Achievable New Year's Resolutions for Building a Healthy, Happy Life

You don't need to pay for a new gym membership or shell out for a new premium subscription to try a new routine! YouTube holds a ton of programming from qualified experts that may get lost in the shuffle; everything from dance classes to 15-minute core workouts. Many channels offer a full suite of programs that you can follow for weeks at a time.Learn or hone a new skill.

Leaving your home to learn something new from an expert located across the world isn't necessary anymore. Turn to global leaders and celebrity leaders to boost your memory skills and more. MasterClass has courses from inspiring leaders like Indra Nooyi to musicians including John Legend. There's a keen focus on intentional courses like successful wedding planning 101 led by Mindy Weiss and even topics like intentional giving led by Melinda Gates.

You’ll partake in instruction videos, assignments and can even enroll in abridged classes known as MasterClass Sessions, which are completed in just 30 days. The best value clocks in at $180 for an Annual Membership, allowing you to take as many classes as you'd like as well as download programs for offline travel.

Your little ones may have returned to school, but you can still continue to spend quality time learning and playing together at home. Incorporating STEM activities into fun playtime is easier than you may think and is a great way to enjoy quality time with your graduate-to-be.

The stress around a major life decision often causes individuals to freeze in their tracks. Mental capacity has been known to be reduced by stress and anxiety, but a major change requires a fair amount of brain power to navigate. The ironic aspect of this is that prolonging what needs to be done can further exacerbate stress — and restart the vicious cycle. Empower yourself to begin making hard decisions this year with what's known as the B.R.A.V.E paradigm, which can help you cut away from this endless loop.

In happy and long-lived cultures, people often display items from their families' pasts, says The Blue Zones of Happiness author Dan Buettner. "They remember and honor where they come from," he says. "We find that in happier cultures around the world, folks feel like part of a continuum." So hang your grandparents' wedding portrait, or put meaningful memorabilia on shelves.

Feeling sore? Visitors to the sprawling Spa at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Avon, Colorado, can switch between 10 minutes in a hot sauna and 30 seconds in a 60°F bath, a treatment known as hydrotherapy.

The temperature shock helps to increase blood flow in your body while mitigating pain, stiffness, or even menstrual pain, per the Cleveland Clinic. Research suggests that hydrotherapy may aid in muscle recovery more than a day of rest. For at-home treatment, end a hot shower with a burst of ice-cold water.

A large study found that people who spent money on time-saving services, such as Good Housekeeping Institute Lab-tested TaskRabbit ,to get someone to clean out the garage, obtained greater life satisfaction and happiness than those who shelled out for material goods. If money is tight, take on the least favorite chore of a friend and have she or he do the same for you.

If you can hardly see your counters through all the papers, Post-its, and not-yet-put-away groceries, you may pay for that chaos later when it comes to meals. Take 20 minutes to whisk it all where it belongs, and it can help you eat more mindfully in days to come.

Spend the afternoon shopping for workout clothes that flatter your body: Studies show that what we wear affects the way we feel, which impacts our ability to get stuff done, says Hajo Adam, Ph.D., a professor at Rice University. It's a phenomenon known as "enclothed cognition," and it's as true in Zumba as it is at work.

Bye-bye, too-tight jeans. "Keeping smaller clothes as motivation to slim down is baloney," says Kit Yarrow, Ph.D., a psychologist at Golden Gate University, "and it tends to backfire." Studies show that muffin-top shaming doesn't help, but focusing on being healthy does. After doing your Goodwill drop-off, take a lighter-cooking class or meet a pal for a hike.

Another sleepy Sunday? Today's the day you try Ethiopian food, attend a ballet, or take a painting class — whatever feels fun. When researchers followed 7,500 people for 25 years, they found that those who complained of major boredom were roughly twice as likely to die from heart disease.

Working on your look is just as refreshing as turning over a new leaf internally. Taking off a few inches can make you feel (literally and figuratively) so much lighter in the new year. Even a simple new style or hair color could brighten your days and put pep back into your step in 2024.

And no, we don't mean load up on foundation. Streamline your daily routine to allow yourself some time to incorporate products that really replenish your skin, not weigh it down. Rather than focusing on covering up, use tips and tricks to help you bare all — and feel really good about it.

Blasting any happy-making tune can work multiple mind-body wonders including reducing pain during exercise, elevating mood, and lowering stress, research shows. So make a playlist — any songs that boost your spirit will do the job.

Even if you can't keep track of a new fitness routine, keeping yourself moving on a simple walk around the neighborhood is a must. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains that adults should spend as much time moving each day as possible — and some physical activity (even just walking!) is better than none.

When your inner critic picks up her bullhorn, jot down the kind words you'd say to a friend in the same situation. "We have such a hard time channeling compassion for ourselves," says Emma Seppala, Ph.D., of Stanford's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research. "Writing it down makes it easier to shift perspective."

