30 New Year Resolution Ideas for Employees (Find Your Best Fit for 2021)

It is that time of the year where you make new year resolutions that can bring more inner peace and overall well-being. Simply put, it is the change that you want to get into your lifestyle or habits to live a better life. But resolutions are abused like anything, if I may say so. We all have made new year resolutions in the past and failed to sustain them. But very few of us contemplate why we failed? It is no rocket science to understand why the human mind fails to achieve what it set out to achieve. The factors could be both external and internal. Therefore, it becomes essential to make resolutions that are realistic and specific. Often making resolutions without any introspection leads us to break them in the future.

2020 has been a year that we would never like to revisit. It's been traumatic and life-changing for all of us. The pandemic and all the changes that it brought kept us thinking and seeing life from a unique perspective. Workforce worldwide went remote, the economy was at an all-time low, and physical and mental well-being was at stake. It was a long year for all. And mostly, for the workforce worldwide that is still trying to stay afloat in this challenging time.

Keeping that aspect in mind, we bring you thoughtful new year resolution ideas for employees to help them build a more productive and healthy lifestyle.

30 New Year Resolution Ideas for Employees

1. Take the new normal more seriously

Accepting the new normal and making an organized routine for it is a must for all the employees. If you are waiting to create a more organized work station or maintain a strict schedule for your work, this is the best time. Making the best out of any situation is also a skill that we learn by incorporating healthy habits.

2. Learn a new skill

There is nothing like learning a new skill. If you are new to remote work, make sure you learn all the remote tools to make your work-life easier. Or even take the singing class you always wanted to take. We rewire our brain patterns when we decide to come out of our comfort zone to learn something new. So make sure you keep the learning spirit going.

3. Be kind to yourself

We tend to beat ourselves too much to stop acknowledging ourselves or even give the credit that we deserve. Be more kind to yourself. If something is not working out, give yourself the time and energy to think at ease.

4. Be professional

Value the time of others and yours by being more professional at your job. If you are the person who always enters the virtual meeting a few minutes late, this is the best time to break this habit.

5. Take up a physical activity

We all know the importance of the physical activity. It keeps our blood flowing and boosts our energy, and enhances our cellular activity. Resolving to do physical activity is a great resolution idea. Go for a running outside or shed your sweats on the treadmill, do whatever suits you but make sure you stick up to it.

6. Eat more whole foods

One of the best ways to improve overall health is by including whole foods in our diets. Whole food is unprocessed and unrefined plant foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. They contain a plethora of nutrients that are essential for our body. If you are one of those who do not prefer to eat veggies or fruits, you make this healthy habit of eating whole foods at least in one meal.

Related: Practicing Mindful Eating at the Workplace

7. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is in being aware and present at the moment, to witness our surrounding moment by moment. Mindfulness gives us clarity of thought and helps us build resilience and positive energy. To be more mindful, you can meditate regularly, even if it's for 5 minutes, or simply sit and observe your thoughts and emotions without being judgmental about it.

8. Limit screen time

Digital screens are the worst energy suckers. Before you realize it, you end up wasting your important hours browsing or watching stupid cat videos. Monitor your screen time and make sure you don't end up wasting your time and energy. You may fix a timer or use an application to monitor your screen time. If your present screen time 5-6 hours a day, you may try to slowly bring it down to 2-3 hours by being mindful about it.

9. Cut down sugar and unhealthy beverages

You can do without your extra cheese on your pizza or sweetened beverages. The problem with processed and refined food is that it is unhealthy and addictive. I know they taste amazing, and why should you be so unfair to yourself? But the idea is to understand how much to binge on these unhealthy foods. Maintain moderation and check on the calories to maintain a healthy body and mind.

10. Get more sleep

Sleep deprivation adversely affects the brain and cognitive function. Getting good sleep is doing, like doing the right favor to your body. Make sure you wind up your work and go to bed early and at least get 7-8 hours of sleep.

11. Conserve your energy

Your life energy keeps you going. The more energy one has, the better they can function in their day-to-day activities. But here's a catch, we often do not know how to spend our energy. We tend to indulge in activities that do not yield better productivity leaving us drained. It is to be aware of how we spend our energy and conserve it for more important tasks.

12. Spend more on healthy groceries

If you notice, a weekend date with your friend or loved one can cost more than your grocery bill. We do not hesitate to go to the expensive restaurants but think twice while buying a little expensive groceries for the month. Keeping a resolution to eat healthy food and spending an extra on it is always a wiser choice.

