An unlikely take on New Year’s resolutions

New Year’s resolutions are hard! Or they can be. I asked my 8-year-old nephew what his resolutions were going to be this year and he simply said “eat all of the chocolate.” Self improvement through the distorting lens of a child. It made me laugh, but it also made me think. Should I make my list of resolutions with that same childlike playfulness?

There is a lot of research around goal setting, and opinions are divided. Defining a goal that is both stretching and achievable is very difficult (the research would say that my nephew’s goal was poorly defined and therefore statistically more likely to fail - did he mean all of the chocolate in the world?!).

I’ve been setting goals like an adult for years, with mixed results, maybe it’s time I try and set goals like a child. So this year, inspired by an 8-year-old, I’m making New Year’s resolutions for children — and I think you should too. 

So here goes, the list:

Child psychologists suggest a good way to ensure that you aren’t simply imposing rules on your child (in this case - yourself) is to come up with them as a family.

This year, why not make a resolution that your whole family keeps, or with your friendship group, friend who moved abroad, or flatmates? This could be eating less meat, meeting up for dinner once a month, starting a book club, video-calling every 2 weeks. So with that in mind, here are some resolutions for the child in you. 

1/ I will do my best to be nice to other kids who need a friend, or look sad or lonely. 

How sweet, and actually - too right. Science even tells us we feel better when we’re kind, we're even more productive when we help others. But hey, we’re being kids right now, let’s help because it’s good. You don’t need to become Mother Teresa, or launch a charity, but this could be the year that you volunteer at that local project you like once a month. Volunteering and helping others really is the stuff that makes life meaningful.

Why not join the Random Acts of Kindness movement (the RAOK day is February 17th). Also, check out Second Tree who recruit volunteers for refugee Camps in Greece. Action Tutoring seeks volunteers to help out disadvantaged children. Migrateful, Raleigh and Youth Mental Health Foundation all have great volunteering opportunities. Check out our volunteer page for more open roles.

2/ I will try new foods when I can, especially all different colours of vegetables.

Hard to argue with. Our physical health is all too quickly cast aside for our work or other priorities. We sit longer than we should, we order takeaways or have processed food because it’s quicker and we’re tired after work. Eating the rainbow (I don’t mean Skittles) is a great thing to prioritise this year. 

Here at Escape we’ve got some of the most exciting companies that can help you achieve this aim. Too Good To Go don’t just deliver these colourful goods, they do so cheaply and sustainably. Olio allows people to give away food that would otherwise go to waste, Karma Cans deliver healthy and sustainable lunches to you at work, Rubies in the Rubble create condiments from food that would otherwise be wasted. And there’s so much more, take a look here.

3/ I will find a physical activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) or a sport I like and do it at least three times a week.

What do children do? They play. 

But as adults, we often feel guilty about hobbies unless we can sell them to ourselves somehow as self-improvement. For example, learning a language might feel like a better hobby than taking up painting because there is more chance it would be useful in a career. Kids don’t think like that. They play because it's fun, because it's a celebration of life and people and because the sun’s out. Children are often most drawn to the games that seem the least useful, they just like it. I challenge you to do something not because it's useful, but because it's fun, because what else are we here for?

Also, for less pure reasons, play can help with learning and creativity (and other adult stuff).

4/ I will talk with my parent or a trusted adult when I have a problem or feel stressed.

The last few years have seen a concerted effort to destigmatise our mental health struggles; how feeling down or lonely is never something to feel ashamed of, how asking for help isn’t weak but actually deeply courageous. Talking to the right people is important, if you have one or two people who you can trust and be vulnerable with, that is plenty. It’s been a strange few years, look after yourself, your brain is very important. 

At Escape the City we’re proud to work with a whole host of organisations that are on a mission to improve mental health. Check out Unmind, Sanctus, Campaign Against Living Miserably, MQ

5/ When the weather is nice, I will play outside. 

Now, a lot of us might be thinking that we’d have to move abroad to find nice weather. But hey, sunny winter days are beautiful, and even a light rain shower can be fun. In this new world where so many of us work remotely, getting outside is easier than ever. Whether that’s a walk to your local park or cafe, a game of tennis with a friend at lunch, or going for a morning stroll instead of our commute. 

And let’s not forget the adventurers. Maybe you want to explore working abroad? More and more workplaces are accommodating for those who want to work briefly, or long-term, from somewhere sunny (or snowy). Check out this article on how to live an affordable nomad lifestyle. Discover our list of fully remote purposeful jobs here and Escape to the Country jobs. 

These are our New Year’s resolutions for children, reinvented for adults. I think we might be able to keep these. All of us here at Escape the City want to wish you a very happy New Year. We look forward to helping you every way we can to rediscover your inner child in 2022.