New Year’s Resolutions

New Year's Resolutions: Do or don't?

December 28, 2018 | Holidays | Leave A Comment

Every year around this time, people start pondering New Year resolutions to lose weight, save money, travel more, stress less. It’s a well-known fact, however, that about 80 percent of those who’ve made resolutions are back to their old habits by February. That sense of futility discourages some people from making resolutions at all.

Do you make New Year resolutions? For me, there is something about January 1 (and the start of school in the fall) that inspires a renewed sense of optimism. I’m inspired to do more, do better, be better, be more!

Maybe the question isn’t if we should make New Year resolutions but how we make New Year resolutions. I did a little research and found these three non-traditional methods to create resolutions that are inspiring, uplifting and motivating. Let me know if you think they’ll work for you!

1. Make a commitment to someone other than yourself, such as volunteering once a month, supporting to a cause you care about, helping a friend or family member in need. Altruism offers benefits just as valuable as losing weight, such as improving mood, lowering blood pressure, creating a sense of purpose and satisfaction, and promoting positive behavior in others.

2. Create a theme for the New Year. Pick a word, phrase, mantra or motto that you can apply to all endeavors in 2019, such as Peaceful, Healthy, Strong, Kindness or Adventure. When making decisions or confronting decisions, remember your theme! You can keep your motto front and center by creating a vision board, collage or daily journal. Focusing on intention (eating healthy), instead of specific outcomes (losing 10 pounds) creates a different mindset, which is oftentimes more effective!

3. Write a letter to yourself to be read next New Year’s Eve. Write a letter that reflects your hopes for the new year, goals you’d like to achieve, adventures you’d like to enjoy and changes you’d like to create to be read twelve months from now. You might also pen letters to be opened every month or every quarter, reminding you of these aspirations and offering encouragement.

Whether you make resolutions or not, have a happy, healthy New Year!

New Year Resolutions for Readers and Writers

January 1, 2018 | Fun Stuff, Holidays, Writing Life | Leave A Comment

Happy New Year! Are you ready for a new start? I know I am. The New Year always brings a sense of optimism. There’s something both healing and invigorating about a clean slate ~ putting the past to rest and facing unlimited potential.

Do you make New Year resolutions? Even if you don’t, here are some ideas for achieving your reading and/or writing goals.

Resolutions for Readers

Share your love of reading. Donate or volunteer with literacy organizations, your local library, student tutoring programs, schools or organizations that support at-risk youth. You can donate time, books or financial support.

Try a book in a different genre than you usually read.

Send fan mail to a favorite author.

Keep a reading log. Write down the titles you read and rate them (1 star being the worst/didn’t finish to 5 stars, the best). Make a note about which books you’d like to re-read or which books were especially meaningful.

Visit and explore your local library.

Resolutions for Writers

Make time to write every day (start with 15 minutes).

Document your daily word count.

Learn more about the business of writing.

Try writing in a new genre, even if it’s “just for fun.”

Every month, read a new book about the craft of writing.

Share your knowledge and experience. Mentor a new writer, give a workshop, speak at a conference.

Connect with other writers.

What are your writing or reading goals for 2018?

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New Year’s Resolutions

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New Year's Resolutions: Do or don't?

New Year Resolutions for Readers and Writers