As the chill of winter thaws, you might find spring comes with the promise of new beginnings and opportunities for growth. Perhaps you’ve fallen short on New Year’s resolutions, but that’s ok – springtime can breathe new life into your routines. It’s a great time to renew wellness resolutions for your physical, emotional, mental, or financial well-being.
A word of advice: Take it one step at a time. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many big resolutions. It’s OK to take a break when needed. Don’t expect success overnight — just make sure you don’t stray from your chosen path. Distractions are everywhere.
This guide will inspire you with spring refresh ideas that you can get done if you make a little effort. Find out how to break into spring as a better version of yourself with a few well-planned wellness resolutions!
Also, keep reading to see how you can get personalized offers from our trusted partners through MoneyLion!
Start your day off right
Starting your morning right can set you up for a day full of intention and crushing goals. It’s easier to start the morning off right when every morning is brighter earlier as we approach spring! When your alarm goes off, get out of bed right away and give yourself a positive affirmation like “I’m going to win this day,” then get moving.
Make a habit of planning your day in the morning. Prioritize your tasks and set realistic goals for the day. Take some time for yourself, whether it’s a cup of coffee with your favorite podcast playing in the background or a stroll around your neighborhood with your four-legged buddy.
1. Exercise and spend time outdoors
Movement and vitamin D aren’t only good for the body but also your brain. This reduces stress and helps you execute better with a clear mind. Take breaks in your day and walk outside or do a quick workout.
You don’t necessarily have to go to the gym or spend hours at the park. Take 15 to 20 minutes of your day for a simple workout routine or a brisk walk.
If your job requires sitting for long periods, take frequent breaks to stand up and stretch. Remember the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Your eyes will thank you.
2. Read more
By spring, try to set a goal to regularly read more. You don’t have to start big — read a few minutes daily or pick a certain number of pages for your everyday session. Reading can help improve knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Even if you aren’t much of a reader now, you’ll likely start to enjoy it over time. If you can’t find the time to sit down and read, listen to a podcast or audiobook on your commute or while you’re getting ready for the day.
3. Eat healthier at home
For spring, give meal prep a shot. Do it every week or even a few days ahead of time. Include fresh ingredients, lean protein, and whole grains in your meals. Plan your snacks carefully. Instead of reaching for a bag of chips, have some fresh fruit or vegetables ready to go. Maybe soon, the weather will be warm enough to enjoy a meal outside. By meal prepping, you’ll be able to seize the moment when the spring air hits.
Cooking at home can help you save money versus going out to dinner. You’ll also be able to choose every ingredient that goes into your food so you know exactly what you’re putting into your body. Try focusing on wholesome and nutrient-dense foods that will fuel your brain and body, this will keep you more energized throughout the day.
4. Break down your goals into small wins
Writing a spring wellness resolution list with all the things you want to accomplish in the upcoming year can be overwhelming. Remember, you’re trying to create positive change, not set yourself up for failure.
This year instead of looking at only the big picture of where you want to end up, break down your goals into daily, weekly, and monthly little wins that you can check off your list.
Let’s say you want to learn a new language or start a blog. These are big goals that can feel overwhelming at first. Break them down into smaller, more achievable tasks. For example, spend 15 minutes each day practicing the language or writing a blog post.
Also, celebrate your wins. Did you run a mile a few seconds faster? Celebrate it. Do you feel more well-rested after a week of quality sleep? You’re on the right track!
5. Time block
Time blocking is the act of setting a specific amount of time to accomplish a task. Knock out the most important task first, then move down your to-do list. When you’re focused on one specific goal for a set time, you’ll get it done faster with focused intention and fewer distractions.
Here’s how it works. Suppose you have to clean your room, do laundry, and study for a test. Set aside one hour to clean your room, then move on to laundry for another hour. Then, spend two hours studying for your test.
Why does this work? Instead of trying to multitask or think about one task while you’re doing the other, focus on them one by one. This seems simple but your brain often races ahead past what you’re currently doing.
6. Set boundaries
Set boundaries with friends and family and limit your time around people who drain your tank, even if they’re family. You don’t “have” to do anything, and it’s your time, energy, and mental health. So spend it doing more of what makes you feel good.
Setting boundaries is teaching people how you want to be treated. In the long run, it can make for even better relationships with the people who matter most.
7. Meditate
If there’s one habit you want to pick up in spring, make it meditation. Meditation has been proven to reduce stress, improve focus and concentration, increase self-awareness, and promote overall well-being.
It doesn’t have to be a long and complicated process. Just 10 minutes of mindfulness every day can make a significant impact on your life. If you don’t know where to start, use a guided meditation tutorial from YouTube.
8. Spring cleaning
A clear mind and a clean, liveable space allow more room for creativity, productivity, and peace. As a rule of thumb, if you haven’t worn or used something in a year, it may be time to let it go.
Clean out your house, donate clothes, organize your desk, and clear out pictures and apps on your phone. Clean out your car, too. Do the same with your work desk or workspace; you’ll soon notice a positive impact on your efficiency and productivity.
