Best Changes to Make in the New Year

As we approach the new year, we should all have high hopes for the year to come. The past couple of years have been different, to say the least, and we’re now coming out the other side. We’ve made leaps and bounds in the management of Coronavirus with widespread vaccination and testing, and our lives are almost back to normal. With this being said, 2022 is set to be a positive and productive year. So, what changes can we make to our everyday lives to match the optimism of the new year?

Donate to Charity

One of the greatest changes to make is the impact that you have on the lives of others. Everyone is guilty of not recognizing how fortunate they are from time to time, and it’s important to share this fortune with those less privileged than ourselves. Many countries are struggling with limited water access, meagre food supply, and terrible poverty. There are plenty of charities with appeals in circulation to aid struggling countries such as the Yemen Appeal. 

Whether you donate on a regular or sporadic basis, your contributions can make a huge difference to someone in need. It’s easy to take what you have for granted so be sure to acknowledge your privilege and share what you can with others. 

Smile More

One of the simplest changes to make in the new year is to make an effort to smile more. Facial expressions have a huge impact on our mood; though you will naturally smile when you’re happy, smiling when you’re unhappy has been known to boost your mood. This is because when you smile, a signal is sent to your brain, leading you to believe that you’re actually happy. In turn, smiling reduces stress and makes you appear more confident and attractive to others. 

Therefore, smiling doesn’t just benefit you; your display of happiness is contagious and others around you will smile too. Similarly, they will have a higher opinion of you which benefits your relationships. 

Have a More Positive Attitude

Unfortunately, there will always be things that are out of our control, whether they’re good or bad. When it comes to the bad things, it’s easy to stress and assume the worst. However, this isn’t the best way to deal with what’s happening and can be detrimental to your mental and physical health. Instead, you should accept that certain things are out of your control and consider that the outcome might be positive. Even if the possible outcomes don’t initially seem positive, look for the positives within them. It’s not always easy to be optimistic but it’ll certainly benefit you mentally, emotionally, and physically. 

Practice Patience

As the old saying goes, patience is a virtue. Time is another thing that you can’t control, and if something is taking longer than expected, take a breath, and remain calm. For example, sitting in a traffic jam can be frustrating, particularly if you have somewhere to be. Despite this, you have no control over the situation and it’s important to accept this. If you’re late to where you need to be, this is inconvenient, but the world won’t end. If you allow yourself to get upset about it, you’ll only ruin your own day. Just remember that everything will work out in the end. 

Be Kinder

Another simple positive change to make is to be kinder to others. Make it your mission to give out a compliment a day; this might make someone’s day and only takes two seconds of yours. This is a great way to spread happiness and when you make others happy, you feel happy.