Let’s resolve to keep learning in 2019

Happy New Year! How are those resolutions going? Was that a collective groan we just heard?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone, and there’s no shame in setting a resolution and then kinda-sorta forgetting you were supposed to go running at 6 a.m. every other day. It’s January, for goodness sake — no one wants to get out of bed before noon this month.

• Connecting: spending more time with family, friends and colleagues — and developing stronger relationships with people who make us feel good — benefits our mental well-being.
• Giving: Even small acts of random kindness can help you feel better.
• Being mindful: Focusing on the “now” instead of the past or future, and noticing how you feel in your present surroundings can change your entire outlook on life and make you feel less melancholy or anxious.
• Staying active: Being active doesn’t necessarily have to involve getting up to run every morning. It could be something as simple as taking a dog walk around the neighborhood, going to your favorite yoga class or riding your bike to a friend’s house instead of taking the car.
• Learning a new skill: This is one of the best ways to improve your self-esteem, make new connections and develop a new sense of purpose.