A new year brings people the chance to reflect on the year that has just gone by. From thinking about what their goals were last year and if they stuck to 2025’s New Year’s Resolutions to how they handled situations and what they would change about their behaviour, a new year can bring up lots of questions.
Many people use January as a time to set intentions for the coming year and try to better themselves through fitness, habits and eating. But not all New Year’s Resolutions have to be huge and lifechanging.
With this in mind, a Reddit user asked others what simple habits they had adopted that quietly improved their lives. The person shared three ways they have quietly improved their life over the last year, with the hope others would follow suit.
The user said: “I don’t buy clothes unless there’s an actual need or occasion. In the age of fast fashion, this somehow makes me look outdated or stingy.
“When I take a free trial for apps like YouTube Premium or Spotify, I set a reminder a day before it ends and cancel it to avoid autopay. Friends say it’s too much effort.
“I prefer cleaning my own car rather than having it done by someone else. It saves money, and strangely, even though it’s tiring, it gives me a sense of calm and mental relaxation that’s hard to explain.”
Hundreds of other people shared their tips, with some being more serious than others. One person shared a way they help their own mental health and said “Journaling. Whenever I feel emotionally overloaded I complete a few pages. REALLY Helps to take the pressure off everything happening upstairs so to speak”.
On the same topic, another user said “I track small wins everyday. Stuff I actually did, even if it feels minor. My brain used to tell me I did nothing all day, but seeing it written down proved otherwise”.
A third user said: “Cooking. Saves lot of money, time, and headache.” While a fourth added: “Privacy. Talk less listen more.”
Two users shared ways that help them feel more productive, one said “I put on a little makeup to feel productive. I think this is common but even as simple as blush and lipstick, it just motivates me”. The second added: “Writing my ideas/takes/schedules on paper instead of productivity apps.”
Another user said: “This post hits different! for me, it’s making my bed every morning. sounds super basic, but it actually helps me start the day with some control when everything else feels messy.”
One user said they had put time limits on screentime that had really changed their life. They said: “I don’t go on my phone at least two hours before bed. Instead I play sudoku or read a book before I go to sleep. Similarly, in the morning I don’t go on my phone right away. I chug some water and do a quick lil stretch and play some sudoku.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
