40 Powerful Ideas For New Year's Resolutions
(For All Areas Of Life)

40 Powerful Ideas For New Year’s Resolutions (For All Areas Of Life)

It isn’t always easy thinking of ideas For New Year’s Resolutions. We often default to the same as everyone else, and then wonder why we don’t end up following through after the first couple of weeks.

New Year’s Resolutions should excite us about the potential the New Year brings. We should be fully energised after the holidays, ready to pursue our goals with passion and optimism, ready to make this year our best year yet.

If you are looking for ideas for your New Year’s Resolutions, or just want some inspiration for some goals you can set yourself this year, then this list of ideas for New Year’s Resolutions will give you some things to think about.

These ideas cover each of the areas of transformation that I write about in my book, Personal Transformation Blueprint, so if any of them excite you, be sure to grab a copy of my book from Amazon to help you maximise your chances of succeeding with these goals.

Also, if you need help in figuring out how to make these resolutions more effective than your previous efforts, then check out this article on how to make more effective New Year’s Resolutions.

Hopefully the ideas below get your inspired as to the potential results you can create this year.

Health & Energy Resolution Ideas

Complete a physical challenge

Get outside of your normal comfort zone and challenge yourself to do something different. Not only will this give you a good reason to train every week, but you will feel great once you accomplish it. Try a fun run, sign up for a marathon, or do something crazy like a Spartan run. You’ll be surprised how many people cheer you on along the way.

Reach your ideal weight

Weight loss has been shown to improve health-related issues in so many different ways. I know you have tried things before and maybe lost some weight but then seen it come back on. Make this the year you reach your ideal weight in a healthy, sustainable way, and enjoy the increases in energy and confidence that come with it.

Try biohacking

Biohackers manipulate physical markers in the body to become more healthy. Hormones, especially, are one of those areas people can beneficially impact by getting blood scans and then experimenting with supplements and gadgets to see if they can improve the numbers. What impact could you have on things like testosterone, cholesterol or glucose with biohacking?

Give something up (for a bit)

This is scary for many people as they think they have to go without something forever. However, if you know it is only for a while (say 3 or 6 months) it will feel more like a test of will and discipline rather than a complete sacrifice. Discipline and willpower are essential for winning at life in general, so take a break from drinking, chocolate or your favourite vice and build those mental muscles.

Walk at least 15k steps

To hit 15k steps, you need to become more active throughout the day. No more 8 hours unbroken at your laptop. No more parking right next to the front door. By finding a few different ways you can include walking in your day, you will experience a lot more energy and health benefits. Try walking meetings, taking more public transport, or taking a stroll after meals to get started.

Finances & Wealth Resolution Ideas

Start a savings/investment account

Not only can savings give you a feeling of safety and security in case things go wrong, having your money in investments mean it is working for you after you have earned it. You can start as simply as setting up an Vanguard account and put money into index funds (a strategy Warren Buffett endorses) or be more adventurous and look into something like property or gold.

Pay off a significant loan

Paying interest on a loan can be a significant burn of your available cash. By paying off loans sooner, you reduce the total amount of interest you pay over the term. If you can pay off a mortgage, car loan, or student loan sooner, not only do you save money on interest, but you also free up those monthly payments to invest somewhere else.

Make better tax decisions

Many people pay more tax than they need to, resulting in less available money to invest now and for the future. Get some professional advice and see if you can become more tax efficient. Can you reduce your taxes by increasing your retirement savings? Are there benefits available to your business from the government? The richest people pay the least taxes for a reason.

Get rewarded for your spending

Many people don’t realise that you can earn cash back, airmiles and other benefits from spending with credit cards rather than debit cards. Switch your regular spending to a credit card and pay it off every month and not only will you build your credit score, you’ll also get money and points to spend on a range of other products too.

Reduce your expenses

Look at your bank statement and ask if there are payments on there that don’t need to be there. Unused subscriptions? Daily latte and croissant? You are on a first-name basis with the Amazon delivery driver? The better you monitor and assess your spending, the more you’ll have to spend on the things that are really important to you.

Love & Relationships Resolution Ideas

Date nights

Yeah, we get it. You are busy, tired, frustrated, stressed, anxious, exhausted, distracted, or a crazy mental cocktail of all of the above. However, this is exactly why you need to go on a date together. Remember when you first dated and nothing outside mattered? Exactly! Sort the logistics, get yourself dolled up, and find a way to make it a regular occurence.

