Every year, commercials and articles tell us we should approach New Year’s Day with a goal to transform ourselves, whether that’s our bodies, our minds, our jobs, or our hobbies.
Making and setting personal goals is wonderful, but only 20 percent of people report keeping their New Year’s resolutions by February.
That’s why this year, consider a resolution that is for your community, rather than just yourself.
In a way, taking care of others is critical to taking care of yourself. Research shows that acts of service help our own wellbeing. We become calmer, kinder, and more thoughtful of how we walk through the world.
Imagine the benefits If we all made resolutions to improve our community in at least one way this year. We may not be able to solve great problems overnight, but we create a culture of kindness and care instead of one filled with busyness and stress.
Here are some ideas for how to set a resolution for your community:
Perhaps you often think of calling a family member to check in, or a friend to schedule a dinner, but frequently back burner these plans as your schedule gets busier. Make an intention to reach out to these people with a set frequency, and make a repeating calendar reminder so you won’t forget. These connections will not only enrich your friends’ lives, they’ll enrich yours as well.
It doesn’t take much organizing — just a trash bag and some gloves — to head outside and make your neighborhood look beautiful. Cleanup trash in a local park or take a long walk and collect litter (with the caveat of staying away from hazardous materials!). You may even inspire community members to join you on your walks to better the environment and your street.
Staying up to date on local and national news can be exhausting and draining, even though it’s important. A good compromise is picking a topic that you care about and keeping up to date on that issue throughout the year. Maybe that’s educational access or environmental conservation. That way you can track, stay educated, and perhaps volunteer to improve that challenge in your community.
Websites like VolunteerMatch and United Way are great resources for finding places where you can work based on the time you have available and the work you want to do. This could be clearing trails or helping students with homework or working in kitchens. Finding a volunteer opportunity that matches your interests means you’re much more likely to stick with it over the long term.
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