While we all anticipate Christmas and are busy trying to figure out the best presents to give, now is a great time to do something else. The next year is quickly nearing (it’s hard to believe), and making sure it is one to remember should already be on your agenda. Making lists may not be your favorite thing, but don’t feel stressed; I’m here to help you create the most exciting and(!) most achievable list (and just the perfect one for you).

I’m sure that while creating resolutions in the previous years, you came across the lists of things you can do that seemed pretty thrilling, yet so random that they ended up being forgotten by you (or moved to your bucket list in the best-case scenario) rather than becoming an actual plan to adhere to for the next year. So I thought about it a lot (and read even more) and came up with some advice to help you organize the process and ensure results. First off, divide all the things you look forward to accomplishing into three simple groups:

• Make yourself better.
• Make your life more exciting.
• Make the world around a better place.

After that, don’t rush to create tasks. Take time to reflect on the year that’s passed and define what you have already achieved: the things you are proud of. These things will become the basis of your new list as you continue supporting them. Write them down in each group as the goals for the long perspective.

Then, it’s the perfect time to start filling out the rest blank spaces and creating new goals.  Think about your hopes and dreams, things that inspire you and that you have been putting off for too long. And here’s what you should focus on in each group (see the examples below):

1) Help Yourself Feel Better

• Health, both physical and mental
  – Start meditating.
  – Leave some time each day/week to reflect on how you feel.
  – Learn new relaxation/breathing techniques to manage stress at college much better.
  – Have a social media cleanse at least once in a few months.
  – Do yoga weekly.
  – Get more quality sleep.
  – Make swimming or jogging your morning habit.
  – Give up destructive habits.
  – Go skiing/hiking a few times a week.
  – Go to a health check-up at least two times a year to come.
• Education
  – Watch one TED Talk per day.
  – Read one business book a month (check our list of top business books).
  – Get yourself a new hobby.
  – Take a new course (coding/design/etc.).
  – Learn to cook more dishes (what about some literature-inspired recipes?).
  – Expand your vocabulary and write more.
  – Learn a new language.
• Social life
  – Go to networking events.
  – Create a poll and acknowledge how people perceive you.
  – Befriend top people in their fields.
  – Get a mentor or a coach.
  – Write to those who inspire you.
  – Learn to deal with difficult people.
  – Communicate less online and more in real life.
  – Get to know more people from other cultures.

2) Make Your Life More Exciting

• New things
  – Try something new for 10/20/30 days.
  – Start noticing new details in your surroundings or route to work.
  – Go to a place you’ve never visited before.
  – Listen to a new singer each month.
  – Explore your city.
  – Try a new hair color.
  – Watch a new classic movie every two weeks.
  – Visit a country you’ve never been to.
  – Read a new classic literature book a month.
  – Go to new (to you) performer live shows.
• Challenges
  – Participate in various social media challenges.
  – Create a prank on a friend.
  – Write a book.
  – Go vegetarian for a month or two.
  -Start a business venture.
  – Abstain from social media/sugar for a month.
  – Spend less on textbooks by renting them on BooksRun.
  – Achieve full three splits.
  – Create a short film.
  – Wake up early and do an exercise routine for two months.
  – Change your clothing style completely.
  – Get a six-pack.
  – Participate in a blockbuster as a background actor.

3) Make the World around a Better Place

• Family & friends
  – Spend a set amount of days a month with your loved ones.
  – Give unexpected presents.
  – Surprise your parents with weekend events or trips.
  – Play chess with your grandparents.
• Local communities & charity
  – Donate food to a local animal shelter.
  – Visit a children’s hospital as a fairytale character.
  – Volunteer.
  – Make one small deed of kindness each day.
• Inspiring globally
  – Share your journey with your friends/followers.
  – Create a blog and find more people you can help and/or inspire.
  – Share your favorite pieces of wisdom on social media (books, videos, etc.).

Of course, the points offered are merely suggestions; you can choose from them or add more of your own—your limit is your imagination. And we hope that these ideas have inspired you to write your unique list that will keep you going toward your goals with excitement and determination.

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