Love them or hate them, New Year’s resolutions are here to stay! For millennia, they’ve been a tradition among all cultures and ages for the purpose of self-improvement, self-enlightenment, and self-discipline.
From getting fit to learning a new skill, resolutions can be easy to make, but difficult to maintain. Here are 5 common New Year’s resolutions, and how to keep to them!
Quit Smoking
Let’s start with one of the biggest resolutions that millions across the globe pledge to make each year: quitting cigarettes. Without a doubt, quitting smoking can be both a mentally and physically arduous task. One way or another, a smoker’s habits will more than likely return if the appropriate support and action aren’t taken.
If you’re struggling, the best way forward is to learn about the most effective smoking cessation methods and how to put them into practice.
Among these methods are Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), medication, and e-cigarettes which are used with both nicotine-filled and nicotine-free e-liquids. With the arrival of disposable vape devices such as the Elf Bar, quitting smoking and making the switch to vaping is now easier than ever before. These types of vaping devices include a built-in battery and come pre-filled with delicious flavors and set puff counts, meaning you can simply inhale and go!
Take Up A New Hobby
Among their many other benefits, taking up new hobbies can be a fantastic way to reduce stress and spend your time meaningfully. Hobbies such as reading and exercising can keep us engaged and even help push us out of our comfort zones.
However, all too often, it’s easy to fall out of touch with what we’re most passionate about. We may encounter distractions, setbacks, or in the worst-case scenario, fall back into our old ways.
Luckily, there’s a number of ways to keep to your good habits, one being to find an accountability partner or a group of like-minded people who also enjoy your hobby. To make sure you’ve got enough time throughout the week, try planning out your time day by day and seeing where your hobby fits best in your routine.
Lose Weight
As much as we’d all love it too, losing weight doesn’t just happen overnight. It’s a long process that takes determination, patience, and self-control, but the results are always worth the challenges.
One of the most effective techniques involved with weight loss is to find lower-calorie alternatives of your favorite foods. That’s not to say you can’t indulge every now and then – it’ll just provide you with a healthier option to satisfy your cravings.
When it comes to exercise, the best way to stay motivated is to make each workout fun. For example, you could switch up your usual routine by introducing new equipment or even inviting a friend to cheer you on.
Try making physical activity an everyday goal, whether that’s by taking the stairs, cycling to work, or doing a quick high-intensity home workout in the morning. Before you know it, you’ll be shedding those stubborn pounds away in quick succession!
Make Time For Self-care
Self-care may have a loose definition, but one fact is certain: it’s not limited to foot spas and cucumber masks anymore. There’s now a whole world of wellness products out there to suit different needs, ranging from essential oil diffusers to crystal salt lamps and much more.
The feminine hygiene industry, in particular, has released several new exciting wellness-based products, with period pants, chafing cream, and menstrual cups remaining popular.
Many well-being products such as bath bombs and bath salts now even include the addition of CBD, a natural compound found in the hemp plant which is believed to provide a number of therapeutic benefits.
Like any routine, the best way to start your own wellness ritual is to identify what you’d most like to focus on. Perhaps you’d like to improve your skincare routine, or start eating clean? It also helps to set attainable goals – for example, spending 10 minutes meditating every evening before bed, or setting the target to read 2 books a month.
Save Money
Whether you’re planning to buy your first house, travel the world, or just want to pocket a few pennies away for a rainy day, saving your cash doesn’t have to seem impossible.
One of the first pieces of advice that people give when it comes to saving up cash is to pay off all your debts first. From there, you can then create an automated savings account and invest a portion of your money in stocks.
Another great tip to save money is to cut back on unnecessary expenses, such as unused subscriptions, travel, or even your daily coffee order.
Many free online banking apps now provide budgeting tools such as unlockable money pots and monthly overviews which allow you to track your spending effectively.
