New Year’s Resolutions Worth Keeping

New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep. After 1 week, 75% of people are still successful in keeping them. After two weeks, the number drops to 71%. After 1 month, the number drops again to 64%. And after 6 months, only 46% of people who make a resolution are still successful in keeping it. 

So, what are some strategies for sticking to your new year’s resolutions? 

First, we can choose meaningful goals. A goal that you don’t care deeply about is likely to slip out of focus. However, a resolution that carries emotional weight (commitment to friends, health, etc.) is more likely to stick.

Second, pay attention to the gravity and specificity of your resolution. For example, if you aim to climb Mt. Everest, you’ll 100% run into obstacles! But if your goal is to walk 1 mile every day, you’ll more easily be able to meet your goal as long as you are able to walk.

With that in mind, here are 3 New Year’s resolutions that meet these two criteria and give you a big bang for your buck. Try one that lines up with your goals for the upcoming year!

Read A Book Every Month

This Parade article highlights two main benefits of reading: increased brainpower and reduced stress. Whether you’re into history, classic cars, fiction, sci-fi, or anything else, you’re doing yourself a service when you engage your brain by reading about something that interests you. You can start at the library with the classics, or you can pick up a book from this list of highly-anticipated titles for 2023. 

If you’re not an avid reader, it’s especially important to choose titles that YOU want to read. Pick something you’re already into or a book that lines up with another current hobby. That way, your resolution won’t feel like a chore.

Travel More

Travelers report feeling less anxious, more rested, and in a better mood three days after taking a vacation, according to NBC News. But while traveling can have benefits, it can be taxing. Travel takes planning, money, and enough free time.

It’s easier to stick to this resolution when you don’t have to go too far. For example, near Georgetown, the cities of Fredericksburg, Waco, and San Antonio are all within a day’s drive. These cities put you into a completely different landscape and historical perspective from what you’re used to. You can get all the health benefits of travel and keep your resolution without the airports, customs, and language barriers.

Walk 3-5 Days A Week

The benefits of walking are well documented. If you want to maintain a healthy weight, lose body fat, and prevent heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, then walking is an accessible option.

But, anyone who’s tried to keep a fitness-related resolution knows that the easier it is to keep your resolution, the more likely you will be to meet your goals. If your goal is to walk outside regularly, it’s best if you have access to a natural landscape and trails. 

The absolute best option is private trails close to home. It maximizes the quality of scenery along your walk, is super convenient, and it’s a lot safer than walking on public trails. Trail walking in a more peaceful, private setting provides additional stress relief with your physical exercise. 

Commitment to this resolution could be the most impactful decision you’ve made when it comes to your physical well-being. The best part is that it won’t cost you a gym membership or even a new outfit. It only requires willpower to put one foot in front of the other. 

A New Year, A New You in Georgetown   

There is a connection between where you live and how easy it is to keep your New Year’s resolutions. For example, when you live in a community like Parmer Ranch in Georgetown, you have a much higher likelihood of keeping your New Year’s resolutions such as the ones listed. 

A new home in Parmer Ranch’s master-planned community gives you a place you’ll love to spend time reading, easy access to walk on private trails, and a variety of day trips to travel—even if it’s just for a day. 

At Parmer Ranch, you get the amenities, parks, great neighbors, and schools that are set aside for our community members. 

There’s no need to compromise your goals when deciding where to live near Austin. You can have it all—you just have to know where to look. Contact us if you’re hunting for a new home near Austin, and check out our current inventory for details on what’s available.