22 feel-good New Year’s resolution ideas for 2022
Happy New Year! With 2021 in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to look forward with positivity and enthusiasm for 2022. But when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, that enthusiasm can often run out by mid-January, as our ambitious goals prove to be completely unsustainable long-term.
Are you struggling to find a resolution you’ll stick to? Don’t panic, we are here to help. Only you can decide what is achievable for you, but we’ve compiled our list of feel-good New Year’s resolution ideas for 2022 to help you get started!
1. Donate to a different charity every month
However much you can afford, give to a new cause each month in a flexible manner using the Toucan app.
2. Give your time
Be it volunteering at a local charity or spending an evening with a relative you rarely see, giving time can be just as valuable as giving money.
3. Get some fresh air everyday
Enjoying the outside world can help boost your mental health, plus keeping active with regular walks has a wealth of benefits.
4. Do some meditation
If not managed correctly, stress can a have a detrimental impact on your life. Daily meditation can help you stay calm, give you focus and clarity, and keep on top of things all year round.
5. Reduce your meat consumption
Research suggests that a plant-based diet may actually be better for our bodies, as well as the reducing our environmental impact due to the emissions produced during meat production. We’re not saying you have to become a vegan; even a small decrease (such as one or two days a week) can have a big impact.
6. Try something new
The process of learning a new skill or finding a new hobby can be incredibly fulfilling. And you never know, you might have a hidden talent that is lying untapped, just waiting to be discovered.
7. Read more books
With the rise in popularity of screen-based entertainment over the past decades, fewer people are reading books. Make 2022 the year you get the pages turning again.
8. Cut down your screen time
On the topic of screens, we all spend too much time looking at them. As hard as it is, try to reduce the amount of hours you spend using your phone or watching TV each week.
9. Take the stairs
Lifts are certainly easier, but taking the stairs is a simple way to get more exercise done during the day.
10. Drink more water
Most people don’t drink as much as water as they should, so why not put that right this year? Our bodies need water to survive, so needless to say it’s pretty important we’re drinking at least six to eight cups a day.
11. Cut yourself some slack
You’re doing great, just try and relax a bit. Ultimately life is about enjoyment – don’t let yourself get in the way of that. We are often our own worst critics, and we need to recognise our negative thoughts about ourselves are unhelpful at times.
12. Become a plant owner
Keeping a plant alive takes dedication and care, but it’s also not too strenuous. Think of it more like getting a very manageable pet. In addition, they look nice and give off oxygen (you know, that stuff we breathe in) which is an additional bonus.
13. Donate unwanted clothes
If you’re anything like us, you probably have more clothes than you actually need. Go through your wardrobe and donate anything to charity that you haven’t worn in the past two years. It’s as simple as that.
14. Make your bed every morning
Sometimes we need to start with the little things. By making your bed each morning, it will subconsciously tell your brain that sleep time is over and that you’re ready for the day ahead. Plus, it’s always nice to get back into a nicely made bed at the end of the day.
15. Write down one good thing a day
Humans have a tendency to dwell on the negatives. Counter that by writing down one good thing that happened to you each day before you go to sleep to reinforce your inner positivity.
16. Explore new foods
There is such a vast range of world cuisines that it’s almost impossible to try them all – or is it? It can’t hurt to try, right?
17. Drink less alcohol
If you don’t want to commit to cold turkey quitting with Dry January, you can always spread it out over the year and simply reduce your alcohol consumption each month. This is actually a more sustainable way of cutting back on drinking, meaning you’re more likely to keep it up.
18. Do some yoga
Downward dog…child’s pose… and our favourite, shavasana (who doesn’t love a moment of peace lying down?). The physical and mental benefits of yoga are proven, so why not give it a go?
19. Consider therapy
Just like our bodies, our minds need to be looked after and exercised. Talking to a therapist is one way of taking your brain to the gym and keeping it healthy.
20. Avoid single-use plastic
Where possible, buy products that use either recyclable or biodegradable packaging to help do your bit for the environment.
21. Try to improve your non-dominant hand
Unless you’re ambidextrous, it can be fun to attempt to do things with your non-dominant hand. Maybe start with easy stuffy first though, like brushing your teeth or performing brain surgery.
22. Be happy
Do what makes you laugh. Do what makes you smile. Do what makes you feel good. Whatever that is, do it.
Sometimes nothing can feel better than helping those in need and making a truly positive impact. Download Toucan today and let 2022 be the year you make a real difference. It’s time to show the world what you stand for.
