The Best Goals for Your New Year

BY Micaela January 5, 2022

Let’s face it. You know you are an adult when relatives stop asking what you want for the holidays and start asking you what your new year’s resolution goals are. Yes, it can be stressful when that relative you only see on Hallmark holidays is ‘up in your grill’ about what you hope to achieve in the next 365 days, decade, or even a lifetime. Here’s a manageable list of short-term goals you can achieve in 2022. 

Get more sleep. 

More than a third of adults get fewer than 7 hours of sleep each night, the minimum needed to keep your risk of health issues down. And that’s not counting those who likely over-estimate how much sleep they’re getting or whose sleep quality is poor. Get to bed earlier, and at least 30 minutes before bed, disconnect from your devices that emit blue light, such as your phone, tablet, laptop, or TV.

Be more present.

Being present allows us to appreciate the beautiful things in life instead of worrying about the future. The most significant present we can give ourselves is to learn how to become self-aware by connecting with ourselves and each other. Turn off notifications on your phone to get away from the digital world. Ask yourself what you are grateful for right now in the present moment and listen to yourself without interruption or judgment. Celebrate the small wins in your life and learn how to make mindfulness practice by researching options available to you.

Increase your step count.

There’s no better time to focus on an active lifestyle than right now. To increase your step count, you first need to figure out your baseline. How many steps are you currently getting each day? And how many steps do you want to achieve? Do the math and start adding blocks of times into your calendar. Find yourself an accountability partner to walk, jog, or run. If you make a date to work out with someone, you are less likely to cancel because you will disappoint them and yourself.

Eat healthier foods.

If you are working on a healthier version of yourself in 2022, start by tracking your nutrition to help you beat emotional eating, mid-day cravings, and just overeating in general. Many apps are available to help you eat healthier by offering several options to log nutrition from scanning a barcode to taking a picture of your food. Don’t forget to track your macros. Macronutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. Work with your medical professional to determine the correct ratio for your health goals.

Spend more mindfully

Mindful spending invites you to consider each dollar you spend as an extension of your personal beliefs and values, creating your personal economy that centers on what you love, and not what society tells you need. Mindful spending can also bring a sense of discipline and control during periods of uncertainty. If you want to get out of debt and save more money, try putting a 48-hour wait period between viewing something you want and purchasing it. Research budgeting apps that not only connect with your financial accounts, track spending, and categorize expenses, but also help users pay down debt, save more money and track goals.