Can you believe that New Year’s is just around the corner? Like most people, you probably set ambitious New Year’s resolutions like losing weight, eating healthier, or saving money. About a month in, you realize that your resolutions are not progressing and decide to give up. Why not try something different this year? In this article, I bring you 10 simple New Year’s resolutions ideas that will help you feel happier, energized more productive, and live your best life.

Why try simple New Year’s resolutions ideas?

When you choose simple New Year’s resolutions ideas, you will discover that they are easier to achieve.

When we set unrealistic goals for ourselves, we end up feeling defeated when they don’t pan out.

Instead, simple New Year’s resolution ideas will help you make small changes that make a big difference.

You will see that improving yourself just a little bit is much easier than changing yourself altogether.

Lastly, you will feel proud of yourself when you see the small achievements that you made toward your larger goals.

10 simple New Year’s Resolution ideas

Do you get overwhelmed by too many New Year’s resolutions?

Check out my list of simple New Year’s resolutions ideas and crush 2023!

1. Say no more often

If you want to pick one New Year’s Resolution that will help you in all facets of your life, then start learning to say no more often.

We live in a culture of doing more, saying yes, and adding far more to our plate than we can handle.

As a result, we find ourselves stressed out, overwhelmed, and exhausted.

What would it be like if instead of agreeing to everything, you pressed pause and evaluated if you really want to do something?

Learning to say no is probably one of the best steps you can take to improve your emotional and mental health.

Unsure where to start? Check out how to say “no” without feeling guilty: 6 secrets from an expert.

2. Start a gratitude journal

There’s been a slew of research proving the benefits of a regular gratitude practice.

In short, positive psychology has demonstrated that when we regularly practice gratitude, we rewire our brains and start actively looking for things to be grateful for.

Don’t just wait for the holidays or Thanksgiving to practice gratitude.

Instead, start a daily gratitude practice and revolutionize your life.

One of my favorite apps that I use daily is called Happyfeed. It’s super easy and fun to use.

Here’s what one of my monthly gratitude calendars looks like courtesy of Happyfeed.

Most importantly, once you start documenting regularly, you get reminders of things that you were grateful for in the past.

3. Make better purchase decisions

Want to get a better hold of your finances and stop the debt spiral?

Then start making better decisions on what you purchase.

Courtesy of This Debt Free Life, I have this little cheat sheet that I use before I make a purchase.

Next time you’re tempted to buy something, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I Need It or Just Want It?
• Can I Borrow It?
• Can I Get It Used?
• Do I Already Own Something Similar?
• How Often Will I Use It?

Outside of groceries, my husband and I do not buy stuff.

We use our money for experiences that bring us joy and add to our quality of life.

We want to retire early and travel, not accumulate a bunch of stuff that we don’t need so we’re following Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps to obtain financial freedom.

Need some help learning to budget?

I’ve got you covered!

Here’s a guide to budgeting even if you suck at it!

3. Find the workout you like

Every year I see the same pattern.

All of a sudden there are hoards of people who join the gym around January.

I welcome people who want to join a gym and start being active.

If you want to join a gym, by all means, join a gym.

But consider that joining a gym will not immediately help you lose weight or get in shape.

So find a workout you like to do and then start doing it.

Or better yet, try a few different types of exercises and find one that you like.

For example, try a one-month unlimited pass at a local yoga studio and see if you like it before making an annual commitment.

Still not feeling motivated?

Here are 10 foolproof ways to boost your motivation and work out right now.

4. Practice mindfulness and meditation

Are you tired of feeling like you never have enough time?

Frustrated with how stressed and overwhelmed you are all the time?

I have a quick and simple solution to your problems.

Start practicing mindfulness and meditation.

Research has shown that our brains have neuroplasticity. What that means is that you can actually change how your brain is wired and feel better.

Not sure where to start? Here are the 5 best meditation apps that will make you calm and stress-free.

Short on time?

