New year. New you. Change is never easy, but self-improvement is always a good thing. Here are 20 ways to change your life in 2019. And remember: Change doesn’t need to happen all at once.
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Challenge Yourself
Whether you’re looking to read more or bulk up, setting goals for yourself is key. You don’t have to push yourself too hard but keep in mind that we’re all capable of more than we think we are. Translation: Go that extra mile (literally and figuratively).
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Treat Yourself
Go ahead and indulge. We’re not talking about piling on the dessert (we are Men’s Health, after all) but you can improve your mental health by being a little less strict with yourself. Book a massage. Sleep in. Do something that you don’t normally get to do that will help you relax.
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Educate Yourself
You don’t have to be enrolled in school to learn something new. With the internet at your disposal, you can get trained in just about anything you want on the cheap (if not totally free.) Watch YouTube tutorials, sign up for an online course, or even just subscribe to some newsletters to stay informed.
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Cleanse Yourself
We mean this as a mental exercise, but hey, why not upgrade your skin regimen as well? Stop weighing down your brain with stress by taking up daily meditations. Even if you don’t have a lot of time in your day to spare, just taking a few minutes to close your eyes and shut out the world can work wonders on your mental health.
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Prepare Yourself
Remember Aesop’s Fable about the ant and the grasshopper? Be the ant. You don’t have to go full doomsday prepper, just come up with a contingency plan. The plan can be something as simple as a rainy day fund. You could avoid a lot of frustration in the future when things don’t go as planned if you take some time in the present to account for that.
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Take Care of Your Relationships
Make sure you leave time in your busy schedule to nurture your relationships. It’s always nice to hear a familiar voice. Don’t just tag your friend in a meme or communicate via GIFs. Call them. FaceTime them. Put in the effort to show how much they mean to you. Maybe even reach out to someone you haven’t been in touch with for a while and make up for lost time.
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Take Care of Your Home
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a seasonal thing. You spend so much time indoors during the winter months—use that time to declutter and reorganize a little bit. It’s surprising how much moving some things around can really change your outlook.
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Take Care of Your Community
The holidays tend to be a season of giving, but that need doesn’t go away once January hits. Carry that charitable mindset throughout the year. There’s always something to be done, whether it’s cleaning up a park or reading to kids at the local library. Getting involved will earn you a little good karma and help you get to know your neighborhood a bit more.
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Take Care of Someone in Need
Piggybacking off the whole charity thing, focusing on helping others will help you in turn. Donate money or your time to provide assistance to people less fortunate than yourself. The someone doesn’t even have to be a human. Welcome a furry friend into your life by rescuing or fostering an animal from your local shelter.
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Take Care of Your Finances
That aforementioned rainy day fund is just the tip of the iceberg. Taking a long hard look at your spending habits and making adjustments accordingly isn’t easy or fun but it’s absolutely necessary. Get your credit cards under control and still have money leftover to feed yourself. Cutting little corners can make that possible.
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Be Optimistic
Get out of that “glass half empty” mentality. Changing your outlook on things isn’t really an on/off switch but negativity can be infectious. Toning down the cynicism can help lift you out of a funk so you can have a little fun. As cheesy as it sounds, sometimes a smile can make all the difference.
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Be a “Yes Man”
The 2008 Jim Carrey comedy was onto something. Being open to new ideas and experiences can be transformative. Next time you’re thinking of bailing on some plans to spend a night on the couch, imagine the possibility of what can happen if you just go with it.
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Be Creative
Let the left side of your brain take control for a while. You may not think you have an artistic bone in your body, but nobody is expecting Picasso. Expressing yourself creatively can help with the whole mental cleansing thing and serve a therapeutic purpose.
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Be Proactive
Go after what you want. Few people achieve their dreams by sitting around and waiting for them to come true. When it comes to your career, don’t put it in anyone else’s hands but your own.
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Be Social
It’s never too late to make new friends. Take up a new hobby or join a team sport and expand your circle. You won’t have much time to be bored with a full social calendar.
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Enjoy Some Alone Time
As important as it is to spend time with others, it’s just as vital to fly solo for a bit. Pop on your headphones and go for a run or a long walk. Grab a book and a cup of coffee and just unwind for a while. A little solitude can help you get centered.
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Travel Somewhere New
People don’t always have the money to jet set around the world, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting away. It’s never been easier to travel on a budget. Don’t have the days to spare? Research weekend getaways close to your hometown. Even the small change of scenery can give you some new perspective.
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Give Yourself a Break
Self-improvement is a process. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t fully commit. There’s plenty of room for your old self to co-exist with the new you. Find that balance.
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Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
Set your sights on success but know that you can’t always land on top. Being able to accept failure is a virtue. Keep in mind that even the most successful people throughout history didn’t always get it right.
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Try Again
Don’t give up just because something doesn’t go right the first time. Stay motivated and you’ll get there eventually.
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