Meet With a Financial Planner
Create Your 5-Year Plan
This year, instead of thinking only about the next 12 months, think about the next 60 months. Start sketching out your five-year plan: where you want to be and how you plan to get there. You don't have to do it all in one day, but set aside some time to make some real solid decisions. You can always change your path, but having a path is the way to start.
Create a Monthly Budget That Works
Now it's time to set a monthly budget to get the rest of your financial house in order. Find an online tool or smartphone app that will ask you the right questions to make sure you're putting enough toward your values and lifestyle. You'll also see if you need to make changes, create a side hustle or find a new line of work.
Improve Your Mental Skills
New Year's resolutions tend to focus on what's outside, but improving how things are on the inside is more fun and beneficial. This year, do more thinking, more problem-solving, more brain-teasing and improve your mental skills. Take a math class you didn't dare try or join a regular strategy game night. Find a robotics club or just open more books.
Meet New People
As we get older, we tend to see and talk to fewer people, even though we've had more years to gather up untold acquaintances. Reverse course and make it a point to meet new people this year. You might have gone slightly introverted over the years, but you've still got game. Slap on a name tag and trade cards, social media handles or phone numbers.
Take Risks
You don't have to sky dive. Really, it's OK to not ever go skydiving. But you do need to take risks regularly, whatever that means for you. Make a list of things that sound interesting but kind of take your breath away. Then start scheduling them in. For some, that means an aerial class, for others that could mean walking across a bridge or riding a Ferris wheel. It doesn't matter what you do; what matters is the adrenal boost and reminder of what it feels like to be thrilled.
Be More Polite
No one will argue against the idea that we're living in more hostile and divided times. It's OK to challenge; in fact, argument is an important part of democracy and dialogue. But we can be mindful of how we speak to and treat others. Resolve to be more polite. That doesn't mean you have to stand down; it just means making sure you really are saying "please" and "thank you."
