by Kate Evans
Every year millions of people make New Year’s resolutions that include losing weight, exercising more, healthier eating, getting more organized and spending more time with family and friends.
Often those resolutions fall by the wayside by mid-February, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Choosing realistic goals and setting action steps will help you reach those goals. Make those new actions part of your daily and weekly routines. 
Balance
Look at the different areas of your life-family, home, health/wellness, work/career, social, financial, spiritual, personal development and relationships-and focus on what you’d like to improve in them.
Is there a balance between them or are there some areas that are getting less attention in your life?
How will you attain that balance?
Maybe you’d like to learn carpentry, writing or web design, learn a new craft such as knitting, quilting or macrame, take a class, volunteer, travel, read more or learn a musical instrument or a new language.
If your list of New Year’s resolutions looks a lot like last year’s list or lists from previous years, don’t get discouraged. Start with a clean slate this year and create a plan to make your goals happen.
Get moving
Walking is about the best form of exercise there is. It’s hard to get motivated to walk when it’s snowy, very cold or windy outside. You can still bundle up in a heavy coat with a hood, a warm hat and thick gloves and walk. Skip going for a walk if it’s icy or slippery outside.
If the weather outside isn’t conducive for a walk, try dancing, ping pong, darts, hula hoops, Yoga and Tai Chi. There are many ways to get moving.
Health & wellness
Make your priority for the New Year to take better care of yourself.
Choose healthier foods, exercise more, get seven to eight hours of sleep a night, fresh air and sunshine daily and drink eight glasses of water every day.
Try a new healthy or vegetarian recipe each week. Make some new soups, stews or casseroles.
Find a hobby that you enjoy. Take time to meditate and relax. Be sure to find time for yourself and the things and people you love.
Family & home
Staying in closer touch with family and friends is often a priority in New Year’s resolutions.
Set a goal of calling loved ones regularly- every couple of weeks- or arrange to visit, meet for lunch or organize an annual family reunion. These special relationships provide love, support and encouragement. Close relationships help us live longer and better lives.
Wintertime can be a good time to declutter your home and get rid of things that you no longer use or wear. The Union Rescue Mission or Goodwill would be happy to accept gently used items as donations.
Travel, music
If you’ve been wanting to travel, start your list of places that you’d like to see this year. If it’s been years since you’ve been to the ocean, make it one of your priority destinations. Go visit some state or national parks, see a Broadway play or a concert, or travel to a Smithsonian Museum.
Maybe you’ve thought about learning a musical instrument. Take piano, guitar or ukulele lessons to get a feel for playing music.
Explore drumming, bongos, tambourine or other percussion instruments. Find some online videos that can help you learn your instrument or a few favorite songs.
Personal growth
Consider learning something new. There are thousands of courses available online that include computers and technology, accounting, writing, business, health and medicine, personal development, arts and humanities, psychology and more.
Maybe you’d like to improve your cooking skills or learn photography. You may want to finish your college degree, become an electrician, start a new business or bring a new skill to the workplace.
Reading, volunteering
Maybe you’d like to get back to reading this year. Try a biography or a legal thriller by John Grisham or Robin James. Read some new releases or favorite classics like Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” series.
Consider volunteering for a local agency or the schools. Starting Points can always use help preparing and serving food in their Mealtime Community Kitchen.
The PASS Program is still looking for volunteers to mentor schoolkids and help them with their homework and reading. You could also talk to a class of teens about your career experiences.
Write down your personal goals for 2025 and list the steps you can take now to achieve them.
That way, you’ll be on your way to making it your best New Year ever.