9. Make time for joy
Too often, we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that we forget to make time for things that bring us joy.Break out of that this spring. Instead, make a conscious effort to indulge in activities that bring you joy. It could be anything like joining a book club or learning how to play an instrument.
Something as simple as hanging out with your favorite people can also bring you joy. So, don’t deny yourself this pleasure. And who knows, maybe the weather will warm up enough to enjoy any of these great things outside!
10. Get adequate sleep
While you can’t always control how you sleep, you can do things to help promote better sleep. Put your phone away an hour before bed. The blue light emitted by your phone screen restrains melatonin production and can mess with your sleep cycle.
Other tips include avoiding caffeine and heavy meals before bedtime and keeping your bedroom cool and dark. Stick to a consistent sleep schedule; at least seven to nine hours of sleep every night is crucial for your physical and mental health.
11. Drink more water
You must have heard health experts advise everyone to drink more water. Water is critical for digestion and hydration. It also helps eliminate toxins in the body. Drink more water every day to improve your overall health.
According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, men should drink about 3.7 liters or 15.5 cups of water or water-containing beverages daily, while women should drink 2.7 liters or 11.5 cups a day.
Improve financial wellness
Money doesn’t make you happy, but it can be a big stressor or motivator in life. Explore different areas of your financial wellness to see what you can improve or change.
12. Create a budget
If you don’t know where your money is going, staying on course to meet your financial goals is much harder. Go over your bills and other expenses and create a budget to help you understand where you stand financially and do your best to stick to it.
For example, you can use the 50/30/20 rule. It refers to spending 50% of your income on essentials like rent, food, and utilities, 30% on discretionary spending such as dining out, and 20% on savings. Your individual financial needs might differ, but this is a good place to start.
13. Improve credit score
Increasing your credit score gives you more buying power for bigger purchases like a car and mortgage. If you have poor credit or no credit history, it can be hard to boost your score without approval for any lending type. You can help boost your credit score with credit-builder loans or sign up for a bill-reporting service. That way, you can report bills you’re already paying, like rent and utilities, to help raise your credit score.
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14. Move toward money goals
Finding ways to increase your income will get you moving toward your financial goals faster. Whether you want to pay off debt, need a down payment, or want to save more money to invest, increasing your income can help you get there.
If you’ve been doing well at work, try asking your boss for a raise. Or start a side hustle like grocery delivery or making homemade goods and selling them.
You can also do a side hustle online. For instance, if you’re proficient in a subject, you can offer online tutoring services. Or, if you have a creative skill, like graphic design or writing, freelancing could be the way to go.
Some other ways to boost your income could be through participating in paid surveys, renting out a spare room on Airbnb, or taking up a part-time job. If you plan to stick to online avenues, you could start and monetize a blog. Alternatively, you can sell print-on-demand products or resell items on online marketplaces.
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15. Pay off debt
Paying off debt gives you one less bill to think about and will free up cash to put toward your other financial goals like savings or your next vacation. Plus, as you pay down your debt, your credit score could get a nice boost putting you in an even better financial standing.
You can opt for the snowball or avalanche method. The snowball method is a debt payoff approach where you tackle the smallest debt first. Pay it off and move on to the next smallest while maintaining minimum payments to other debts. The avalanche method works by tackling the debt with the highest interest rate first.
16. Invest
Investing could provide a form of passive income. Instead of actively working to earn money, you can make investments that could potentially earn money for you. Some forms of investments include stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities. Each type of investment has a distinct level of risk and return. Investments are subject to loss including loss of principal.
Alternatively, you can opt for managed investing. In this approach, you hand over your money based on your risk level and it is invested on your behalf. It’s a suitable and more practical investment method for interested investors who do not have the knowledge or time to study the market.
The good news about some managed investment portfolios is that there’s no minimum investment amount. You can start with whatever you’re comfortable with.
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Winter is almost over. Embrace spring and be a better you
Burst into spring with the goal of becoming the best version of yourself. Make a list of habits you want to work on and stick to them.
Remember, comparison is the thief of joy. Your wellness resolutions might look different from others, and that’s OK. Do what works for you.
Don’t let your financial fitness fall behind your physical and mental strides. Embrace the tools at your disposal — credit-building products, money management tools, and the ease of virtual banking — so you can ace your finances. All set? Go get ‘em, champ!
FAQ
What does a resolution mean?
A resolution refers to a personal commitment or goal you set at any point in time that is significant to you. It can be a decision to do or not to do something. The ultimate goal is to improve your life or accomplish something meaningful.
How do you make resolutions?
Think about the areas of your life that you would like to improve or change like your health, relationships, or career. Then, choose one or two achievable goals for the following year.
How to keep your resolution?
Although making a resolution is relatively easy, keeping it can be tricky. Set realistic goals, and if necessary, break them down into smaller milestones. Reward yourself for achieving these goals, even if it’s a small treat, and if you fall behind, don’t beat yourself up, and keep moving forward.
