The past two years have been tough for many, but we are excited tohav made it to the year 2022. This time of the year, people plan their goals and jot down their New Years resolutions. There are fitness goals on this list, but the best resolutions may focus on your mental health and happiness.
Build a better budget.
If there’s one New Year’s resolution that will help you the most in the long run, it’s making a vow to save more money.
Before you head back to the office, outline a budget that works for you — and make a plan for how you’ll stick to it. Apps like Mint and You Need a Budget (YNAB) can help you do this as painlessly as possible.
Prioritize age-appropriate screenings with your doctors.
Open your calendar app (or planner!) and make your appointments for the year in one sitting — not only will you get the anxiety-inducing nuisance over with, but exams will be less likely to get squeezed out as life gets bonkers. Start with your primary care provider, and ask which screenings (e.g., mammogram, colonoscopy) you’re due for. Slot those in, then move on to the dentist’s office, etc.
Drink less alcohol.
You already know you don’t need to drink to have fun — and so why not make this year the one you cut back and join the sober curious movement? Doing so could improve your mood, sleep, skin and immune system. Plus, it’ll also help you save money.
Jumpstart a new career
If this is your year to switch gears, you’ll know it in your heart. Despite work routines still being impacted by the pandemic, there are ways that career experts say you can successfully negotiate what you need to stay happy at work. Or to stylishly and effectively move into the next phase of your life without burning any bridges.
Consider therapy
We all lean on friends and family for support, but is this the year that you finally make a move to unpack your mental health? You don’t even have to leave the house to start, and some of the best digital offerings are absolutely free. Start by checking out a few apps on your phone, even — but if you’re ready, reach out to a care provider with the help of our guide, right here.
Make healthier lunches
Who has time to eat healthy!? You do, thanks to the power of your handy Instant Pot — and our recipes, of course! With ideas from Good Housekeeping’s Test Kitchen, the cookbook makes it simple to use your Instant Pot to make nutritious, yummy meals.
Quit smoking.
Cigarettes are extremely harmful for your health, particularly your lungs — but tobacco products in general (including vapes!) pose a serious threat. There are so many resources to help you get a jumpstart on ditching tobacco: Many are outlined by officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’ve tried before but need a bit more help, experts at the American Cancer Society outline a few tools that you can turn to this year.
Join a club
Starting a new hobby is one thing, but joining a club will help you meet new people in the process. Sites like Meetup can help you find a group of people with similar interests, and you can work on creating digital meetups with new friends in the process. Creative clubs can also be a boon in helping you stick to mastering a new craft. A great example? Good Housekeeping‘s Stitch Club, which connects avid crafters and DIY newcomers together in a community to inspire.
Volunteer regularly
Research shows that pitching in regularly can lead to less stress and lower blood pressure. So use this day to jumpstart a longer-term personal commitment — and consider working on this goal with loved ones all year round.
Get in a body-positive mindset
Social media can be a big asset in helping you jumpstart new health goals in 2022 — but it can also be easy to get led astray by certain trends and social pressures. There is a growing movement that embraces all shapes, sizes, colors, strengths, abilities (and disabilities!) if you know where to look. Some of our favorite body-positive accounts teach us more about all the amazing things each and every body can achieve.
Cece Smith 