From new skills to new friends: Projects and ideas to kickstart a new you

A new year is a fresh start – an opportunity to rethink, adjust and make plans. Of course, everyone starts January with the best of intentions, but it’s not always easy to stick to those New Year’s resolutions Often, starting small and tackling new challenges in manageable steps is the way forward; realistic goals are absolutely key, and it’s always good to give oneself a pat on the back for the successes, even if they’ve been mixed with some blips.

Many of us have things in mind to change for 2023, but for anyone in need of inspiration, here are some ideas with pointers on how to achieve them.

New skills

Learning a new skill is a fun way of starting the year off and, besides being satisfying solo, it might come in useful on later occasions. Knitting, for example, can provide all kinds of bespoke presents, as can candle-making and drawing, and learning a new instrument could be an opportunity to serenade friends and loved ones. There are lots of resources online, including useful how-to videos on YouTube on almost any subject so there’s no reason not to get started!

New friends

Meeting new people is always inspiring, whether as mutual enthusiasts of a new hobby, friends or a bit more. London Deluxe offers a fun and sure way to find new liaisons, whereas  both Hinge and Bumble have friend settings as well as dating opportunities. Meetup is a useful resource for those looking to find groups to join and enjoy common hobbies and interests. As a nice idea for an easily achieved resolution, it might be very rewarding to set a challenge to get in touch with someone who’s been off the radar each day, or just check in with someone who might need it.

New habits

Most people at one time or another have planned to stick to a new habit in the new year and failed miserably, usually because the goal is too extreme. But there are lots of little lifestyle adjustments to get into the habit of doing that can make all the difference to physical and mental wellbeing. For example, downloading an app that reminds the user to drink enough water can be a wonderfully easy change to make, or perhaps building a few minutes of mindful meditation into each day or walking the last stop before work.

New culture

Perhaps now is the time to explore new cultural avenues, either with listening habits, books and films – or even theatre. Spotify is a wonderful place to discover music and podcasts (why not try something completely different, rather than sticking with the suggestions the app makes based on current habits?), as is YouTube. Friends can also offer ideas and vice versa for a fun New Year exchange. A Good Movie to Watch is a website offering a new way to find films to watch and there are lots of online clubs to join for cinephiles. Meanwhile, readers can investigate book clubs online and in person, and the prizewinner lists for 2022 are always as excellent starting point for new material to read.

The editorial unit