Perhaps you’ve tried to make new year’s resolutions in the past, but for some reason, you’ve never been able to stick to them. In 2023, you can finally fulfill your resolutions by setting gradual, realistic goals. For example, if you’d like to read more books, you can commit to reading ten pages each day and create a reading list by checking out Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree! Here are a few other habits you could adopt this year, from keeping a cleaner home to waking up earlier.
Keep Your Home Clean
It’s hard to feel your best in a cluttered, messy home. If it’s been a while since you decluttered and deep cleaned your home, the new year gives you the perfect opportunity! You’ll want to start by donating or throwing out any items you no longer need. Next, block off a weekend to thoroughly deep clean each room. Finally, spruce up your space by getting some houseplants and keeping your blinds open to let in more natural light.
Read Daily
Maybe it’s been a while since you read a book, but you miss the feeling of getting lost in a great story. Reading brings lots of benefits – for example, Everyday Health states that reading can lower your stress levels, deepens your empathy for others, and even boosts your cognitive function.
You don’t have to force yourself to read through a stack of classic novels to get back into reading. Instead, choose a couple of books you think you might enjoy, and block off time to read a reasonable number of pages each day. You could choose to read with your morning coffee or before you go to bed.
Exercise Regularly
Lots of people make fitness-related resolutions each year. But if you try to rapidly shift from a sedentary lifestyle to working out every day, you’re likely to give up early or even injure yourself by exercising too intensely right off the bat. Try adding two to three workout sessions per week to your schedule, and consider connecting with a personal trainer who can help you design an exercise routine around your abilities and goals.
Wake Up Earlier
Do you have a tendency to sleep in? Maybe you’d like to start waking up earlier this year so that you’ll have plenty of time for a morning routine before your workday begins. Even if you’ve always considered yourself a night owl, you can slowly shift your usual wake-up time. Sleep Advisor recommends ensuring that you’re going to bed early enough to get between seven and nine hours of sleep, ditching alcohol and caffeine in the late afternoon and evening, placing your alarm clock far away from your bed, and tucking your phone in a drawer before bedtime so that you don’t end up scrolling late at night.
Drink More Water
Many people don’t even realize that they are chronically dehydrated. If you suspect that you’re not as hydrated as you should be, you could make a resolution to drink more water this year. To accomplish this, try getting a large reusable water bottle that you can refill throughout the day and putting a glass of water by your bedside before you go to sleep so that you can focus on hydration as soon as you wake up.
When it comes to new year’s resolutions, you don’t want to bite off more than you can chew. Instead of setting huge, ambitious goals, you can pick up some simple habits that can significantly improve your quality of life. Whether you want to read more books, cultivate a cleaner home, or start exercising, these tips have got you covered!
Looking for your next favorite book? Turn to Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree! Browse the blog today to find exciting new reads.
Photo via Pexels
Guest Post by Jason Kenner
Jason Kenner, On-Par Parent
Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree 