This is the time of year for making resolutions.
A month from now is often a time to abandon resolutions…
The top ten new year’s resolutions are reported as:
- Exercise more
- Lose weight
- Get organized
- Learn a new skill or hobby
- Live life to the fullest
- Save more money / spend less money
- Quit smoking
- Spend more time with family and friends
- Travel more
- Read more
I personally prefer the term goal to resolution; the latter implies there is something wrong you need to resolve (typically about yourself). To me “goals” is simply less depressing.
I don’t know what your goals for 2022 are, but I thought I might help you brainstorm some ideas if you want to make changes or try new things but aren’t sure where to start.
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2022 Goal Ideas
TOPIC: Health and Wellness
This is a very popular goal and resolution topic, but it is a broad umbrella. While “lose weight” is a common goal, if you make your goal smaller – but one that serves the big goal – you are more likely to see success. Here is an example: You want to lose weight, make your goal for January to move more (sign up with a personal trainer, take a group fitness class, go for a walk around your neighborhood…) Your goals don’t have to be big, in fact if you set smaller goals for each month, you are more likely to have fun and stick to it.
Here are some of my recommendations for goals in this arena-
- WALK MORE – get a pedometer or smart watch to help you keep track of the number of steps you take each day. We’ve all heard the recommended number of steps to take each day is 10,000 – however, if you don’t get near that many steps in each day, try to challenge yourself by simply beating the number of steps you took yesterday. (P.S. The Mayo Clinic reported that on average an American walks 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, or roughly 1.5 to 2 miles.)
- DRINK MORE WATER – Proper hydration has innumerable benefits (from skin health to kidney function and everything in between). I know depending on your occupation this can be very difficult (I hear you teachers). I have found that having a big 64oz insulated water bottle helps me insure I am properly hydrated each day. My sister loves fizzy water, so what has helped her the most is getting a SodaStream (fizzy water without the sugar and chemicals of sodas).
- CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO GO VEGAN for one month with this 30-Day Vegan Challenge. Click here for more details. *If nothing else, you might have a better appreciation for your carnivorous habits at the end.*
- BET ON YOURSELF – Try a 6-week challenge with StepBet (I wrote a post about my year long experience as a StepBet member, you can read it here for more information), or try their parent company, WayBetter where you can bet on yourself to do various things/build healthy habits (read a book, practice yoga, drink water, etc) for a set period of time. They also have an app called DietBet (which I have not personally ever tried) in which you bet that you will lose 4% of your body weight within a set time frame.
- TRY MANNA LIQUID VITAMINS – These days, who doesn’t want to boost their natural immunity?
Non-GMO, Soy-Free, No Artificial Flavors, Gluten-Free, Paleo Friendly, AIP Friendly, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Made in the USA. The liposomal bubbles in Manna act as a protective barrier that preserves vitamins and nutrients through the digestive process and provides some of the highest absorption rates (5x better than standard supplements). It is so easy to take. The benefits take a little time to be felt – they build up over time). I felt a difference after about a month.
Curcumin – Powerful Joint, Immunity & Heart Health Support
Glutathione – Detox Cleanse, Inflammation Reducer, Immune System Support, and Heart Health
COQ10 – All-Natural Immune & Heart Health Support
Vitamin D3 + K2 – Supports Bone Health, Heart Health & Immune Support
Vitamin C – Collagen and Immune System Booster – Supports Digestive Health
Zinc – Supports Healthy Blood Sugar Values, Heart Health & Immune Support, and Supports Healthy Skin
TOPIC: Save or Make Money
- MONEY BACK/POINTS APPS – Try apps that give you cash back or points. I use Ibotta and Fetch to get a little money back and earn points (that convert into gift cards) as I do my shopping throughout the year. It is really easy; you simply scan your receipts! If you are interested in either of these apps, you can download them to your phone from the app store. If you use the referral codes below you get a head start on your earning:
Ibotta – We both earn $10 when you sign up and use the referral code: ewcnxuv and snap your first receipt.
Fetch – We both earn points toward a wide selection of gift cards when you sign up and use the referral code: NE2TP and snap a photo of your first receipt. - TRY TAKING SURVEYS – With InboxDollars you can earn a little extra money a few ways: simply by taking surveys, by answering a daily trivia question, by opening emails they send (within the app), scanning receipts, and even scanning barcodes of select items while you are at the store. They even have some coupons to help you save while you earn. If you are interested in this, click here to join. (You can use your smartphone, tablet, or pc.)
- START A BLOG – Create and Go has a great collection of courses to help you launch your own blog, and advice to make it a money maker side hustle (or to replace your soul sucking 9 to 5). Alex and Lauren know what they are talking about, they started from scratch and in September of 2021 alone, they made $67,317.56.
Their SEO (Search Engine Optimization – think Google) Blueprint for Blogger (afflink) and Pinterest Traffic Avalanche courses (afflink) help you to get eyes/traffic to your new blog, which in turn should end up earning you some money when those visitors are converted into buyers.
Their Six-Figure Blog Biz course (afflink) helps you scale your blog into an income source that allows you to work from anywhere and ideally replace your 9-5.
The really cool things about their courses are that they sell them individual and as a bundle (afflink) (which allows you instant access to new courses they create in the future, and they have an affiliate program through which you can help others launch their blogs and earn a little money for helping them get invaluable tools, education, and resources.
TOPIC: Happiness
Everyone wants to be happier. Here are a few ideas to help you work on your happiness and mental health this year:
- LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE – I know this one is a little cliché, but trust me… I have days when it seems like everything is going against me, and I would bet I’m not the only one. Even on those days, I still manage to find at least three good things about my day and write them down every night. Gratitude is vital to finding happiness.
Let me give you a few examples:
I am thankful for the dragonflies I saw today.
I am thankful for the delicious new recipe I tried.
I am thankful that new recipe is even better leftover.
I am thankful that other driver only almost hit me. - CONSUME GOOD STUFF – Yes, good nutritious food, but also good books, music, movies, TV and the like. Add comedy to your life by watch I Love Lucy reruns. Try to find more things that make you laugh.
- SPEND TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES – After 2020 and 2021, make sure to spend time with your loved ones this year, and make sure you take a moment to treasure your time with each other.
- READ MORE –
– Read books about positivity and good outlooks (like: “Happy” by Fearne Cotton, “Humankind” by Brad Aronson, “The Boy, and the Mole, and the Fox, and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy, or “Live” by Sadie Robertson Huff).
– Read books that challenge you and make you think (like: “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand, and “The Harbinger” by Jonathan Cahn).
– Read some edifying non-fiction (like: “Blackout” by Candace Owens, “I Am John Galt” by Luskin & Greta, or a biography on someone you admire). - GET OUT OF YOUR OWN HEAD – Share your thoughts and feelings with a friend, family member or even just a journal page. Often when we share what we are thinking about (worries, frustrations, excitement, etc.) the negatives don’t seem so bad, and the good things help make others smile too.
- BE KIND – Be kind to others AND yourself.
Happy New Year! I hope you meet all your goals in 2022, and that you and yours are blessed with health, happiness, and freedom.
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This is such a great jumping off point! I’ve been thinking of my word for the year, that kind of encompasses my goals… last year I didn’t choose one and was still working off 2020’s word of progress.