Create a relationship scorecard

What is truly important to each of you in your relationship? Even just asking this question can have a major impact on the quality of your connection, and having a monthly scorecard helps keep you focused on the relationship priorities. Date nights? Check. Acts of service? Check. Love notes? Check. Finally, a scorecard where both teams get to win.

Go on holiday with your family

When was the last time you all went on holiday together? Instead of rushed family dinners where you don’t get enough time to talk, book a break with your family where you can all reconnect and get to spend proper time together. After the kids turn 18, 90% of the parent/child time has already passed, so plan a getaway and keep all those connections strong.

Say goodbye to someone

Too often, we keep people in our lives longer than ideal. If you look around you, there is a good chance you have at least one or two energy vampires in your circles that always try and shoot you down. If you want to move your life forward, sometimes you need to let go of some people along the way to make space in your life for new, more empowering relationships.

Write your vows

You don’t need to get married to write your vows. Take a moment and write out all the reasons that someone in your life is special to you (it doesn’t need to be your romantic partner) and notice how that accentuates the feelings you have toward them. You don’t need to share the words necessarily, just enjoy the rekindled appreciation you have for this other person.

Social Life & Connection Resolution Ideas

Write someone a letter

There is something special about a hand-written note. It shows care, attention, and thought and requires more effort than a cursory email that could have been written by AI these days. Start up some old-fashioned correspondence with someone and expect something different in the post than just bills and junk mail.

Reconnect with a friend

We all have those people who just slip out of our lives for no apparent reason. Things get busy, we stop reaching out regularly, then suddenly 7 years have gone by and now it just seems awkward. You don’t need to download your entire recent history in the first message, but maybe just let them know you were thinking of them, hope they are well, and that you appreciated their friendship.

Make strangers smile

Have you ever noticed how smiles are infectious? If you try walking around with a smile rather than a resting b*tch face, you will immediately brighten the days of others around you. You might even go out of your way to say “have a nice day” if you make eye contact. Find a way to put a smile on others’ faces and you will smile more too.

Plan a reunion

Whether it is old classmates, work colleagues or team-mates you shared the sports field with, organise a get-together and share all those old stories again. The teams we are on through life often have a formative impact, so give everyone a reason to reconnect. Maybe try and recreate an old photo to see how much you have all changed.

Volunteer

Find a local good cause and offer your time as a way of both giving back and also connecting with others in your local area. Not only will you meet others with similar motivations, but you will also need to change your mindset from over-achiever to willing supporter as you put your ego aside to help others. A great way to be more social and connect with a different group of people.

Business & Career New Year’s Resolution Ideas

Strengthen your strengths

Increase the value you can offer by increasing your existing skillset even further. Specialists usually have the ability to earn more in their field, so double down and dive in deeper to your skillset. Marketers always talk about finding your niche, so identify the game you play, and then make yourself even more of a MVP player on that team.

Start a side-hustle

Many people have ideas of starting a business but think they need to quit their jobs to get started. Instead, launch a side hustle you can work on in the evening and on weekends. It worked for Vivianne Westwood, Ben & Jerry’s and Spanx who all started part-time before making it big. You can start a small business with almost zero investment these days so what are you waiting for?

Find a mentor

You cannot get to the top of Mt Everest without a sherpa. Similarly, having someone to guide you in your career can also massively increase your chances of success. Find someone who has been on your path a little longer, had some of the experiences you need to learn from, and ask them if you can buy them a coffee. Then listen… and act.

Learn to negotiate

There are not many situations in life that don’t involve some form of negotiation. Sales meetings. Salary discussion. Even getting the kids to bed at a decent hour. By learning the fundamental principles of negotiation, you will maximise your outcomes in far more situations, and will even learn how to turn win-lose into win-win.

Increase your productivity

We can’t get more hours, but we can get more out of the hours we are working. Productivity hacking is one way you can get more done in less time. Optimize your workflow, minimise distractions, introduce AI and systems to your processes, and find as many ways that you can maximise your output so you can get more done in less time.

Creativity & Expression Resolution Ideas

Write a book

You have experienced a number of things in life that will make for an incredible book. Whether you write a self-help book to guide people through similar challenges you have faced, a kid’s book to inspire the next generation or a screenplay that might become a Hollywood blockbuster, dust off the keyboard and transfer your ideas from your mind onto the page.

