Have you set your New Year's resolutions yet? If not, chances are you're racking your brains for ideas that would work for you. Of course, there's no obligation to make any at all, but if you're keen on setting yourself some targets for the year, the options are wide open. Here are some ideas to consider:
Career goals
Boost your career prospects by setting yourself some achievement goals. You might do this by committing yourself to a training course or exam that will open new doors, or by pledging to submit at least one job application per month till you hit lucky. Set yourself whatever goal you need to push yourself onwards and upwards.
Savings plans
Putting money aside for the future is a great idea, but it can be easier said than done. If you're struggling to save, you'll need to curb your spending, and what better time to start than now, as the new year begins? Make a plan for reducing your weekly outgoings, perhaps opening a new deposit account as an incentive. Once your plan kicks in, the satisfaction of seeing your balance grow will spur you on to save more.
Health and fitness targets
If you put on weight over Christmas, it's time to get back in shape now, and a New Year's resolution could help. Set yourself a double target, one for diet and another for exercise, and see if you can stick to it all year. You may need a few rewards along the way to keep you going, but the best one will come when you look in the mirror at the end of the year.
De-cluttering ambitions
For some people, the most significant challenges are practical ones, such as housework and clutter management. With warmer, dryer days on the way, the New Year is an excellent time to tackle domestic tasks like these. If you have some sorting or clearing to do, you'll find it much more comfortable with some weekly or monthly targets, spread evenly through the year.
Bucket list ticking
Do you have a wish list of "Must do" things to fit into your life, such as experiences to try and places to see? Even if you haven't listed them, you're sure to have a few in mind, and this could be the key time to get started on them. Perhaps allocate one wish per month, or two in the year, depending on what's involved, then set yourself similar goals every year until you've fulfilled every wish.
Relationship building
You may see the New Year as an opportunity to see more of your friends or spend more time with your family. If you're looking out for a new partner, you might resolve to meet more people or join a dating group this year. Use your new year's resolutions to enhance your personal life.
Altruistic commitments
It's easy to dream of making the world a better place, but turning those thoughts into actions can require a significant commitment. Again, the start of a brand new calendar year could be the ideal spur, with the months ahead as markers towards the finish line. But every good deed has value, whether big or small, so don't strive for the impossible.
Your New Year's resolutions can take any form you like, provided your aims are sound. You might pick one or two of these or some other entirely different challenges. But whatever you do, make sure it's something achievable so that you can pat yourself on the back at the end of the year.
