By February 1, many persons’ New Years’ resolutions are either a) not started, or b) already abandoned. New Year’s resolutions, derided though they often are, present a big opportunity for self-improvement, according to research on human behavior. On New Year’s, we look back on past failures to change and feel an uncommon surge of optimism.
If you’re ready for a resolution mulligan, consider Benjamin Hardy’s list of 50 ways to live on your own terms. Here’s a sample:
- Stop depending on caffeine
- Fast from the internet 24 hours once per week
- Do something kind for someone else daily
- Remove all non-essentials from your life (start with your closet)
- Give at least one guilt-free hour to relaxation per day
- Check your email and social media at least 60–90 minutes AFTER you wake up
- Have no more than 3 items on your to-do list each day
Source: Medium, November 3, 2017.
Hardy’s 50 ways is full of relatively no-nonsense items that may sound like your mother. The list also includes:
- Make your bed first thing in the morning
- Floss your teeth
- Spend time reflecting on your blessings at least once per day