Try these Simple meditation exercises you can do in 30 seconds or less.

5. Prioritize your mental health

If we learned anything over the past few years of the pandemic, it has been the value of our mental health.

Nothing prepared us for the pandemic, lockdown, or the ensuing fear and terror that we faced.

Take that coupled with working from home, online school, and the danger of getting sick.

The result of all this stress?

High levels of depression and anxiety.

As a licensed clinical social worker, I spend every day talking with patients about ways to improve their mental health.

The stress, overwhelm and anxiety that has resulted from the pandemic is something paramount that we all need to pay attention to.

The chronic stress we all have won’t go away. So take proactive steps to improve your mental health.

Need some help? Here are 15 easy ways to make great mental health your reality.

6. Make most of your meals at home

If you looking for one simple New Year’s Resolution idea, then this is it.

Making your meals at home has a trifecta effect.

It will help you save money, eat healthier, and lose weight.

The best way to get started is through meal planning. Here’s the best meal-planning guide for beginners.

7. Limit your screen time

One thing I wish I had more of is time.

I always feel like there’s not enough time in my day to do the things on my to-do list.

Then I tried a little experiment.

I started writing everything down on a piece of paper and stopped relying on my phone.

Instead of going on social media or religiously checking my phone throughout the day, I started reading books and journaling.

The result?

I found that excessive screen time was draining not just my time but also my energy.

Ready to start a digital detox and reclaim your life?

8. Stop comparing yourself to others

Another benefit of limiting your screen time is that you will learn to stop comparing yourself to others.

When you’re glancing at Instagram or Facebook, you’re looking at a curated and altered version of reality. The perfect family vacation. The cute engagement photos.

On the other hand, people do not post videos or photos of their baby puking or fighting with their spouse.

If you are feeling sad, lonely, or depressed it is especially important NOT to go onto social media. Studies have demonstrated that social media can cause depression, anxiety, and other health challenges.

9. Prioritize your sleep

Do you think the correlation between good quality sleep and your overall physical, mental, and emotional health is fairly easy to notice?

Take for example a night where you sleep between 7-8 hours of sleep.

Perhaps you notice that you wake up feeling refreshed, energized, and in a good mood.

Since you slept well, you can focus so you’re more productive at work or school.

In addition, you have positive interactions with those around you make good decisions, and eat nutritiously.

On the other hand, take a day where you sleep 6 hours or less.

You wake up feeling cranky, tired, and in a bad mood. You find that you’re irritable throughout the day, can’t focus, and end up getting into an argument with someone.

Moreover, you rely far too much on caffeine and crave junk food and sugar all day.

I can’t stress enough the importance of sleep hygiene. If you want to take just one step towards improving your overall health, then start working on better sleep habits.

Having difficulty falling asleep?

Here are 10 Ways To Put A Racing Mind To Bed And Sleep Now.

10. Drink more water

Although some people think that drinking water regularly is unnecessary, they are wrong.

Your body is made up of about 75% water. A lot of your body relies on staying hydrated to function at its best.

Drinking water regularly and staying hydrated also helps improve your mood. Moreover, it helps you lose weight, and most importantly, avoid getting headaches.

Here are 8 easy ways to boost your water drinking game.

Wrap-up

One of the best parts of starting a New Year is that you can create some goals or resolutions for yourself.

Think of it as a fresh start and a new chapter in your life.

However, if you’re tired of making resolutions that never stick, then you may want to consider some simple New Year’s resolutions ideas I’ve put together.

Instead of getting overwhelmed by selecting too many New Year’s resolutions or unrealistic ones, pick a few from the list like learning how to say no, picking out a workout you like, or even making more meals at home.

Before you know it you’ll find that you feel happier, energized more productive, and living your best life.

What are some typical New Year’s resolutions that you set every year? What are some simple New Year’s Resolution ideas that you have? Any suggestions for making sure you follow through and accomplish your resolutions? Please share your stories and comments below.