New Year’s Resolutions You Can Keep

The International Toilet of a year, 2016 (that’s it’s official name), is drawing a close, and folk are starting to consider their annual self improvement plans. Every single year, we make resolutions that we undoubtedly fail the first few seconds after midnight, give or take a few weeks. Whether you plan to quit boozin’ in favour of the life of a tee-totaller, give up chocolate despite the fact it’s the only thing that gets you through the working week, or vow to get yourself a body like Jennifer Ennis-Hill* [*insert other celeb with an exceptionally banging body in here], sometimes no amount of self control or dedication can see you working towards your resolution past 5th January.

So this year, we’re making a New Year’s Revolution. Forget unattainable plans and grinding yourself down with unreasonable expectations. We’re talking about making small positive changes that will make your life a little better, without taking up too much of your precious (and often unavailable) time and energy. These are New Year’s Resolutions you can keep.

Cook a new recipe regularly

We’re all guilty of falling into a depressing rut of making beans on toast with alarming regularity. We’re not disputing that at the right time, beans on toast with a handful of grated cheese can be just what the doctor ordered, but you deserve something better a few days of the week at least. For 2017, make plans to try new recipes regularly. Browse food blogs like Belleau Kitchen, Lavender and Lovage, A Mummy Too, Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen and The Mother Cooker for inspiration. Then get in the kitchen and cook up a storm for you and your loved ones. A resolution that is wholesome + heartwarming = winning.

Buy an expensive bottle of wine every month

How often do you nip to the shops for a bottle of wine on a Saturday night, find the cheapest then buy the next most expensive? Once again, we’ll remind you that you deserve better. We know you can’t afford to pick up a vintage Cheateuneuf de Pape at £60 a bottle every weekend, but set a little budget aside so that you can pick up something a bit more refined once a month. Obviously save it for a weekend when you’re drinking for pleasure and not to get battered. That’d be a terrible waste.

Get out more – watch less TV

Netflix is possibly one of the best inventions ever, but it’s also guilty of holding tens of thousands of Britons hostage when they could be out seeing more of the world. This resolution is a double whammy – spend less time being a couch potato in front of the new series of Game of Thrones and get out of the house in 2017. We’re not suggesting you should be spending a small fortune on elaborate date nights or splashing the cash on extravagant theatre trips, but just getting out of the house and into your local area is a great way to make your 2017 feel a bit more wholesome.

Drink more water

This is a ridiculously easy one. You almost certainly don’t drink enough water. Buy yourself a bobble bottle (so you can also ditch the plastic water bottles, making yourself an eco-warrior for another win) and aim to get your 2litres a day. You’ll feel brighter, more alert and your skin will probably thank you for it. You just might end up taking more wee breaks at work.

Try cooking with new ingredients

Heard everyone talking about tahini, bragging about their bone broth, banging on about baobab and fussing over freekeh, and want to get involved in rustling up delicious meals with decadent ingredients? Make 2017 the year you’re the first one to try the new food trends by making cooking with new ingredients your New Year’s Resolution. You don’t need to replace all of the classics with fancy alternatives, but getting out of your comfort zone once in a while will be rewarding for your belly as well as for bragging rights.

Treat yourself more

When was the last time you treated yourself to something you absolutely did not need, but really, truly wanted? We’ll bet that you can’t remember the last time. So as 2016 drifts into our distant memory (please, can we just forget it ever happened?), take the opportunity to start a new habit of treating yourself once in a while. Whether you reward yourself for making it through a particularly brutal week at work, you’re really proud of yourself for binge watching all of Gilmore Girls in a month flat or just because you feel like it, giving yourself a little pat on the back will increase your morale 100%.

How are you planning on making 2017 count? Whatever resolution you choose, don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t achieve it! We like these goals ‘cos they’re ever so attainable. 

Wishing you all a very happy new year! We hope 2017 treats you VERY well!