the hip with since secondary school, but you may have grown apart now and actually, keeping up the relationship may be doing more harm than good. If you’re wondering if your friendship is serving you or not, relationship counsellor Mig Bennett (migbennettrelationship counselling.co.uk) says, “one big pointer is if you come away from a meet-up feeling dissatisfied or unsettled. A good friend leaves us feeling connected, heard, warmer and lighter; that basic comfort of belonging.” Don’t forget that it’s important to prioritise your own goals as well.
6 Declutter your space
Not just for spring, giving your home or somewhere you spend a lot of time a good old clear out can help improve your mood and make you feel more in control of your life. Not sure where to start? Take it from a professional organiser: you only need 10 minutes to make a difference. “Examine [your space] as if it was the first time you’ve looked at it to see what you don’t like about it and what you goal would be,” recommends Vicky Silverthorn, author of Start with your Sock Drawer (youneedavicky.com). “You can pull the contents of a small shelf or surface off, lay it out neatly elsewhere and choose any items you want to go. Wipe the surface and replace the items as you wish.”
7 Be more present
Feel like your life has been going at 100 miles per hour lately? You may have heard the word ‘mindfulness’ thrown around a lot in your social circles, but before you roll your eyes at yet another friend starting a gratitude journal, hear us out. Taking the time to slow down and be more mindful can help you to be more focused and grateful in general, particularly when you wake up. “Every morning, ask yourself, what is the one thing you need to do today to take better care of yourself? And, whether it’s physical, mental or emotional, commit to just that one thing,” says yoga teacher Brenda Ward (brendayoga.co.uk). “It really can be as simple as making sure you have a healthy lunch, spending 10 minutes in the fresh air or reading a chapter of your favourite book.”
