Self-care, slowed-down: Non-traditional New Year’s resolutions that feel good.
These low-lift, high-impact ideas help you reset your pace, reconnect with what matters, and move into the new year with more clarity (and less burnout). No strict rules. No perfection required. Just real-life upgrades that feel good — and actually stick.
1. Get-Your-Sh*t-Together Day
This one’s not sexy. But it’s pure magic for your sanity. Pick one day each month (or quarter) to get your life in order. You know — the stuff that piles up until you want to run away and live in the woods. Handle it now, breathe easier later.
Checklist inspiration:
Pay your bills
Clean out your inbox and desktop
Cancel those unused subscriptions
Grocery run + laundry + errands
Prep meals (or at least pretend to)
2. Unplug Day
Put. The. Phone. Down. For 24 hours, log off, shut it down, and stop letting notifications hijack your brain chemistry. A full digital detox helps reset your nervous system — and remind you that you’re a human, not a scrolling robot. You’ll be shocked how quiet your brain gets.
Try this instead:
Go for a hike.
Read a damn book.
Journal the weird thoughts out.
Make something (food, art, chaos).
Hang with people — like, in person.
3. Be-a-Tourist Day
Your city is cooler than you think — you’ve just stopped noticing. Snap out of autopilot. Wander like you’re visiting for the first time. You might even like where you live. Routine numbs you. Discovery wakes you up.
Ideas to try:
Visit a neighborhood you never go to.
Eat somewhere new (bonus if it’s weird).
Go to a local museum, tour, or market.
Take pictures like an annoying tourist.
Plan a mini road trip to Hocking Hills and see it like a visitor would — waterfalls, trails, local wineries and all.
4. Reconnection Day
Work. Errands. “Let’s catch up soon.” Repeat. Meanwhile, the people who matter most? They’re getting whatever scraps of time you’ve got left. Let’s fix that. Friendships need more than emojis. Show up.
Once a month, hit pause and:
Call your parents (yeah, they miss you).
Text someone who feels far away.
Send a dumb meme or actual letter.
Grab coffee with a friend, no agenda.
5. Mini-Adventure Day
No passport required. Just ditch your same-old routine and chase a little thrill — even if it’s just a new trail, a weird class, or taking a different route home. Micro-adventures = macro joy. Your comfort zone is boring. Mix it up.
Try this:
Book a class you’re bad at on purpose.
Explore a local park or landmark.
Go somewhere at sunrise or after dark.
Say yes to something that makes you nervous.
Plan a solo or small-group trip to Hocking Hills for a hike, wine tasting, or cabin weekend. You don’t have to go far to feel far away.
6. Support Local
Big box stores like amazon’s fast, But your neighbor’s boutique, coffee shop, or side hustle? That’s heart. That’s hustle. When you shop local, you’re supporting someones dream. A local family. And someone who has invested themselves (and what they do) into serving the greater-good of our community. Choose that instead. Always.
Easy ways to do it:
Drop Starbucks and grab coffee from a local cafe.
Hit a farmers market instead of a big box grocery store.
Leave a glowing review.
Hype your friends’ businesses online.
Shop at boutique clothing stores.
7. Set boundaries (and stop apologizing)
It’s ok to say no. Read that again — it’s ok to say no. Boundaries aren’t rude. They’re revolutionary. Saying no to them means saying yes to you.
Try this:
Decline that calendar invite you’re dreading.
Silence work emails after hours.
Skip an event that you don’t want to go to.
Take a personal day and don’t justify it.
8. Take time to celebrate your wins
Stop waiting for some big finish line. You’re doing more than you think. Take a second to look back — and actually enjoy how far you’ve come. Even the messy progress counts.
Try this:
Write down 5 things you did last month you’re proud of.
Share a small win with a friend.
Toast to something you survived, not just something you achieved.
Keep a “done” list, not just a to-do list.
Reward yourself for showing up, not just crossing the finish line.
Resolutions don’t have to be extreme to be effective.
Screw the pressure to become a “new you.” You’re not broken. You’re just busy… and human. These simple resets give you room to breathe, room to feel, and maybe even room to start enjoying the ride again.
So pick your day. Put it on the calendar. And start building a year that fits you — not the other way around.
The Mancini Group
mandy@themancinigroupsells.com
614-796-5077
