23 Simple New Year’s Resolutions to Strive For

I don’t care what anyone says, having some New Year’s resolutions or goals you want to accomplish in the new year is amazing. It’s proof you want to grow and improve throughout the next 365 days which never a bad thing. However, how many times has December rolled around and you think back on all the things you said you would do but didn’t? Probably more times than not. That’s why these 23 simple New Year’s resolutions to strive for are good things to think about as you head in to a brand new year.

These 23 goals (or resolutions) are attainable yet still valuable and worth striving to achieve. Sure, it’s great to want to travel to eight new countries or cut out all processed foods. But, creating smaller more attainable goals can be just as rewarding. Not only are you more likely to follow through on more simple resolutions, but making small changes here and there throughout the year can make a BIG difference. Here are some simple New Year’s resolutions that you can accomplish and implement for a better you.

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To make this post more digestible, I broke these simple New Year’s resolutions and goals down into categories. Pick a few that resonate with you the most and really make an effort to stick with them. Let’s jump in…

Health and Wellness Goals

Probably the first thing you think of when it comes to New Year’s goals is something that is health, wellness or fitness related. So, let’s kick things off with that!

• Schedule an annual wellness exam with your primary care provider. This is always good to do, but it’s often overlooked. A simple wellness visit can help keep you health in check, prevent any arising issues, and make sure you are up to date on all of your screenings.
  
• Schedule all health related appointments for the upcoming year. If you already keep up to date with all your appointments, then you probably already have things scheduled from the last time you were in. But, if it’s been a while since you’ve been to the dentist, make a call to get your appointment for the coming year on the calendar. In addition to the dentist, things like the eye doctor and dermatologist are good to book as well.
  
• Find a healthier alternative to a tasty treat you love. I’m not saying to leave behind your favorite foods for good and to only eat the healthy alternative. That’s just not fun or realistic even. What I am saying, is that if you find yourself eating chocolate chip cookies every day, that it may be a good idea to find a healthy substitute. For example, I’m a big ice cream gal, and this past year I discovered Yasso bars which are frozen greek yogurt bars that I’m OBSESSED with! Is eating a Yasso bar better for me than drinking a green smoothie? No. But it’s something I genuinely like and is better for me than an Oreo McFlurry.
  
• Plan meals ahead so you don’t eat out a much. It’s hard to eat healthy when you don’t have the right foods on hand. So, if you plan your meals ahead of time and shop for ingredients in advance, you’ll be less likely to stare in the fridge and say “there’s nothing to eat” and then proceed to order chicken tenders from Ubereats.
  
• Try 3 new workout classes so you can find a type of exercise you enjoy. Maybe you hate running, but that doesn’t mean you have to hate exercising. It just means running isn’t the exercise for you. Instead, try a couple different workout classes so you can find what you like most. Some ideas are Pilates, yoga, Orange theory, Pure Barre, F45, etc.
  
• Utilize Paid Time Off. Mental health counts here too! Take a look at the calendar and schedule some disconnect days for yourself. It can be easy to get caught up with work and not take the time to step away for a break. Schedule days off in advance to give your mind a break and spend the day off however you want. Get your nails done, take yourself out to lunch, or enjoy the day catching up on your favorite tv show.

Financial Goals

Financial goals are often over looked when brainstorming things you want to accomplish or things you want to improve upon for the new year. But, they are so important to pay attention to, which is why they make great goals and simple New Year’s resolutions for the upcoming year.

• Create or add to an emergency fund. Emergencies happen, so it’s good to be prepared so you don’t take such a financial hit when things happen. Financial guru, Rachel Cruze suggests starting with an emergency fund of $1,000 if you are still paying off debt. If all debt is paid off (besides a mortgage), Cruze suggests beefing up that emergency fund to three-six months of expenses.
  
• Establish a plan to pay off debt. We all know debt accumulates over time. So, if you’re not taking action to start paying it off, you are digging yourself in to a deeper and deeper hole. Put together an action plan to help you tackle your debt in the new year. Look to experts in the field like Dave Ramsey for some more specific advice in creating a plan.
  
• Analyze your retirement investments. I know what you’re thinking, retirement is so far away and I have too many other financial responsibilities to worry about right now. Good for you for recognizing your other financial responsibilities, but the sooner you start saving for retirement, the better off you will be. Take a look at where you are at currently to see how you can improve. Talking with a financial advisor can be helpful, but you can always utilize free resources as well. Things like podcasts and books can provide you with loads of useful and insightful information and tips.
  
• Look back on your expense from the past year. If a good chunk of your spending is done via credit or debit cards, this easy to track through your bank or your banking app. Take a look at where your money went over the past 365 days. How much money went to necessities? And, how much did you spend on clothing, eating out, etc.? Looking at the data is a great way to see how you can improve how much you spend for the year ahead.
  