Make something with your hands

If you spend all day thinking, sending emails, or in zoom meetings, making something with your hands is a great change of focus. Grab some clay and make a bowl. Get some wood and make a key holder. Pour some concrete and make a new chopping board. It won’t go well the first time, but if you have fun, it can make a great mental release from your everyday routine.

Journal daily

Journalling has multiple applications, but most importantly, it helps you connect with your thoughts and feelings more intimately. Try writing while you drink your morning coffee and simply write down what you are thinking and feeling. Don’t filter, just write, and become aware of what is going on in your head. Once it is all out, your day will likely feel a lot less cluttered.

Learn photography

Anyone can point a phone these days and take a decent photo. But to take a proper photo, you need to learn to see the world differently. Try ditching your phone and pick up a camera that encourages you to play with aperture size and depth of field. Not only will you take some great pics, you’ll learn a new way to appreciate the world and some of the little details.

Make a piece of art

Luckily, modern art means even a white square can be considered a masterpiece. Grab a canvas and some paints from the local art store and just get creative. Throw paint at the canvas. Try out your graffiti skills with a spray can. Get some pouring acrylic and blow it around. If you pick colours you like, it won’t matter what it looks like. Sign it to make it look fancy.

Adventure & Experiences Resolution Ideas

Explore new countries

Experience new cultures, food, music and environments by stretching your wings and exploring new places. You need to book some time off anyway, so rather than the same old trips you take, go somewhere different. City breaks, adventure holidays, and guided tours or safaris will each give you a different perspective on the world we live in and help you appreciate the world a little more.

Visit local attractions

Ever notice that when people come to visit your hometown, they see more of it than you do, even though you live there? Get onto Trip Advisor, find the top things to do in your locality, and commit to doing some of the things you haven’t made time to do before. You’ll find a new appreciation for where you live and maybe stop taking so many things for granted.

Learn a new language

Not only will you be able to travel much more effectively by understanding the local language, but you’ll also have a powerful impact on your brain health. Think about places you would like to visit or cultures you would like to better understand, then pick up a phrase book or get onto DuoLingo and start challenging yourself to learn some new phrases every day.

Travel solo

Being alone helps you identify what you really like to do and helps you reconnect with your own passions and priorities. Yes, many things are better when shared, but we also need to learn to be comfortable sitting quietly on our own. Avoid using your phone or headphones as a barrier, and boldly explore a new environment with a different perspective.

Go camping

For many people, the idea of not sleeping in a comfortable bed or sharing bathroom facilities fills them with dread. And yet, finding a way to live a more minimalistic life often helps us appreciate things and be more grateful. Put up your own tent, cook outdoors and spend the evening staring at the stars rather than the TV for a change.

Environment & Surroundings Resolution Ideas

Spend more time in nature

Spending time outdoors helps us disconnect from the always-on, connected lifestyle that keeps us tied to emails, notifications and constant buzzing in our pockets. Stop looking at the screen, and explore a forest, trek up some hills, take a long walk along the beach, or make snow angels. At some point, stop and take a deep breathe, and notice how you feel differently in nature.

Move home

Ok, a little bit drastic this one, but ask yourself whether where you live actually meets your requirements. Would moving home give you the chance for new beginnings, better opportunities or be more representative of who you want to be. This one might take a while, so get started on figuring out your criteria, and then draw up a short list of possible locations.

Go hard on recycling

One way we can all make an impact on the environment is to recycle more. Find a way to reduce the amount of trash waste you send to landfill by working harder on your recycling. This might mean doing a little more than using your local recycling services, but the more we can recycle, the less waste we put out into the world.

Leave the car at home

Rather than reaching for the car keys as your default, ask yourself if there is another way to travel. Short journeys in nice weather are perfect for walking. Try getting a scooter for slightly longer journeys and push your way to your destination. Check out public transport options as well if you aren’t in a rush. Save money, reduce congestion, and reduce your emissions all at once.

Grow your own food

You don’t need a massive garden for this one. There is something about growing and eating your own food that feels great, like you are self-sustaining, living off the land. Whether it is a pumpkin patch or a herb garden, the care and attention you put into your plants will come through in the delicious taste you can enjoy when you consume them.