The New Year is time to center yourself and take stock of where you currently are in life. Resolutions can be used as tools for both short and long term planning, and will usually change over time to reflect your life’s journey and the important transitions along the way. Each year’s list of goals will be an intimate snapshot of every individual’s life at a very specific moment in time. However, there are a few classic goals that stand the test of time, age, and other personal situations. These goals are both serious and fun, but every single one – if taken seriously – will encourage personal growth and create positive change in your life, guaranteed.
- Acquire a new skill – Simple yet effective, adding this to your goals each year ensures that you will learn at least one new thing every year. It can be big or small, fun or serious, specific or general…but whatever it is, you’ll have a year to master it.
- Wild and crazy – A little adventure never hurt anyone. This goal is also kept vague for a reason – it’s different every year depending on your circumstances, but the idea behind it is constant: spice up your life with one wild and/or crazy experience each year. Go bungee jumping, take a trip to Amsterdam, participate in a naked bike ride…try something totally out of character!
- Personal finance check-in – No matter how much your net worth, this is something that everyone should be doing at least yearly. Check on your long term savings plan, create or revamp your budget, and start looking for new ways to diversify your income.
- Learn something new in the kitchen – Whether you want to create your own cocktail series, try making your own bread from scratch, or finally learn how to make your grandmother’s famous stuffing recipe, it’s nice to have a growing repertoire of culinary skills. As an added bonus, it will be nice to have an edible product you can serve at goal night!
- Cross one item off your bucket list – Life is short and our bucket lists are getting longer each year. Take the time to do something you’ve always wanted to do – spending money on an experience is far more valuable than spending it on more personal possessions. Apply for the chance to watch a live SNL episode in NYC, countdown the New Year twice in one year, or finally start writing that novel you’ve been meaning to get to.