4 Resolutions to Help Find Your Spark in 2019

Happy, happy New Year! We love everything about the start of a fresh new year (minus the fact that the holidays are over, of course), and we are definitely fans of crafting a set of resolutions that will inspire us as we head into 2019.

Instead of settling for the same old resolutions that we hear year after year (live a more healthy lifestyle, save money, pursue happiness), we challenge you to come up with innovative resolutions that are specific and creative, allowing you to continually find inspiration long after January is over. Here are some ideas we came up with, so let us know what you think of them. And share your ideas in the comments section, too. We’d love to be inspired by your resolutions!

1. Submit a book proposal.

If you are a writer, now is the time to get your words out into the world where people can read and savor them. Whether you hope to write for a magazine or publish your own book, create a blog or write for your college alumni’s newsletter, the first place to start is by putting pen to paper and submitting your work to someone who can evaluate it.

Let 2019 be the year to open yourself up to vulnerability and critique; allowing someone to read your work can be challenging and frightening, but the feedback you’ll receive will be invaluable, regardless of whether it’s positive or negative. Practicing your writing is just like exercising your body – if you don’t put in the time on the front end, you won’t develop the endurance and strength you need to persevere. So no matter the outcome of your pitches, keep writing. Practice truly does make perfect.

2. Write a business plan.

So many of you have amazing business ideas, and equally as many creative ways to implement and promote them. The first step is to share your ideas with people who can help make your dreams become a reality. Those people can be potential investors, mentors, or friends, but what matters most is that you start documenting your ideas in a way that’s professional and clear.

Of course, practice discretion in sharing your ideas, allowing trusted friends and colleagues to be privy to your plan instead of simply blasting them out on social media, but take measured steps to ensure that you’re heading in the right direction. Accept feedback from experts and do good research on the steps you’ll need to take to get your business up and running. Life is too short to while the years away in a job you don’t love; pursue your passions and start taking steps this year to make your business ownership dreams come true.

 … come up with innovative resolutions that are specific and creative, allowing you to continually find inspiration long after January is over.

3. Start a club with your friends.

Nothing compares to a great night with girlfriends, and the standard meeting for dinner or drinks will certainly never get old. But friendships are relationships, too, and it’s great to continually spice them up by trying new things with your loved ones. A fun way to add newness to your routine is to start some kind of club or gathering together.

Think beyond the traditional book club – you could start a cooking club, a crafting club, a documentary-watching club, an articles club. Find interests that you and your friends share, and get bonus points for all agreeing on a topic that you want to learn more about. Adding food and wine to the mix never hurts, either.

4. Travel somewhere new.

Traveling is truly one of life’s most inspiring activities. It opens us up to new ideas, cultures, foods, people, and experiences. It doesn’t matter where you travel, necessarily, but rather that you get on a plane (or in a car or on a bike) and go somewhere where your horizons are expanded and your senses are renewed. Find a place that you’ve been wanting to go, whether it’s stateside (like Austin, Chicago, Santa Fe, or Palm Springs) or abroad (Nicaragua, Iceland, Puerto Rico, or Thailand) and start planning your trip. Make a to-do list and a timeline to make sure you’ll stay on track and actually take your trip instead of just fantasizing about it.

What creative resolutions do you have for 2019?

Image via Darling Issue 17, by Prakash Shroff