Artistic New Year’s resolutions anyone can do
By Mackenzie Mason, Arts Editor
Ahhh, New Year’s — the time where everyone makes unrealistic goals that they will rarely live up to.
There’s nothing wrong with setting resolutions. In fact, I think we should always strive to be a better person than we were yesterday or even last year.
But as discussed in this issue’s features section, the problem with making New Year’s resolutions is that most people create broad and vague resolutions with no action plan., It leaves those resolutions to become an empty and meaningless commitment.
By setting small, attainable goals that can be built into your ultimate New Year’s resolution throughout the year, you’re more likely to actually carry out your goals and be the person you want to be.
If your New Year’s resolution was to be more creative or to learn a new artistic hobby while we wait patiently for COVID to be over, here are 2 creative resolutions and easy ways to actually carry those goals through.
- Read more often
I’m sure this one pops up on many people’s list of resolutions. Reading is not only a time for people to wind down and have some “me-time,” but it stimulates your brain and increases attention span, focus and concentration.
Instead of making the vague resolution to read more often, try being more specific in your goals. Perhaps you could set a number of books you’d like to read throughout the year, and list a few books that have caught your attention.
If you’re anything like me, you spend all day glued to a screen doing school work, and when all the work is done, you wind down staring at another screen watching Netflix.
If you’re this kind of person too, try to switch out an episode on Netflix for 50 pages of a book before your bedtime routine. This will definitely get you reading more and bonus — you’ll probably get a better sleep, too!
- Create more art
While many people found inspiration and motivation with all their free time due to the pandemic, 2020 caused me to go into an artistic rut.
Wanting to be more creative was an obvious resolution for me, but I knew making the hazy resolution of “create more” would neither inspire or motivate me to actually create.
Setting a doable and attainable goal to be more artistic involves taking baby steps and actually making a plan. If your goal is to create more art, find a time in your busy schedule every week to sit down with a cup of tea and actually create.
A great first step is to make a list of different artistic mediums you’re interested in trying such as watercolours or oil pastels. If you’re interested in being creative through writing, try creating a short story or dabbling in the world of poetry.
Finding that time and creating a steady routine is key to keeping this resolution — or any resolution for that matter.
If you fall off the wagon or lose your motivation to keep working towards a resolution, allow yourself to feel those emotions and breathe. When you realize why you feel that way, remember why you made the resolution in the first place.
Happy New Year everyone and best wishes in carrying out your resolutions! You’ve got this.
