We’ve all come up with them in the past and promised we’d give it a good go but if we’re completely honest, they usually just don’t stick, either because they’re unrealistic or they just get forgotten about after a week or two. So, with another year on the horizon, why not give one of these a crack!
1 – Spend more time with your mates
It’s so easy to get caught up in the daily grind – you know the drill – working from 9 to 5 (if you’re lucky) and then becoming stuck with kid’s sports or household chores on the weekend. There just never seems to be enough time in the day to get together with mates for a catch up. Do yourself and your mates a favour, and take the time to dedicate a day a month to catch up. Organise a BBQ, go to the footy, spend a weekend on the coast or in the bush… whatever it is, just do it!
2 – Turn off the screen and get outside
If you’ve got kids, it’s most likely you’ve told them to get off the computer or shut the Playstation down more times than you care to remember. Problem is, you’re likely spending way too much time in front of a screen as well – whether it be a laptop, TV, smart phone or tablet – they’re everywhere! Switch them off and breathe in some fresh air – Mother Nature is far too good looking to ignore so get out and enjoy her. Your eyes will thank you for it in the long run too.
3 – Build something
There’s something oddly satisfying about building something for yourself or someone else. If you have no idea where to start, chances are somebody else has already done the majority of the work for you – check out Youtube or attend a D.I.Y workshop at Bunnings or Masters and buy yourself some decent tools if you haven’t already done so. The shed is a great place to get away from the world so why not do something productive while you’re in there. Start out with something simple like a book shelf or sandpit before gradually working up to more elaborate pieces like a garden chair or billie kart.
4 – Get yourself in shape
Instead of kicking back on the couch after work or on weekends, while sipping on a brew or two, why not go for a walk or take up riding. You’ll not only feel heaps better about yourself but you’ll also have more energy to burn. Not to mention a better looking rig. Get out there, release some endorphins and sweat ’til you can’t sweat no more (sounds like some lyrics from a tragic 90s tune). And before you say it; we know round is a shape – it’s just not the best one to be in body wise.
5 – Devote more time to your hobbies/activities
Remember when you used to dedicate a heap of time to that old hobby of yours? It probably made your working week a hell of a lot more bearable right? Well it isn’t too late to take it back up or to devote more time to it. It’s all about time management and compromising with your better half. Hobbies are healthy and time spent enjoying them is time well spent. If you haven’t found one that you’re passionate about, find one, and invest some time into it. Your body and mind will thank you for it!
6 – Face a fear
We’ve all got them – no matter how manly you are – there’s a fear of something in us all. Spiders, snakes, sharks, heights, water… there’s a scare factor associated with all of them for one reason or another. While we don’t suggest free swimming with sharks or hanging out on high open rooftops, why not try swimming in a cage in South Australia or bungy jumping – apparently these types of activities help to overcome fears… apparently. Whatever it is you’re afraid of, make 2015 the year that you face it head on – it’s better late than never.
7 – Be Spontaneous
Step out of your comfort zone and habitual living style and do something out of the norm. It’s so easy to become creatures of habit, which is fine, but it pays to do things a little left of field sometimes. Book that overseas holiday without trying to plan every minor detail. Pay for flights and worry about the accommodation and spending money later. Take your partner on a date to a place that you wouldn’t normally go or quit your job and start that business you’ve always dreamed of owning (okay, admittedly, that one’s a little harder to do but it sounds good).
8 – Get a medical check-up
Blokes are notorious for avoiding the doctor and in many cases, fall victim to an illness that could have been avoided if a simple check up with the local GP was a regular occurrence. We’re not sure if it’s ingrained in our DNA but to be blunt about it – it’s just not good enough. If you haven’t already got a doctor that you feel comfortable with, find one. At the end of the day, you’ve only got one body – so you may as well look after it as best you can. Like cars, if you don’t use them enough and give them a service, bodies break down too.
9 – Go somewhere you’ve never been
Jump in the car and just drive… go to a place you’ve always wanted to check out but have never taken the initiative to actually do. There’s a whole world out there just begging to be explored by new visitors so why not take the leap and go somewhere you’ve never been. It doesn’t even have to be that far. It could be that restaurant you’ve driven past for the last 20 years and never stepped into, or that National Park an hour’s drive up the road… wherever it is, it’s worth a visit. If nothing else, it’s a great excuse to get off the couch and out of the house.
10 – Give someone a hand
It’s easy to feel sorry for those in less fortunate situations than our own; however, there is something you can do. Volunteering is a great selfless activity that takes up as much time as you can afford to dedicate while making a huge impression on someone else’s life. Even helping an elderly neighbour by mowing their lawn or washing their car can be hugely satisfying and rewarding. Karma will repay you down the track so why not lend a helping hand where you can? Alternatively, you could just give a mate a hand with something…
