3 Things Southerners Should Do Instead Of Making New Year’s Resolutions

While New Year’s resolutions can be motivating for making annual goals, they can also add unnecessary pressure, which can occasionally lead to disappointment—or a gym membership that sits unused after January. For some, making resolutions might be helpful. For others, it can be daunting. Why stress about being perfect all year long if you can make use of your time in a more enjoyable way? If you’re looking for alternatives to making New Year’s resolutions, consider these ideas that might be more fun, less pressure-filled, and a great way to kick off 2023. 

Create a Bucket List 

Turn long-term goals into something more achievable by making a bucket list instead. It can be related to experiencing new things with your family (such as bingo night or volunteering), trying out a new hobby at least once (baking! tennis!), or learning something new (how to change a tire or how to sew on a button). You can attempt to make your grandmother’s famous banana pudding recipe. You can make plans to visit one of the South’s best small towns. You can host a fondue night. Anything goes! 

Focus on Gratitude 

There’s no better way to start the year in a positive way and continue it in the right direction than by practicing daily gratitude. This is a less tangible goal, but it can make perhaps the biggest difference in your attitude and happiness. It can be added into your routine in many ways, whether you want to start writing in a gratitude journal, have each family member say what they’re grateful for around the dinner table, or simply speaking aloud your gratitudes in the mirror each morning. You’ll be surprised how much expressing daily gratitudes can affect your mood.

Make Monthly Challenges

No need to feel bogged down by one resolution that you feel pressured to keep up for 365 days. Instead, consider short spurts of goals that make each month fun and interesting in a different way. Examples of monthly goals include reading three books in 30 days, walking every day for a month, or trying out a new cuisine or recipe every week for four weeks. Each month can be themed anything from health, food, cleaning, or hobby-specific. 

In 2023, make the most of a fresh start while having some fun with these New Year’s ideas.