13. Visit your Doctor Regularly

If you are the one who misses their dental appointments or any other health check-ups, it is time you take it seriously. As they say, prevention is always better than cure. Get your medical appointments regularly before it's too late. You can put reminders every quarter to get yourself checked.

14. Take enough rest

Resting is allowing your body and mind to be calm and be peaceful. Resting does not mean sleeping but consciously giving your voluntary actions some rest. A small evening nap or sitting quietly for a few minutes is a great technique to follow. The more rested you are, the better you would function at every cellular level. So take conscious breaks to rest.

15. Read books that you need to

Almost all of us decides to read more every year but fail. Some even plan to read one book every week. Let's be more kind and realistic here. We need not be all knowledgeable and smart in a year. Read the books that you actually need to. The books that will help you shape your goals and motivate you. If you are not an avid reader but want to pick up this healthy habit, then start with one book every month.

16. Use Productivity tools

There are millions of productivity apps that can help you bring more clarity to your thought process. The advice is to make the best out of it. Delete the self-gratifying apps and replace productivity tools. For example, listening to your audiobooks while doing your daily chores is much productive than regular music.

17. Stick to your cleaning schedule

We all have our chores to do. And it's a great task for all. Keeping our home tidy is both time and energy-consuming. A tidy workplace and homes give us clarity of thought, but we procrastinate to keep it clean until it's a mess. Maintaining a strict schedule to do it is a great habit that can save your energy and time. Don't you think so?

18. Quit smoking

Ditch the bud and give your lungs a better life. The harmful effects of smoking are known to all. This new year let's resolve to quit it.

Also read: Implementation of Smoke Cessation Programs in the Workplace

19. Start Yoga

Yoga has immense health benefits. Suppose you are someone who is thinking to practice Yoga and could not start it. This is the best time to get motivated and practice it.

Also read: 14 Fantastic Benefits Of Yoga In The Workplace

20. Stay hydrated

Buy your favorite sipper and keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. This habit might sound trivial, but the fact is that many of us do not stay hydrated enough. We skim through various articles on the health benefits of staying hydrated but tend to follow up. This is a better time to develop this healthy habit.

21. Do something for yourself

Do something just for yourself. It could be anything from catching up with your old friends or taking the table tennis class you always wanted to take. It is important to take care of our psychological needs and dedicate some time entirely for ourselves.

22. Build your professional network

Networking is so critical for personal and professional growth. Build a network and learn to collaborate to develop your skills and understanding of your craft. It is the people who run a business, and it's them where you can find all the knowledge from. Build a good relationship with people. Revive your social media handles and send requests to the right people.

23. Work on your communication skills

Communication skills are one of the most important skills to have. Right communication skills can take you places and also earn you the respect that you want. Therefore, work on these soft skills. Talk passionately, listen actively, and keep an empathic attitude.

24. Leave your comfort zone

Do something every day that can challenge you and give you new perspectives. Working in the best company, meeting regular people, going to the same restaurant every weekend is a part of your comfort zone. Indulge in activities that can change your beliefs even it doesn't seem easy. Growth stops when one is too comfortable, so keep challenging yourself.

25. Volunteer

Volunteer in activities selflessly to bring more inner peace. Either you sign up for community service or clearing the plastic trash from the beach will give a sense of satisfaction and make us humble.

26. Explore new hobbies

There is no wrong time to learn something new. If you are 40 and want to join the dance classes, go for it. It is better to be enthusiastic about new things than kill yourself out of boredom.

27. Try journaling

Journaling is not a little act you do, but it is a strategy that has helped brilliant, strong, and wise people get better at what they're doing. It is a great exercise to pick up for your mind.

28. Focus on one thing at a time

Multitasking is not always great. Focusing on a single task can yield more productivity. Make a to-do list and organize your work commitment and focus one at a time to bring more clarity of thought and better results.

29. The subjective morning routine

The right morning routine sets your day. The mainstream culture might believe that following an objective morning routine results in more productivity. Take your morning as your own and give it a subjective approach. For example, a morning routine for a writer and sportsperson would be completely opposite since their goals are different. Therefore make a morning routine that works for you.

30. Reinvent yourself

It could be time to change your life seriously if you're not very happy, no matter what you do. You should reinvent yourself and take yourself to places which you could never have dreamt of.

Also read: 6 Employee Health Goals You Must Plan For 2021

This article is written by Braja Deepon Roy. He works as a Content Creator and Digital Marketer at Vantage Circle. He actively participates in the growth of corporate culture and keeps himself updated in this space. For any related queries, contact editor@vantagecircle.com