I’ve always loved making New Year’s resolutions—the year ahead feels so full of promise and possibility while you’re deliberating on the new directions and inspirations you want your life to follow.

The only downside is that you have to wait a year until you can make new ones…or do you?

Enter new moon resolutions, new birthday resolutions and … my favourite of all, new spring resolutions. Now that the equinox has past, and the light of day is greater than the darkness of night, it seems a befitting time to set the mental trajectory of the months ahead.

1. Stop trying to be spontaneous and start to recognise the inherent spontaneity in every moment.

We all have those times when we try to be spontaneous only to be left feeling like somehow it isn’t quite authentic. The thing is, it doesn’t matter how much planning, thought and grueling decision making you put into something, when the moment comes to act, you still act spontaneously in that moment because it’s not actually possible not to.

That’s why often we figure out exactly what we’re going to do and then change our minds at the last second. So instead of worrying about not being spontaneous enough, how about embracing each new moment as it comes.

2. Do some nice things for other people when they won’t know it was you who did it.

This is actually a lot harder than it sounds. We all love making people happy and feeling their appreciation when they express gratitude for our actions. But when you don’t get the bonus of recognition, it seems like there’s a little bit less incentive.

Needless to say, the joy of doing something selfless and having a little giggle to yourself knowing you’ve done an anonymous good deed more than makes up for it.

3. Plant a tree.

If everyone in Australia planted a tree, that would be another 23.13 million trees, providing shade, oxygen and houses for birds. Enough said.

4. Ferment something.

Fermented foods are not only great for health, it’s like having lots of tiny friends in your kitchen! You get to feed them, watch them grow, and reap the rewards of their ferment-y endeavours.

5. Take the time to go outside at night and just look up at the sky.

An oldie but a goodie. This is something I don’t do often enough, but when I do, that sense of wonder at the mystery and vastness of existence comes back like an old friend. And you might even see a shooting star.

6. Try one new recipe every week.

As much as I love my current mono-diet of roasted sweet potato, with the occasional side of almond butter, I’ve decided to be more adventurous with my cooking.

So, each week, I’ll find a delicious-looking, new recipe, and make it exactly as it says. Not my usual style, which is to adapt the recipe so that in the end it is just like everything else I have ever made. So, friends beware—you may be called upon to test these new creations!

In the spirit of resolutions that are intended to add joy and inspiration to my life, I also resolve to not be down on myself I don’t do them perfectly. And besides, there are always new summer resolutions just around the corner!

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Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo: Flickr