The start of a new year is really just like any other week, but sometimes it’s nice to use it as an excuse to bring in some much-needed changes into your life. Here are some ways you can make the Year of the Tiger full of action and passion!
My New Year’s Resolution is to…
Read a book a week
52 books is my ambition for 2010! I don’t know what will be harder, reading a 300+ page book every single week OR finding fifty-two books I want to read to begin with. You can’t use money as an excuse not to carry out this goal, considering all the public libraries and charity shops around. Plus, you can join these really useful sites that allow you to swap a book with people of similar literary tastes, for example on BookHopper, Read it Swap it and Book Mooch. If time is an issue when it comes to finishing your latest paperback, make a decision to read every night before bed, or take the book with you to read on your lunch break. Even if you have to place it beside your bath so that you read it at some point every day, you can achieve it!
These days you can download ebooks onto your iPod, phone and if you’re particularly fancy you can get a Kindle. Also, you can cheat on the whole reading thing by tapping into the growing market of audiobooks. Spoken Ink has a small selection or you could try Googling for rapidshare or megaupload links to some free samples!
Keep in touch with friends more
Since leaving uni and having met people travelling, my friends are dotted all over the country, not to mention the world. Facebook is OK for keeping in touch but why not go retro and start sending letters and vintage postcards to your friends abroad?
Photo JoJo tells you how easy it is to make a postcard from your own photos – simply print it out 4×6, write a message on the bank and add a stamp! It really is that easy to send a personalised postcard to your friends.
Lose weight/Eat Healthily
It’s pointless telling yourself to lose a few pounds and then proceeding to do nothing about it.
Dumb Little Man has a great article on how to make sure 2010 is the year that you actually succeed in your diet. By making specific goals and keeping a food diary, you’re more likely to commit to your goal.
Lately I’ve read up a lot on the paleolithic diet, where you basically cut out grains such as wheat, rye, pretty much all processed food, not to mention beans, peanuts and dairy! It sounds pretty intense, but from what I’ve read the health benefits and the potential to limit your risk of getting certain diseases makes it worth trying out.
Keep discovering new music
I’m of the opinion that you can never own enough music, and I am constantly seeking new bands to blow my mind. I used to LOVE Pandora, but they stopped its availability in the UK
Thankfully,
Last.fm has helped fill the void, but I still want to find even more ways to discover great tunes.
Inspired Mag lists 20 ways to find new music.
My personal fave is Jango an internet radio site which allows you to find similar artists to your musical tastes. Despite the annoying adverts it is a great way to learn of new bands.
Reduce My Ecological Footprint
I’m not by any means a model citizen, but I pledge to do my bit in 2010 by shopping mostly in charity shops and in vintage stores… who knew adding to your wardrobe would help the world?! Not only will I be saving money, I’m more likely to grab some unique finds.
Declutter
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” — William Morris
