12 New Year’s Resolutions You Should Consider

It's a new year, and we're honoring 2012 with a blog theme of 12s. 12 is a Biblical number (Israel had 12 tribes, Jesus had 12 disciples...), everyone loves lists… how can this go wrong? (Let me give you 12 ways… ☺) Check back each week for something new brought to you by the number 12.

For now, let's kick it off with some ideas for New Year's resolutions. Only, we're already a few days in, so maybe you should consider these as general life goals. And maybe I should make punctuality one of my resolutions!

1. Simplify. We try so hard to do everything at once. Right now. Studying. Socializing, in person or on that device you’re staring at right now. Career-prepping. Practicing. Quit multi-tasking. Instead, try choosing one thing at a time. It quiets your mind and helps you focus better, giving you better results in less time.
2. Organize & prioritize. Paying closer attention to what you need and want to do reduces stress, gives you power/control, clears your brain, helps you manage your time better and maybe even makes you less grumpy. Make a list—in your head, on paper or on a device—and then order or schedule it. Also important: recognize what’s not a priority and then let. it. go.
3. Protect your relationships. Sometimes you can go overboard on that whole list thing in #2, to the point that you ignore the people who are most important in your life. Make a point to connect with them in regular and meaningful ways.
4. Help someone else. Nothing puts things in perspective better than offering help to someone who needs it. Pay attention to the people in your world and what you can do to be a bright spot in someone else’s day. Volunteer at a local charity. Sign up for a mission project. Tutor or mentor a kid. Even just hold the door for someone whose hands are full.
5. Take a break, scheduled or spontaneous. Watch a movie. Road trip. Get coffee with a friend. Spend some time being unproductive.
6. Track your spending. Make a budget. Write down every expense. It will help you spend less and save more. The Bible teaches us to give the first 10% as a tithe. Consider putting the next 10% into savings and then living off the rest.
7. Move your body. Exercise. A little or a lot. Get outside. Sunshine+sweat=smiles.
8. Remember your percentages. The 80/20 rule is one of my favorites. If I eat the right things 80% of the time, I can consider the other 20% recreational and enjoy whatever I want. This can apply to other areas of life too.
9. Read. Did you know that reading only 2-3 books about a topic makes you a relative expert? (No disrespect, PhDs! We use the term “relative” loosely.) Learn something new. And, of course, read your Bible. It’s the most amazing book ever.
10. Know when to lead. Know when to follow. Sometimes you need to step up and take charge. Sometimes you need to sit down and shut up. Watch others who are really good at reading a situation and learn from them and their actions.
11. Sleep. At night. Enough with staying up late or all night to get your stuff done. When you make better use of your time during the day, you have more time to sleep at night. And when you get the right amount of sleep, you make better use of your time during the day. Brilliant!
12. Be thankful. Happiness is not having what you want; it’s wanting what you have. Make a list or keep a thankfulness journal. Be thankful in your heart. Tell people why you're thankful. Say “thank you” to others. Say “thank you” to God.

Kathy Raines, UBC College Minister