As January rolls around again, we are inundated with the same old unachievable resolutions that are usually forgotten after two weeks. In fact, the statistics are so bad that there is even a National Quitter’s Day! A day to mourn all the resolutions that get swept under the rug, year after year.
In 2025, embrace the saying of “new year, new me” and set goals that you can actually reach. Not only will your motivation increase tenfold, but you will also increase your self-esteem when you stick to resolutions for the first time.
By setting smaller, but more achievable goals, you will motivate yourself to eventually conquer those big goals collecting dust under the mat.
Here are our top five achievable resolutions to commit to this 2025.
Far too often, we get caught up in life and forget about the world outside. Don’t live to work, but work to live. Choose a day a week to reconnect with nature and take a stroll in the fresh air. Furthermore, without even realising it, you will also be exercising!
You can make it a family activity, a solo adventure or time to spend with your fur baby — simply choose a path that is practical for you. That could mean walking down your residential road, through a park near your home or hiking the Melville Koppies over the weekend.
We aren’t hating on coffee, because we could never give up our caffeine addiction. But, we are loving on water. Therefore, we suggest substituting at least a few cups of coffee for extra glasses of water instead. Water is vital to your health — it regulates body temperature, cleanses your skin, improves brain function and flushes toxins from your body.
We recommend investing in a water bottle you love. We are in love with the trending Stanley bottle at the moment. Aim to finish one bottle of water a day. Then make it two bottles a day. Soon, you’ll reach the recommended two to three litres per day without even realising it.
You might have seen enough of your family over the holiday season to last a lifetime. But, at the end of the day, your family (and those special friends who have become like family) are the ones who love you unconditionally and for eternity. Unfortunately, they are the ones often taken for granted.
We recommend planning one lunch or dinner a month to unite the family under one roof. Siblings could take turns hosting the family reunion. A roast chicken with vegetables and potatoes is a classic. You can even ask Grandma to bake your favourite dessert. The kids will love it and so will the pets who get the leftovers.
This resolution has two parts to it. The first is to start budgeting. Don’t panic — it isn’t as daunting as it is made out to be. Start off with a basic income-minus-expenses list. Have one column for predicted figures and another for actual amounts. This way, you can compare what you thought you had versus what you actually have.
This brings us to the second part — savings. The easiest and least intrusive way to start saving is to set aside a fixed amount every month. Look at your budget and do some calculations to figure out what you can afford. Whether it is R100 or R500, commit to putting the same amount into a savings account each month. By the end of the year, you will have accumulated a healthy lump sum to treat yourself or others.
It is easy to get lost in a routine. Most of us tend to go about our days like clockwork, without even realising it. After a long day in the office, it might seem easier to grab a ready-to-eat dinner from Woolies. If you are a fussy eater, it is more comforting to eat the same thing every night. However, there is no fun in that! We recommend spicing things up by trying one new recipe per week.
Challenge yourself and your taste buds to try something new every seven days. Make a Beef Wellington for the first time or try your hand at cooking an Asian stir-fry. You could even turn it into a date night where you and your partner learn to make pasta from scratch. The possibilities are endless.
We are joining you in setting realistic goals this 2025. It will be a year of achieving what you set your mind to and encouraging yourself to move away from your regular ways of life. There is no progress in comfort and no growth without change.
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