10 Simple New Year’s Goals to Start Working Towards Right Now

2022 is officially here, and New Year’s resolutions are being made all over the world. For some, resolutions can feel overwhelming or unachievable, but they don’t have to be that way. Let’s go over 10 simple and attainable goals to work towards in 2022.

Drink More Water

Drinking more water is always a great goal for the upcoming year. Our bodies need water to survive and stay hydrated, but it’s sometimes easy to forget to drink enough. Luckily, there are ways to help make the habit easier, such as setting a reminder or keeping a refillable water bottle with you at all times.

Move Your Body

Whether you start stretching in your living room in the mornings or join a gym in your area, moving your body more (or more regularly) is a timeless goal for New Year. This type of goal is great because you can adapt it to be as general or as specific as you would like, such as wanting to create a regular walking routine or hitting a certain strength goal. Moving your body for even 30 minutes a day can help improve your overall physical and mental health, and it’s also a great way to de-stress or decompress.

Establish a Better Sleep Schedule

While New Year’s resolutions often focus on waking up earlier or going to bed at a good time, it’s mostly just important to have a good night’s sleep. While early mornings can be great for some, others are most alert or productive in the evening. Some simple sleep schedule goals include aiming for 7-8 hours of sleep each night, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day (yes, even on the weekends), or avoiding the snooze button in the mornings.

Learn Something New

The new year is a perfect time to decide to learn something new, whether it’s a language, an instrument, or something you find interesting in a documentary or book. Learning new things can help keep your brain sharp and work different parts of your mind as well.

Get Outdoors More

Spending time outdoors has many mental and physical health benefits, but it’s something a lot of people don’t prioritize. Whether your goal is to go on regular nature walks, hike some new trails in your state, or go camping a few times, getting outside more in the new year is definitely attainable.

Journal Regularly

Journaling is a great way to track your thoughts, goals, and progress throughout the year. It can also provide a safe environment to process through tough emotions or life events that are difficult to talk about. Journaling can also help increase mindfulness and gratitude! If you’re not sure where to start or what to write about, this previous blog post has a few ideas.

Pick Up a New Hobby

Hobbies are a great way to have new experiences and try new things. Maybe you’ve always wanted to take pottery lessons, start writing a book, join a birding group, or take advanced cooking classes—and there is no time like the present to take the next steps towards a new hobby. The possibilities are endless!

Move Towards Sustainability

If you’ve ever thought about reducing your personal waste, using less plastic and single-use items, or supporting sustainable practices in your everyday routine, this could be a wonderful New Year’s goal for yourself! There are many ways to make small or big changes in your life that encourage sustainability and support the people and organizations putting in work behind the scenes.

Start Going to Therapy

It’s no secret that the last few years have taken a toll on the mental health of many individuals and on many communities as a whole. While a lot of New Year’s Resolutions might focus on wellness and self-care, one of the best things you could do for yourself in the name of wellness is to start going to therapy. Therapy is a space where you can openly disclose your thoughts and feelings, work through tough emotions or past trauma, and develop better self-awareness to manage future life situations. It’s an investment in yourself that can pay off for your mental health and your relationships for years to come.

If finding a personal therapist in your area is not financially attainable, there are online applications such as BetterHelp or Talkspace that may be more affordable and convenient with options to text or video call with a licensed counselor.

Explore Your Community

This year, make it a goal to explore your community! Eat at a local restaurant you’ve been wanting to go to, visit a local art or history museum, spend the afternoon at a new park, or attend more local events. Whether your goal is to meet new people in your neighborhood, support more local businesses, or just learn more about where you live, there are plenty of ways to get involved in your community in 2022.

The new year is a new beginning and an opportunity to make even the simplest of changes in your life. We hope our list of 10 simple goals will give you a few ideas of things to work towards in 2022. Happy New Year from all of us at WhirLocal!