• Establish a budget. Seeing how much money you spent over the last year can be a huge wakeup call. So, creating a budget is an excellent way to make sure your spending stays on track. Soooo many free templates exist to help you get started. Find one that works for you and take budgeting seriously. If you have a budget but never stick to it, you miss out on the benefits.

Personal Goals

Think of all the those little miscellaneous things you want to work on or get better at. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Social media detox. This can be done two ways. Number one, unfollow everyone who doesn’t bring you positivity. Unfollow the person who blasts all things politics and that influencer who makes you feel bad about yourself. Unfollow that high school friend who never stops bragging or complaining. YOU control who you follow so make it count. Number two, pause social media all together. Maybe start by having one day a week where you don’t scroll through Instagram for the entire day. Or, cut out every platform out all at once and see how you feel. Social media can be so fun, but it can also trap you in to constantly comparing yourself or it can just be a complete time sucker and prevent you from being productive.
  
• Schedule friend time in advance. I don’t know about you, but planning time to get together with friends can be an ordeal. Everyone is so busy with work and their personal lives that planning to get dinner the day bore is never a possibility. Make it a point to plan ahead so that you get quality friend time. If this means planning a simple dinner a month in advance, then do it! Friend time is essential so putting in the effort to schedule a get together is worth while.
  
• Try something new once a month. You always hear the saying “make time for the things you love”. Are you doing that? A great way to make that a priority is to try new things every month. Maybe you love baking – so make it a goal to bake one new thing a month. Or, maybe you love to read but just don’t have the time. Make it a goal to read one new book a month. Trying new things doesn’t even have to be all within a specific category. Try a new workout class one month and a new restaurant the next. Mix it up to keep things exciting while still carving out time for yourself.
  
• Clean out your closet. A little closet clean out is a must do. Get rid of all the things in your closet that don’t fit, that you don’t like, or that you haven’t worn within the past year. Decluttering feels so good and it’s a great way to start a new year.
  
• Establish a cleaning routine. Piggy backing off a closet clean out, putting a cleaning routine in place will help assure cleaning actually gets done. Can’t think of the last time you washed your makeup brushes? Make it an effort to create a cleaning routine that’s practical but still effective. Maybe every Sunday morning you do laundry and while the washing machine is going you clean your bathroom. Make these cleaning routines a priority so they become a habit over time.

Little Daily Goals

This section is probably my favorite because it is full of little goals you can do every day that will make a difference over time. Each task is so simple that you really have no excuse not to do it!

• Create a morning and night routine. Routines can establish better sleep, better stress level and better health overall. So, by creating and sticking to consistent routines morning and night, you help set yourself up for success. To get started, incorporate things like waking up at the same time every day, making your self breakfast and completing a skincare regime in the morning, and then exercising, showering, reading for twenty minutes and going to bed the same time every night.
  
• Set your bed every morning. This task takes less than 60 seconds so why not do it? It’s such an easy way to accomplish something right away every single day.
  
• Drink water. How many times have you head that one? Probably a lot, right? But, how many times has the day gone by and all you had to drink was your morning latte? Exactly. Get yourself a water bottle and fill it up first thing in the morning. Sip on it throughout the day and refill it constantly. We all know how important drinking water is, but we always forget to do it. Here’s a helpful article to help inspire you and a cute big water bottle to get you started.
  
• Wear sunscreen. Bet you didn’t see this one coming. But, if you’re already washing your face or putting on makeup every morning, how hard is it to apply sunscreen? Your skin will thank you and it’s such an easy step to incorporate. Some good (and mineral) options are Cetaphil, Supergoop an Biossance.
  
• Put your phone down an hour before bed. How many nights a week do you find yourself saying “I can’t fall asleep” and you scroll endlessly through TikTok? Ever think that the reason you can’t sleep if because you don’t really try. A bright light shining in your face while stimulating your brain with entertainment doesn’t exactly set you up for a peaceful nights rest. Swap the phone for some light reading or journaling instead.
  
• Jot down positive thoughts. It can be so easy to consume so much negativity throughout the day. Each night, make a note of all the positives the day has brought you or simply jot down something you are grateful for that day. You will feel so refreshed and at ease.
  
• Repeat positive affirmations. I watched Amber Fillerup talk about this on her Instagram story once and started taking it seriously a couple months ago, and it’s made such a difference for me. So, I think it’d be great to incorporate it in to new years goals. She talked about the importance of repeating positive things to yourself and how over time your brain begins to believe it. An example Amber has mentioned in the past is “I am surrounded by beauty and abundance”, which she explains really well here. Basically positive affirmations just shift your mindset and help you get out of negative thoughts. This book also seems like an excellent resource if you don’t know where to start.

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I really hope this post on simple New Year’s Resolutions helped to motivate you for the new year and start you off on the right foot. It can be overwhelming to start a new year with a list of 20+ things you want to accomplish in 365 days, but it doesn’t have to be. Start small and add as you go! No one is keeping score so you shouldn’t be either.

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