Multitasking doesn't make you more efficient, but it does stress you out, says mindfulness expert Pedram Shojai, author of Focus: Bringing Time, Energy, and Money Into Flow. "If your focus is fragmented, you'll likely find yourself getting anxious as new items come up when old ones are still incomplete," he says.

Instead, he suggests, organize your activities into chunks of time, such as kid time and cooking time, and then "commit to being focused in those allotted minutes and see what happens." It'll help stop you from overthinking everything.

Make the chaotic zone by the door a calm, happy space, advises Carly Moeller, founder of interior design firm Unpatterned. Set up simple systems (a mail basket, a shoe bench, hooks) for tidying. Then move art or flowers from the living room and invest in a mirror or a colorful rug. "You can be a little cheeky because it's a small area," she says.

Yes, it's time to grow past the messy bed look! Mastering the art of making your bed will simply transform your space, but also kickstart a productive morning routine. Taking care of your pillows, sheets, and comforter is easy when you have an expert to show you how.

Getting sufficient zzz's can make you feel ready for action. A study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women who got more sleep had more desire the next day and an overall easier time becoming aroused. Every additional hour they slept increased their likelihood of having sex by 14%. So skip late-night web searches and hit the hay.

Spending as much time outside as possible is a great thing for your health — but even when the weather becomes frigid, sunlight is crucial to regulate your mood throughout the day. Sunlight can help regulate our circadian rhythms, which directly impacts how productive we are as well. If you can't find natural light in your home, try investing in a few supercharged lights for indoor living, and watch as your mood brightens over time.

Repeat after us: "Today is my day. I'm thankful for me." Positive self-talk can help you focus on what's good in your life, says psychologist Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D.

Research shows that a little vitamin G (for gratitude) can make you feel happier and more satisfied and even improve your sleep. "If you repeat an affirmation related to gratitude in the morning, you're likely to show and feel more of it throughout that day," Bradford says. You're so welcome!

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In a previous GH survey, 83% of people told us they lost track of how long they spent on their devices. But short of deleting all social apps, it can be hard to trade screen time for more productive pastimes like walking the dog and coffee with friends. Whether you’re Team iPhone or Team Android, download the latest software to access built-in tools that help you track your personal app usage.

It may feel impossible now, but there is a way to break up with a once friend turned frenemy without imploding your social life. Sometimes, ghosting is appropriate — but more often than not, approaching the situation with a structured conversation can help you get the closure you need to grow.

It can be hard to keep up with what’s going on in the world given the lightning-fast news cycles. But it’s more important than ever to stay informed. If you’re sick of sifting through clutter on social media feeds, join Flipboard. Think of it as your personal news hub.

Download the app, then list your interests, pick outlets to get updates from, follow your fave X, formerly Twitter, users and more. The app curates it all in one place with a smart, stunning design that makes scrolling easy.

When you see all those gorgeous in-season grapefruits, oranges, clementines, and pomelos in the produce aisle, grab an armful.

Winter citrus can help keep skin looking healthy thanks to vitamin C, which aids in collagen production. In fact, an American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study found that people who ate foods high in C had fewer wrinkles and less age-related dry skin than those who didn't. Try clementine sections sprinkled with pistachios or sweet grapefruit dipped in Greek yogurt for a snack.

Separately or together, these berries and nuts have health superpowers: Blueberries have been shown to help people with metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and too much belly fat), and walnuts can help reduce LDL, the bad kind of cholesterol. Toss them on oatmeal or in a salad, and eat up for a healthier 2024!

Next time you have trouble nodding off, there’s a research-backed idea that could help: Take a hot bath! It helped people fall asleep about 10 minutes earlier and have a better quality snooze. The best time to do it? About an hour or two before bedtime, says most research.

This year is going to be all about the road trip — simply getting out into the world around you for quiet time alone in nature. A solo trip in the car is a great way to get out for a change of pace. Hit the road and forget social media!

Kindness toward yourself, that is! Recent research shows that practicing self-compassion slowed people’s heart rate and sweating, two symptoms our bodies produce when under chronic stress. So take some time each day to focus on something you love about yourself.

To help ward off the blues, engage in a bit of culture — a trip to the museum, a night at the theater, or attending a concert. Research suggests that people who make regular trips to these types of attractions have a lower risk of developing depression than those who don’t

Because smell is associated with the parts of the brain that process emotion and store memories, certain aromas can affect mood, says olfactory expert Rachel Herz, Ph.D., author of The Scent of Desire. Research shows that vanilla makes people more relaxed and joyful (mmm, baking), while peppermint can boost energy and lavender can zap stress.

If you're still on the hunt for even more goals to help you change your life for the better, why not undertake a challenge that'll last a month? This guide of 28 mini daily goals can help you revolutionise your routine if you're unsure of where to start first. It's guaranteed to get you thinking more about the best resolutions to keep!