Top Ten New Years Resolutions for Guys

Before you know it, the major holidays will be behind us and we’ll all be staring down the business end of a whole new year. There’s a good chance that you know someone who is chomping at the bit to get to work on their big changes for the New Year. If you’re still on the fence about what you’re going to do in the coming year, I’ve got you covered. After some serious thought, I’ve compiled my list of  the top ten New Years resolutions for guys.

Get Stronger

It seems like more than half of the New Year’s resolutions for guys I see online are fitness related. Most of them are focused on losing weight; everyone wants to drop some waist sizes or lose a certain number of pounds. Forget about that. If you want to make a fitness related resolution, resolve to get stronger. Add some strength training into your routine in the coming year. It doesn’t matter if you’re using your own body weight, pumping actual iron, or using a weight machine strength training is surprisingly beneficial.

Even if you’re not doing any other form of exercise, getting stronger will make you healthier. Do you want to lose weight? Strength training helps to boost your metabolism. This means that you’re burning more calories while working out and while you’re resting.  Do you find yourself becoming prematurely tired and grouchy? Strength training releases more endorphins than almost any other form of exercise. More endorphins means more energy and better moods.

Do you want to feel better about yourself in the coming year? Get stronger.

Read More

Your muscles aren’t the only things that need to be exercised on a regular basis. It’s important to stimulate your mind as well as your body. So set aside some time to read something every day. I don’t mean reading tweets or Facebook posts; pick up a book.  It doesn’t matter if you’re picking up a physical book or reading on a device, the important thing is to sit down, relax, and read.

Read what you like. Don’t feel like you have to read the most intellectual literature on the market. You could grab anything from  The Art of War to World War Z  as long as you’re reading, you’re on the right track.

Disconnect

Going on about the ills of over-exposure to social media is almost as tired as New Year’s resolutions about swearing off it completely. Besides, that would just turn this whole article into an angry rant about how horrible Twitter is for humanity.  Completely cutting social media out of our lives is getting harder and harder every day. For some, it’s the only way they can stay connected with family and friends. For others, social media is how they keep track of what’s going on in the world. That’s why I’m not saying you should resolve to delete all of your online accounts and live completely unplugged. For some people that just isn’t realistic.

What is realistic is taking a break every now and then. Turn your notifications off, uninstall some apps if you have to, and just step away from the Internet. You will be surprised at how nice it is to just disconnect for awhile. I’m not saying that you need to leave your phone in a drawer and go on some outback excursion. Just take some time off to exist. You’ll be surprised at how nice it is step away for awhile.

Get Some Rest

The truth is, you’re probably not getting enough rest. You’re probably staying up too late, getting up to early, and not giving your brain and body the downtime they need to function at their peak. That’s just how life goes for most guys. There just aren’t enough hours in the day to fit everything in and still have time to relax.

It’s okay to take some time off just for yourself. Even if you’re a family man, you’ve got to take care of yourself. Stay in bed ‘til noon. Take an afternoon to just lounge around and watch old movies. Despite what you may have been told, you don’t have to constantly be productive.

Learn to Make Something

For many guys it feels like the box we have to fit into is getting smaller and smaller. You need to be able to be yourself and one of the best ways to do that is to take up some kind of creative hobby.  Find something that you think is cool and learn how to make your own. You could paint, draw, write, or do chainsaw carvings. What you’re doing doesn’t matter. The important part is to allow those creative juices to flow. Making creativity part of your New Year’s resolution isn’t just about making cool stuff. It helps you build on problem solving skills and is a great way to relax after a long day.

Earn some extra cash

Every guy likes to be a good provider. It gets our competitive juices flowing and gives us a sense of accomplishment. After all, it’s our job to provide for the people around us who depend on it for survival. Thankfully there are so many ways you can earn extra money online today. One that feeds our need for competition and can make you some serious cash is online poker. This isn’t you buddies garage game on Saturday night with a $10 buy in. Online poker games can have some real cash on the line since so many players can buy in on any game. As part of your New Year’s resolution, start researching poker strategy to be successful playing online and start winning some extra cash this year.

Get Out More

Do you find yourself becoming more of a hermit as time passes? You’re not alone in that. It’s easy for guys to fall into a rut that consists of going to work, coming home, and getting ready to go back to work. It’s important to get out and do something. This doesn’t mean you have to go jump in the middle of the club scene or hit the bar. Grab a bite at that restaurant you’ve been meaning to try. Take a weekend and go camping. Just so long as you’re taking time to get out of your routine and have a good time.  

Learn to Fight

There’s a good chance that you’re never going to have to go to blows as an adult but it’s good to be prepared. You don’t need to be a black belt or anything. Just learn to throw a punch and how to avoid taking one. So, skip the martial arts classes and go straight to someone who can teach you some basic self defense. It’s not about being paranoid or trying to be a hardass. It’s all about confidence and being prepared for whatever life tosses at you.

Stop Caring So Much

Don’t stop caring completely. You still have to handle your business. You just have to learn to selectively give a damn. For those of us who spend any amount of time online, there’s something new to be angry about at least twice a day. The thing is, you only have so much energy and attention to give. If you waste it all on things that don’t really matter it won’t be there for the things that do. Before you invest any time or energy into something, ask yourself it if really matters.  If you want to see your stress levels plummet in the New Year, this is the resolution for you.

Buy Some Tools  

Having a set of tools is like knowing how to fight; if you ever need them you’ll regret not having them. You don’t need to go out and buy stock in the local hardware store or anything crazy like that. Get yourself a basic set of tools for your home and car. If you have the proper tools and an internet connection you can handle just about any home or auto repair.  You’ll save a little cash in the long run and you’ll have the confidence that comes with knowing that you don’t need to call someone to fix everything.

Be Happier

The most important thing about a New Year’s resolution, guys, is that it improves your life. It’s all about living fuller and more enjoyable life. So, whatever you resolve to do in the coming year, make sure you’re happy about doing it.