Each year gives us an opportunity to do something different. These are just a few suggestions to get your list going.

Explore different forms of exercise. Tired of walking around the block? Consider a bike trip instead. If it’s been a while since you’ve pedaled that two-wheeler, make sure it gets a good tune-up. And while you’re at your local bicycle shop, talk to them about group rides around town or the surrounding countryside. They can usually recommend the right adventure for your skill and commitment level.

 

Or, if you’re in a more nautical frame of mind, consider scuba diving lessons, or canoeing or kayaking. The main thing is to get out of an exercise rut and explore some new ways of enjoying time outdoors.

 

Go for one week – maybe more – without watching TV. Nothing against the tube (can we still call them that?) there are some great shows out there. But when it becomes too easy to set your schedule by favorite shows, it’s time to walk away for a while. Been thinking about reading the classics, or just catching up on a stack of magazines? Pick a week and make it your time to enjoy the printed word, the old fashioned way.

 

Start baking. There are many excellent brands of whole-grain breads out there, but have you considered making your own? Over the past 3 years, “no-knead” bread recipes have been a big hit in the home-cooking world. Try an online search, and you’ll see for yourself. It can be a surprisingly simple – and extremely rewarding – hobby. Nothing beats the smell of home-baked bread. (Except for the taste, of course.)

 

Start some art. Or a journal. This year, draw it out or write it down. The point isn’t (necessarily) to get into galleries or win a Pulitzer. It’s simply another way of organizing your thoughts and being able to look back later. If drawing is something you’ve always wanted to try, sketchbooks and pencil sets are reasonably priced. If you want to go a bit deeper, consider a ceramics class, or wow your friends with some weaving.

 

Smell the flowers. Plant some yourself, or go to your closest botanical gardens and enjoy the beauty. Around the outside of your home or patio, fresh plants create a space that you can relax in. If you live in an apartment or condo and don’t have the acreage for floral cultivation, you may be able to check in with a local community gardening group and expand your repertoire to fresh veggies, too.