Eight Changes for a Happier Life

The editors of the Goodwill Market list down these eight ways to improve your well-being and result in a happier outlook for the New Year.

BE NICE TO OTHERS

In this digital age, where we type more than we talk, it is easy to forego the feelings of the person on the other side of the screen. For this year, let’s bring back the civility into our conversations by embracing our commonalities more than our differences.

TAKE CARE OF A PLANT

Studies show that tending to an indoor plant can improve your mood, reduces stress, and clean the air by absorbing harmful toxins. A patch of green can add life and vigor to any space.

GAIN A NEW PERSPECTIVE

When we get used to something — a regular routine, a longstanding belief, or even the best brewing method for coffee — it can sometimes prevent us from learning new and better ways to live our life. With a new year upon us, let’s break out of our established routines and find something new every day to keep our experiences fresh and novel.

PREPARE YOUR OWN FOOD

Nothing is more liberating than shopping for your own groceries, chopping your own vegetables, and cooking them as you see fit. For this year, let’s resolve to eat in more than eat out by treating trips to the restaurants as rewards rather than routine.

SHRUG IT OFF

The convenience of our smartphones made us more attuned to instantaneous experiences. We have come to expect our pizzas to arrive in half an hour, our Grab drivers to appear in less than 10 minutes, and responses to our message threads in an instant. When things take longer than usual, let’s make it a point to shrug off these minor kerfuffle and focus on what’s important — our overall well-being.

PERSEVERE

For most of us, the daily grind is an ongoing challenge to be reckoned with. Certain changes in our personal life or transitions in our professional space can lay waste to best-made plans. In this new year, let’s face these challenges with a resilience that speaks volumes about the strength of our character.

LIVE BEYOND THE SCREEN

With a glut of information at the palm of our hands, we may get sucked into the allure of our smartphones. For this new year, let’s remember that the best of life happens beyond the screen. Enjoying life firsthand through hobbies, connections, and experiences can be the most liberating act that you can do this year.

CHOOSE BETTER

The best investments are the ones you make for yourself. So when you’re given the opportunity to improve your life in small but meaningful ways like choosing healthier alternatives to coffee, snacks, and carbohydrates — make the choice that your future self will thank you for. — (TGM)