Guilt-Free New Year’s Resolutions

“New Year’s resolutions.” To some, those words are filled with pure possibility…an invitation to start anew, complete with better habits and corrected flaws. But to the rest of us, they’re a joke—a fast path to wasted gym memberships, broken promises and wilted wishes.
If you fall into the latter camp, you might just need a new New Year’s tradition. In that spirit, here are a few alternatives to the annual resolve-o-rama. Think of them as kinder, healthier and, quite possibly, more successful ways to embrace your own potential.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.
Do something
Take a meaningful, realistic step toward a better life. Go for a walk. Reconnect with an old friend. Apologize for a wrongdoing. Make one small move toward a life of change. You just might be inspired to do it again…and again!
Loosen up
Strict rules can be all too easy to break. Try looser guidelines instead! Don’t decide to exercise every single day—how about twice a week? Don’t swear off fried food forever—just indulge yourself occasionally. Ease back on your expectations a little…and if you end up doing more, yay for you!
Be positive
Instead of constantly reminding yourself of your many faults, make a list of the things you admire about yourself. Maybe you’re a great friend, an awesome letter-writer or a generous volunteer. In the coming year, resolve to be even more amazing at things you’re already good at.
Band together
Even if your companions have completely different goals, things just seem to go better when you have a group to share and celebrate with. Don’t know where to start? Try these New Year’s resolution ideas for groups or check out sites like Oneword365.com, where people choose a single word to inspire their daily choices throughout the year and then share their stories.
Accept yourself
Sometimes the first step to making a change is admitting that you’re not going to do it perfectly—and that’s OK. Just because you ate a piece of cake doesn’t mean your plan for healthy eating is ruined forever. Just because you skipped the gym doesn’t mean you’re destined to live life as a couch potato. We’re all human, and we all mess up. Forgive yourself and start over.
You may also like
See more-
Spring History of Administrative Professionals Day
Three people led the effort to create Administrative Professionals Day/Week: Mary Barrett, a past president of the...
-
Easter Easter Eggs-travaganza: Our Favorite Easter Egg Ideas
When it comes to Easter, we think both adults AND kids deserve to have some fun and make fabulous, way-too-pretty-to-...
-
St. Patrick's Day Free Printable St. Patrick’s Day Coloring Pages for Your Little Leprechauns
If you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, then you know it’s all about sharing love, luck and fun. And what could be more f...
-
Easter Free Printable Easter Coloring Pages to Brighten Up Your Celebration
One of the best things about Easter—in addition to faith, family and food—is all the colors. So we figured we’d throw...
-
Spring History of Teacher Appreciation Week
People in the United States started celebrating National Teacher Day in 1953 when Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded Cong...
-
Spring History of Nurses Day
In 1953, an official with the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare proposed that President Dwight D. E...
-
Congratulations Rewards for Kids: 10 Parents Share Their Tips for Celebrating Achievements
One of the most important tools parents have to shape their kids’ behavior is the power of positive feedback. But as ...
-
Congratulations How to Give a Toast from the Heart
At some point in your life, you’ll need to give a toast. You might get advance notice as a Maid of Honor or host o...
-
Congratulations How to Say Congratulations (Even When You'd Really Rather Not)
Congratulating others is easy and fun, right? Like when your friend worked really hard and got that awesome job ma...
-
New Year's New Year's Resolution Ideas for Groups
New Year’s resolutions are pretty lonely deals. It’s just you and that thing you have to live up to. Ack! No wonde...
-
Christmas A Christmas tribute: meaningful ways to weave memories of lost loved ones into new holiday traditions
For many of us, Christmas is the time of year when we miss our lost loved ones the most. Finding ways to memoriali...
-
Thanksgiving The History of Thanksgiving and Alternative Ideas for Celebrating Gratitude
Many of us in the United States have celebrated Thanksgiving through the years without knowing its origins, perhaps h...
-
Christmas Baby’s First Christmas Ideas
Baby's first Christmas means more fun, more cuteness, more joy...and definitely more wonder as you see the holiday se...
-
Mother's Day What to Write in a Mother's Day Card
Tell her just how much she means using this guide from Hallmark writers.
-
Gift Wrapping Giftology: how to wrap a Mother's Day gift
Make Mom’s day with these simply stunning Mother’s Day gift-wrapping ideas. Watch our video tutorials ...
-
Mother's Day How to Write an Appreciation Letter for Mom
No one has loved you (or put up with you) like Mom has. Or let’s say it wasn’t “Mom”—maybe it’s been a stepmom, grand...
-
Valentine's Day Free Printable Valentine’s Day Coloring Pages You'll Love
Valentine’s Day is all about love. Not just the romantic kind, either. More and more, people are using Valentine’s Da...
-
Valentine's Day What to Write in a Valentine's Day Card
Hallmark writers offer up inspiration to help you find just the right loving words to add when you sign a valentine.
-
Birthday What to Write in a Birthday Card
When it comes to signing birthday cards, there are people who have no problem picking up a pen and adding a warm, per...
-
Christmas Christmas Wishes: What to Write in a Christmas Card
Get sample messages, tips and watch our new video guide to write the perfect Christmas card.