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Top New Habits and Hobbies to Try for This New Year

Top New Habits and Hobbies to Try for This New Year
Top New Habits and Hobbies to Try for This New Year

You don’t need to make a resolution, but you could consider adopting new habits for a much better year.

Do you wish not to become the same person that you were last year? Well, perhaps, this new year, you can start adopting new habits and hobbies for yourself. We, as a society, are always encouraged to continuously take better care of and improve ourselves, but sometimes, such encouragement can come across as an unrealistic platitude. After all, finding effective ways to take better care of ourselves, as well as finding ways to improve ourselves for the sake of enjoying a much better year than the previous one, can feel easier said than done. Luckily, we Indonesia Expat are ready with some recommended new habits and hobbies that you could consider in order to shake up your life in a positive (and realistic) fashion.

The recommended new habits and hobbies are listed below in no particular order.

New habits - Daily journaling
Daily journaling
  1. Daily journaling

Writing a daily journal could be a simple way to organise your thoughts and reflect on your daily events. This habit can also help you understand your emotions, evaluate your decisions, and plan your next steps better. A journal doesn’t have to be a long piece of writing. You can start by writing down three things you are grateful for each day or writing down a small goal that you want to achieve tomorrow. By writing a journal regularly, you will get used to thinking more structured and feeling calmer. In addition, a journal can also be a reminder of your life journey. When you look back at old notes, you can see how far you have developed, motivating yourself to keep moving forward.

New Habits - Picking up books to read
Picking up books to read
  1. Picking up books to read

Reading a book is a habit that may enrich your insight and train your brain. You can start by reading books that are relevant to your interests. You don’t need to be overly ambitious about this new habit — try to read a book at least 10-15 minutes a day. Choose a comfortable time, such as before bed time or during your lunch break. If reading a book feels heavy, you can try listening to an audiobook as an alternative. Ultimately, by reading a book (especially a well-written and insightful one), you not only gain new knowledge but also improve your critical thinking skills and broaden your perspective.

new habits - Practicing mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness
  1. Practicing mindfulness

What is mindfulness? In a nutshell, it is a technique that involves being aware of the present moment without judgment, which can help you feel calm and manage your emotions. Mindfulness helps you focus on the present moment, reduces stress, and improves your overall quality of life. For beginners, you can take 5-10 minutes each day to sit still, take deep breaths, and focus on your breathing. You can also use a meditation app for easier guidance. By practicing mindfulness regularly, you will feel calmer, more in control of your emotions, and more prepared to face everyday challenges.

new habits - Exercising regularly
Exercising regularly
  1. Exercising regularly

This particular new habit is always on (almost) everyone’s mind whenever a new year kicks off — for a pretty good reason. After all, exercise is the best investment for your physical and mental health. In addition to increasing stamina, exercise also helps relieve stress. Furthermore, by exercising regularly, your body releases endorphins which are hormones that make you feel happier and more relaxed. You don’t need to start with heavy exercise; simple activities like walking 30 minutes a day are enough to provide benefits. To maintain consistency, choose a type of exercise that you personally enjoy. You can also involve friends or family to make this activity more enjoyable.

New habits - Cutting down sugar
Cutting down sugar
  1. Cutting down sugar

Most people might think January is the best month to shred the so-called ‘holiday weight’. However, if you want to manage your weight in a much more consistent and sustainable manner (and not just for the sake of being skinny in the month of January only to end up gaining weight in the following months), you can consider cutting down your sugar intake instead. After all, excessive sugar consumption can have negative impacts on health, such as increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and dental problems. Start by replacing sweet snacks with fresh fruits or choosing drinks without added sugar. Also, avoid processed foods that often contain hidden sugar.

Tidying things up
Tidying things up
  1. Tidying things up (literally)

The new year can also be used as an opportunity to clean and tidy up your surrounding environment, from the work desk and the bedroom to the entirety of your house. It may sound trivial, but tidying up the room can make the brain clearer. It can also help you maintain habits and goals. Not only the room, you can also clean and tidy up the things in your life that have been wasting your time – figuratively and literally. Tidying up can help improve your mood, help you focus, and reduce stress. It can also help you feel more in control of your surroundings.

Getting enough sleep
Getting enough sleep
  1. Getting enough sleep

This activity may also seem trivial, but getting enough sleep can lead to a good effect on your physical and mental health this year. Ideally, a person needs 7-8 hours of sleep every night to restore energy and improve concentration. In order for the brain to rest optimally, a good sleep schedule should be arranged. Furthermore, getting enough sleep can help you become (quite literally) a better person as it also improves learning skills, memory, attention span, and the emotional regulation required in forging social relationships.

Adopting a green lifestyle
Adopting a green lifestyle
  1. Adopting a green lifestyle

Perhaps the new year can be an ideal opportunity for you to start seriously considering how your lifestyle can affect your environment, as well as how your chosen lifestyle can also affect the legacy that you will leave behind for future generations. For instance, you can start reducing your use of disposable plastic items. Use equipment made of non-plastic, such as items made of wood and stainless steel. In addition to using plastic, you may also need to reduce the use of disposable items such as cotton, tissue, and paper. Another green lifestyle that you can also consider adopting is taking public transportation more frequently and/or buying environmentally friendly local products.

Gardening
Gardening
  1. Gardening

Looking for a new hobby this year that can make you feel productive as well as mentally serene? Well, you could try gardening. A study published in the Journal of Health Psychology discovered that the practice of gardening can help lower your cortisol levels, which are the hormones associated with stress. The repetitive and meditative nature of gardening can generate a calming effect on your body’s nervous system, reducing feelings of anxiety as well as emotional tension. Furthermore, time spent on garden tasks can be a great form of physical exercise without you even realising it — whether you are planting seeds, lifting pots, digging up weeds, harvesting fruits, watering your flowers, or raking over your lawn.

Volunteering
Volunteering
  1. Volunteering

Besides gardening, volunteering can also be an alternative for anyone looking for a new, productive hobby this year. On one hand, volunteering can give you real-world work experience in a variety of sectors, such as healthcare, business, and event management. It can also help you learn and practice soft skills, such as communication and leadership. On the other hand, especially on a much deeper level, volunteering can give you a sense of pride and identity, as well as a sense of accomplishment. In addition, by volunteering, you may encounter new friends who share similar values and interests as yours, which can lead to meaningful connections, a sense of belonging, and camaraderie.

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