2017 was kinda sucky, let’s be real. There were glittering moments in the year, like marriage equality finally becoming law, Fiona the Hippo just generally being the best animal ever, and there was that whole thing about this old bloke just wanting someone to take him fishing, but apart from that everything was kinda just hot, wet garbage.
So as we’re hurtling toward the new year at break-neck speed, it’s time to do that age-old tradition of making resolutions that might just last until January 31.
Well folks, we thought it’d be grouse to give you a list of wholesome resolutions that you might just keep a hold of for more than a month. New year, new you, y’know?
DONATE TO A CHARITY
Something that is minimal-effort and maximum-effect is donating to charity. Taking a portion of your pay once a month (if you are able to do so) to give to those in need or initiatives that you find need support. It helps to give back to people that are far worse off than a lot of us.
Lots of charities give you the option of seeing where you’re money’s going through regular email updates, so you can feel assured that your hard-earned cash isn’t just lining the pockets of some “charity” bigwig.
If you’re not sure of who to give to, research! Human rights charities like Amnesty International and UNHCR help people who are dealing with humanitarian crises and human rights abuses, Animals Australia and WWF take care of animal rights, and Maggie’s Rescue and Edgar’s Mission focus on neglected animals in particular.
SWITCH OFF FROM THE NEWS CYCLE
The news cycle can get tiring, exhausting, and depressing. Believe me, I work in it every day. Take time in the new year to switch off, whether it’s your own doing by leaving your phone at home and going for a long, long walk, or going on a long weekend trip to somewhere with no reception or wifi.
Switch off your computer, throw your phone in the sea, and breathe for a bit.
LEARN A NEW INSTRUMENT
It’s never too late to learn an instrument – whether it’s learning how to slap the bass like some funk machine, or annoying everyone in your street with your brand new trumpet skills.
Learning how to play an instrument helps your mind de-stress and be creative, as it forces you to focus on a single task. And if you’re someone who’s in an office all day or spending a lot of time looking at a computer screen, working on mastering a new instrument helps to flex parts of your brain that you might not use as much.
Fine-tuning these skills help with things like hand-eye co-ordination, and strengthens the parts of your brain that makes you more productive in your day to day life.
GO WATCH WOMEN PLAY SPORT
If you’re anything like me, you’re absolutely hanging out for the footy season to come back. Well GUESS WHAT MATE, you can absolutely get behind some women’s sport in the mean time.
The AFL Womens season starts before the AFL kicks off this year and if last year’s season is anything to go by, it’s gunna fucken RULE.
NRL have also announced a womens premiership will be kicking off in 2018, so if the other egg-ball sport isn’t for you, make sure you get along and support the women’s rugby league in 2018.
And if you’ve kept an eye on the Matildas in 2017, you’ll know that womens sport is bloody thriving and the gals are absolutely dominating the field/pitch. So garn, get around ’em.
When I die I hope it’s because Tayla Harris kicked me head off into the sun pic.twitter.com/UHVSr5zfY2
— (scattered boos) (@UberEats_AU) February 12, 2017
LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR
It seems that knowing who lives around you is becoming less of a thing, but that might just be me and the fact that I’m mildly terrified of my neighbours and their extremely loud daytime ~activities~.
Spend some time talking to your neighbours in the new year. Even if it’s just saying “good morning” or “hello” as you walk past them pottering around in the garden, it’s still making an effort and will absolutely make their day a touch brighter.
If you live next to other folks that are around the same age as you, maybe invite them to your next party. Maybe bake them a cake. Maybe leave a request for them to be the godparents for your new kitten. Make friends, it’ll do you good.
GIVE A LEGIT COMPLIMENT EVERY DAY
Ok I’ll be honest, this one can be a bit tricky, but try and give someone a genuine compliment every day. Whether it’s commenting on someone’s shoes, or marvelling at their lunch prowess, giving another person a little ego boost can and will do them wonders.
Now I’m absolutely not giving you the OK to go around and pass comments on peoples’ bodies, because that’s extremely not cool. Be smart with your complimenting skills, find something to genuinely compliment them on. Maybe they’ve done a really nice job on a presentation at work or uni, or they’ve just spent the last half hour listening to you rant about a crappy date you had on the weekend.
Compliments don’t cost you a thing, and hey maybe you’ll cop some good karma out of it.
Make 2018 the year you do small things to make an impact. It doesn’t matter if you feel like you as a single person can’t change the world, at least you can help to make it a nicer place for a while.
