As you set your new year resolutions, sticking to them may be difficult, hence they often get abandoned mid-way. However, with careful planning and more realistic goals, you can make this year different!

By adopting a focused approach, setting resolutions can be a powerful tool for positive change in your life. Here are three resolutions for you to consider, spanning across health, personal growth and your financial stability — and how you can achieve them simply by tweaking your approach:

Resolution #1: Prioritise Health and Wellness

Health is everything — which cements its position as a cornerstone for building your list of New Year’s resolutions. Although planning to prioritise your health and wellness in the new year is a common resolution, it might be one of the hardest to stick to — but with the right approach, it’s certainly achievable.

The key is to start with manageable steps. Prioritising your health starts with your diet and weight management. So instead of completely revamping your diet, consider taking gradual steps. Make a slow but consistent effort to swap out less healthy food options with more nutritious but equally delicious alternatives whenever possible. Challenge yourself to try cooking one new healthy recipe each week to keep healthy eating fun and exciting.

When it comes to workouts, consider incorporating enjoyable activities into your routine. Instead of the monotony of a treadmill, think about going on a nice hike or engaging in dance workouts. If you prefer social interactions, group fitness classes can be particularly motivating.¹ Finding activities you genuinely enjoy can make staying active a pleasure, enhancing your overall fitness journey.

If you’re not sure where to start, a good one would be figuring out your baseline fitness levels and what your goals are — and for that, we have a list of Wellness Tools to help you!

Let’s also not forget to include regular medical check-ups as part of your Health and Wellness priorities. If you’re in your 20s to early 60s, it’s recommended that you go for a medical check-up once every 1-3 years. However, once you approach your mid-60s, it’s highly recommended to undergo a medical check-up once a year. After all, prevention is better than cure, and early detection can help provide a wider treatment option. It’s also important to review your health insurance plan to ensure that you’ll be covered in the event of any unforeseen medical issues that may arise.

Resolution #2: Balancing Personal and Career Growth

We understand the importance of having both self-improvement and career growth. This year, how about we try to figure out the delicate balance between both, without forgetting our mental, emotional, and career well-being?

● On a personal front

Personal growth encompasses various facets, each crucial for a balanced and fulfilled life. Here are some ways you can help nurture your personal growth throughout this new year:

1. Mental Growth:

Start by embracing mindfulness practices like meditation or journaling with the goal of nurturing a healthier mindset. These methods enhance self-awareness, allowing you to understand and manage your thoughts better.

2. Social Growth:

Dedicate intentional time to nurture relationships with friends and family. Strengthening these connections not only brings joy but also fosters a sense of fulfilment and support in life. If you need some insight on how to kickstart the process, why not check out our article Growing Closer with Age: Strengthening Elderly Parent-Child Relationships for ideas?

3. Spiritual Growth:

Explore avenues that align with your spiritual inclinations. Whether through meditation, or involvement in a community, nurturing your spiritual self can provide inner peace and a sense of purpose.

4. Emotional Growth:

Engage in self-improvement practices that enhance emotional intelligence. This could involve self-reflection, understanding your emotions, and developing coping strategies for challenges that arise.

5. Physical Growth:

Embrace a holistic approach to physical well-being. Exercise regularly, maintain a balanced diet, and ensure adequate rest. By taking care of your body, you lay a solid foundation for overall personal growth.

● On a career front

Give your career prospects a boost this new year by incorporating the following while setting your New Year’s resolutions:

1. Skill Development:

Continuously enhance your skill set to stay relevant in your field. Seek out training, workshops, or courses that align with your career aspirations.

2. Networking:

Build long-term professional relationships. Engage with mentors, colleagues, and industry peers to gain insights and build self-confidence.

3. Goal Clarity:

Define clear career objectives and milestones. Having well-defined goals provides direction and motivation for your professional journey.

4. Adaptability:

Embrace change positively and adapt to evolving work environments. Flexibility and adaptability are vital traits for navigating today's dynamic job landscape.

You should also try to balance your professional goals with financial security. While both are important aspects of your career, you must enjoy the process as you build up your financial safety net and a fulfilling professional journey. If you need more ideas, check out our article: Financial Stability: How to Build a Safety Net & Secure Your Career.

Resolution #3: Grow and Sustain Your Financial Well-being

We’ve been taught over and over that financial stability is crucial for our future. So how do we go about planning and ensuring our financial well-being? Here are some steps to guide you along the way:

Chart your course with a clear financial plan:

● Set SMART goals:

Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for savings, wealth building, retirement, and anything else you aim for (e.g. a dream vacation, your child's future education).

● Craft personalised plans:

Consider consulting a life planning advisor to tailor plans like emergency funds, debt repayment strategies, and investment roadmaps to your unique situation.

● Embrace financial resilience:

Consider utilising insurance options as a safety net to protect your income and long-term security when navigating unexpected challenges such as illness, the death of a family member, or job loss.

Take control with budget tracking:

● Break the "where did my money go?" cycle:

Explore budgeting methods like the 50/30/20 rule or zero-based budgeting, and find the one that best suits your spending habits.

● Leverage technology:

Consider using budget apps or creating a custom spreadsheet to track spending. Our Savings Plan Calculator can help estimate monthly savings needs.

● Turn awareness into action:

Regularly monitor your spending, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your plan to see tangible progress towards your financial goals.

Build a foundation for a brighter future:

● Tackle your debt:

Develop a roadmap to pay off existing debts, prioritise lower interest rates, and avoid accumulating further debt.

● Prepare for life's surprises:

Build an emergency fund to weather unexpected situations, ensuring you don't derail your financial journey.

● Grow your wealth wisely:

Learn the basics of different investment options like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, and seek professional advice to help you achieve your goals.

● Protect your income:

Secure adequate insurance coverage for health, disability, and property to safeguard your financial future.

Remember, achieving financial well-being is a journey, not a destination. Take actionable steps, celebrate your wins, and stay motivated. Last but not least, if you find figuring out your financial well-being too complicated, our life planning advisors are great resources to help you figure out how much you need based on your savings and financial goals!

It’s important to remember that the New Year is more than just a calendar change; it's a new opportunity to work towards a healthier, more balanced, and financially secure life. It is important to track and review your resolutions to ensure your action plan is effective or require some tweaks to improve.

References:
1. https://kin.hs.iastate.edu/group-exercise-may-be-even-better-for-you-than-solo-workouts-heres-why/