As we embrace the new year and beginning of a new decade, the most common question we ask is “what are your new year’s resolutions?” According to Newsweek about 50% of people report that they focus on fixing their finances and a little over 50% focus on improving their lifestyles and overall health. Unfortunately, these types of resolutions tend to slacken by the first part of the year.
Newsweek also, interviewed a few wellness and happiness experts and gathered what they suggest are good resolutions going into the new year. Collectively, they all agree on one thing: focus on yourself in 2020.
RESOLUTION #1: EXPERIENCE GRATITUDE. “Experience gratitude — that feeling of appreciating all the blessings in your life,” states Dr. Laurie Santos, a Yale University professor of psychology. She states that having gratitude can boost happiness and self-control, making those common resolutions of being healthier and money-cautious more attainable. “Experiencing more gratitude is like a meta-resolution — it allows you to feel happier but it also gives you the psychological strength you need to achieve other goals in the new year as well.”
RESOLUTION #2: SILENT REFLECTION. Doctor Deepak Chopra recommends to start each day with a silent reflection. He suggests asking yourself these 4 questions:
1. Who am I?
2. What’s my purpose?
3. What am I grateful for?
4. What do I want?
Asking these questions to yourself daily makes you live a more meaningful, purposeful life.
RESOLUTION #3: DAILY ACTS OF KINDNESS. By the Book podcast hosts Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg suggest doing daily acts of kindness in the new year. “Start each day asking yourself “what can I do to make someone else’s life better?”. Then find ways throughout the day to answer that question.” Along with doing daily acts of kindness for others, take some time in 2020 to do things for YOU. Whether it’s treating yourself to a day at the spa or picking up a book for 10 minutes before bed, make sure to find time and something that relaxes you.
RESOLUTION #4: KEEP/PURSUE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS. It’s no question that connecting with people make us happy. Make it a point in 2020 to find a club to join or get together once a week with a close friend. “Bonds with other people are key to a happy life, so any resolution that strengthens relationships will make us happier,” states Gretchen Rubin, the author of The Happiness Project.
Self - care routines seem like the new year best resolution you can keep. What resolutions do you have for the new year?
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/new-years-resolution-2020-expert-advice-improve-your-life-1479488
