With the new year ringing in, everyone is considering what goals they want to make for themselves. Or maybe you're just trying to get through this new year and hope you make it to the next one. Whatever it may be, those typical goals are entering people's minds. Perhaps your main goal is to frequent the gym or eat healthy, but those are goals that most people share. Why not add some whimsy to your life?
Break the mold of normative resolutions and think about some unique ones. Is there a creative project you’ve been wanting to start but were too scared to? What about a topic of learning, like a new language or astronomy, that you’ve thought about taking a couple of classes in, but were too unsure? The fun thing about unique goals is that you can think of anything out of the ordinary, and it’ll apply to this. If you want something different for the New Year, keep reading to get an idea of what niche goals you can dive into.
Mastering a Unique Skill
The idea of starting a new skill isn’t necessarily niche. It’s an idea a majority of people have when boredom hits. It’s the skill you choose to dive into that makes it unique. Some dying skills would be fun to learn, such as calligraphy, map reading, foraging, or growing and tending your own food. Coding isn’t an obsolete realm of learning, but the skill itself is unique for the places it can get you in life. Plus, you can make your own video game with it!
Micro-Adventures
Micro-adventures are short, cheap, and local activities that offer a fun, rewarding experience. You can take a one-day cooking class, go on that hike you keep telling yourself you need to check out, have a picnic at your local parks, see a local show, and so much more. The possibilities are truly endless, and it doesn’t matter how small a town or big a city you live in; you’ll find micro-adventures to bring novelty into your life.
Spontaneous Irresponsibility
Every now and then, you need to be spontaneous with your life. Coupled with spontaneity, it’s okay to be irresponsible, to a degree, of course. Take that trip you’ve been thinking about, even if it’s just for a day or two. Go to a club and dance your heart away with friends and strangers. If you can’t stop thinking about that tattoo, jump the nerves and get it. In a world where we’re weighed down by work and obligations, it’s essential to put yourself first and make life whimsy with impulsive fun.
Personal Growth
Personal growth is another goal that isn’t completely unique. We’ve all tried to improve ourselves personally, whether that’s washing your face every night before bed or starting pilates. However, it’s what you decide to pursue for your personal growth that makes it niche. A digital detox would be an interesting pursuit. You can go off the grid from social media and use a flip phone for a period of time; it’ll no doubt be life-changing. Another option is learning a new language through obvious resources like Babbel or Duolingo, or taking in-person classes at your local university or school.
Diving into Your Creative Side
Take a seat, relax, pick up a pencil, and start drawing. Don’t worry about how good it looks, just let the creative juices flow and see what comes of it. The typical idea of being creative is drawing or painting, but that’s not where it ends. You can also write poems or a short story. You could start a blog, pick up scrapbooking, knitting, or building things by hand, like birdhouses.
The Art of Being Alone
Part of the human experience is companionship, but what many people don’t acknowledge is that being content with your own company is equally important. Doing things by yourself is almost seen as odd in today’s world, but it’s the first step to being fulfilled with your life and yourself. For the new year, prioritize taking yourself on dates, such as going to a nice restaurant for dinner, seeing a movie alone when no one else wants to, taking a pottery class by yourself, or trying new cafes. There are so many activities you can do with only yourself as company. Remember: when you have no one to do something with, just do it alone.
Treating Yourself With Kindness
Holding yourself with kind words sounds like a typical statement most would already consider. Still, you’d be surprised how many people need to be reminded to be kind to themselves. Often, we get caught up in our work lives, expectations, etc., and one small mistake can make self-loathing take the wheel. For the New Year, try to think nicer things about yourself. What you think will become reality, so if you have negative thoughts, your life will be affected for the worse. Instead of self-loathing, you can say or think positive affirmations and treat yourself with kindness, such as taking things slow when you get overwhelmed, and treating yourself to a treat when you achieve something.
Just do it. Take the Stairs
A resolution everyone has, whether it’s for the upcoming new year or in the past, is something to do with exercising. The niche aspect of this goal is that it encompasses only stairs. If you already go to the gym often, good for you, and if exercising frequently is a new goal for you this year, also good for you. This resolution can still be included in your list of goals. Whenever the opportunity to take the stairs arises, simply take them. It’s good for your health, can sometimes be a challenge for you to overcome, often quicker than an elevator, and…it’s good for the tush.
Clean as You Go
This resolution is particularly for clean addicts, but it can still apply to anyone because we all need to clean our living quarters eventually. When a mess in your home is overwhelming, take it one step at a time rather than tackling the whole thing at once. You can wash your dishes after every meal, wipe down countertops one day, and vacuum your room the next day. The point is to calm yourself down, take it slow, and make the new year one that doesn’t stress you out.
1,000 Hours Outside
This goal prioritizes staying outside (obviously) and diminishing screen time. This is an amazing way to make new memories, create new experiences, explore new places, and spend more time with close ones. The hours you spend outside can be a range of activities: biking, hiking, walking, swimming, and simply sitting outside to read a book. Spending time outside is a great way to make yourself happier and make life more fulfilling. There’s a reason it’s advised to get some sun!
