As we all know, some of the most common New Year’s Resolutions are to lose weight, to stop smoking, to save money, and so on. Instead of resolving to do things that can cause you stress, this new year, why not resolve to be happy?
Find out what makes you happy
Take a few minutes to write down the things that make you happy. Is it your family? Your job? Taking time to golf, play piano, watch movies, or other leisure activities? Just focusing on what makes you happy could help you realize: are you not giving yourself enough time to be happy? Sometimes this relates directly to the amount of sleep that you get.
Find out what makes you unhappy
Are there things in your life that make you unhappy? Your boss? Your bills? There are any number of things in life that can make you stressed, angry, sad, or otherwise unhappy. Take a moment to write down things in your life that make you unhappy.
Pick a target
Look at the things in your life that make you unhappy. Choose one of them and resolve to fix that situation. If dealing with your in-laws makes you unhappy, let your spouse know that you won’t answer the phone when they call. Simply minimizing your interactions with things that stress you out is one way to solve things.
Another way to target things that makes you unhappy is to deal with the root cause. If you can’t stand the hour commute to work, then maybe it’s time to a) move closer to work, or b) get a new job. Don’t be afraid to try something big this year. Getting a new job might sound daunting, but it can improve all aspects of your life if you get a job that you like.
Go Big
Say that your job causes you a lot of stress. This could be because you are not well suited to your job, because of disagreements with coworkers, or because you feel that there are limited opportunities for advancement. Imagine how your life could be with a new job. You could make more money. When you come home from work, you would not take out your anger and stress on your family and friends. You might enjoy doing your job for once, which would make it more of a pleasure and less of a chore. These payoffs show that choosing to make a big change in life can be the way to go. Yes, finding a new job, or a new home, or a new boyfriend can all seem like terrible ordeals, but once they are over you will be in a better position. Instead of staying in a rut that gets you down constantly, this year could be your year to get out of that rut and spread your wings to fly.
The sentiment is summed up best by Empire Records: “I do not regret the things I have done, but those I did not do.” Go out and make this year your best ever.