How to Make 2022 Your Best Year Yet

After the storm comes the rainbow, right? Now that we’ve made it through the rollercoaster that was 2021, it’s time to think about what we can do to make 2022 a better, brighter year.

Here are a few ideas to keep in mind as we take on the new year:

TREASURE PEOPLE, NOT THINGS

Stuff is replaceable. People aren’t. While it’s totally fine and normal to collect nice things, we’d all be happier and calmer if we remembered what really matters: people. Our relationships with family and friends.

INVEST IN YOUR HEALTH

There’s nothing like a pandemic when it comes to reminding us of the value of good health. This year, do your best to protect your health by making an effort to pick up one healthy habit. Get more sleep, work out more, drink less alcohol or eat more veggies—you know what your body needs. Once you get the hang of your new habits, you’ll love how good they make you feel.

GIVE TO OTHERS

When we look out for the people around us, we build a better world. Find little ways to give back to your community: volunteer at a school or shelter, reach out to a lonely neighbor or collect goodies for a local food bank. There’s a bonus to all this giving: helping others actually triggers a rush of activity in our brains’ happiness-centers. You might just feel so good, you’ll think you’re the one who’s getting a favor!

TRY SOMETHING NEW

A new year is a great time to shake things up! Life is much more exciting when we push ourselves to experience new things. Make 2022 the year you pick up a new hobby, take a class or test out a new look. Want a risk-free makeover that doesn’t suck up lots of time and money? Try Madison Braid’s affordable, no-pro-needed headband braids and extensions. You can give yourself a fresh look in seconds, then slip them off just as easily.

LOVE THE LITTLE THINGS

Life isn’t perfect, but it’s full of beautiful moments. Enjoy each one to the fullest, even if it’s not a “big deal.” Your clean laundry smells like sunshine and meadows? Breathe it in. You’re in the thick of the funniest group text? Revel in it. It may seem trivial, but appreciating the small things makes us happier in the long run.