No need for the “new year, new me” stress… Start planning your life better with these easy tips!
Most people take good resolutions at the beginning of the new year. And most of the time, these resolutions are very ambition. Maybe too ambition, even! Starting the year with optimism and motivation is great, but I do think that if we set the bar too high, it will be hard to keep going in the long run.
So instead of completely switching up your lifestyle in 2022, here’s my idea: getting rid of stress and living better by planning small things in your day-to-day life. Doing these really help me feel better and more prepared to tackle the days, weeks and months ahead!
Make a reading list to stay inspired all year
Even when we’re busy, I really do think that we should read regularly. I was an avid reader when I was young, and this past year I have been getting back into reading, which has done great for my wellbeing and stress. In 2021, I set myself the goal of reading twelve books – roughly one per month. And I succeeded! This gave me a big boost for my 2022 reading list.
Once you plan your reading list for the year, you can pin your list to your desk and start buying them (or borrowing them from the library). You could even get all the books in advance and make a cute reading pile somewhere at home, decorated with fairy lights. The goal is to make you want to read more, which is great on digital detox days.
A few of the titles in my reading list this year are the Anne of Green Gables books, Persuasion by Jane Austen, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë, The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett…
Seasonal bucket lists, to fully enjoy every season of the year
Last year, I started being very observant of the seasons changing around me. In autumn and for Christmas, I made dedicated bucket lists full of activities that would help me live fully in the moment, and enjoy every part of the year equally. We can truly find joy in every day by doing mundane things and romanticising them. Getting inspirations from the different seasons and their traditions really helps that.
For example in the winter (January and February), I love walking in the park on frosty mornings, making brownies or banana bread, having tea in bed while reading a book, picking up pine cones and using them as decorations at home… and more!
Here are also my autumn bucket list, and my Christmas bucket, list for future inspiration!
Meal prepping, to save time on cooking during the week
This one is a classic! Preparing your meals ahead of time, and making a menu for the week, has many benefits. You save time in the evenings after work, you save money because you buy the things you need specifically to cook the meals you have planned, and you avoid last-minute takeaway every other day – which isn’t very healthy, let’s be honest!
When I lived alone, meal prepping was what kept me healthy and eating balanced meals. There are tons of recipes and meal planning tips online to help you get started.
The ‘tourist’ list: museums and sights you want to explore throughout the year
Because travelling can still be a challenge in 2022, because of the pandemic, why not try to explore your area even more this year? Open Google Maps and make a list of all the museums, historical sights and parks you have not been to yet (or would like to visit again). When you have a day off, you can pick one of the locations from your list and go explore! No need to book plane tickets and stressed about cancelled plans. There are more things to do around us than we may think.
Preparing this ‘tourist list’ now will get you excited for the months ahead and make it easier for you to organise your time off.
