Podcast Summary
Embrace positivity in New Year's resolutions: Focus on creativity, explore new ways to live happily, and consider wallet-friendly options for celebratory brunches and financial incentives for achieving resolutions
Instead of focusing on denying ourselves things and achieving lofty goals for New Year's resolutions, we should consider resolutions that help us live happier or more fulfilling lives. The holiday season is over, and January can feel bleak, but we can turn that energy around by focusing on positivity. Our colleagues at NPR's LIFE KIT have several ideas to inspire listeners. For instance, our intern Jamal Michel suggests getting more creative as a resolution. He encourages listeners not to limit themselves to traditional forms of creativity and to give themselves space to explore in their own way. Whole Foods Market also offers inspiration for a celebratory brunch to kick off the New Year, featuring wallet-friendly finds like cold smoked Atlantic salmon, mini quiches, and organic everything bagels. Apple Card also provides financial incentives for achieving your resolutions with up to 3% daily cash back on purchases. So, let's make this New Year a positive and fulfilling one by embracing creativity and setting resolutions that bring joy and happiness.
Creative expression benefits mental and emotional wellbeing: Creating art activates reward pathway, reduces stress and anxiety, sharpens problem-solving skills, and improves mental health. Allow 10 mins daily, let go of perfectionism, and enjoy the journey.
Engaging in any form of creative expression, no matter how small or imperfect, can have numerous benefits for our mental and emotional wellbeing. Research shows that creating art activates the reward pathway in the brain, leading to feelings of pleasure and reducing stress and anxiety. It can also help sharpen problem-solving skills. Even if you don't know where to start or feel overwhelmed by unfinished projects, the key is to let go of perfectionism and have fun. Setting aside just 10 minutes a day for creative activities can provide a nice break and even allow for failure, which is a natural part of the creative process. Remember, the intention is to cultivate creativity, not to achieve a specific goal. So, give yourself permission to wander, explore, and enjoy the journey.
Household Chore Audit for a Fairer Home: Doing a household chore audit promotes transparency, accountability, and trust by making domestic labor more equitable and understood by all household members.
Creating a fair and tidy home requires valuing everyone's time equally. This means getting on the same page about household chores and responsibilities, making it a communal activity. By doing a household chore audit, you can make domestic labor more transparent and ensure everyone understands the time and effort involved in each task. This can lead to increased accountability, trust, and a more harmonious living situation. So, if you're looking to keep a tidier house and build a fairer partnership with your household members, consider sitting down together to do a chore audit. It might not be the most fun task, but it could make a big difference in your home.
Maintaining harmony in shared living spaces: Conducting a chore audit and having clear systems in place can lead to a more loving and resentment-free home. Understanding the reason behind actions, like taking photos, can lead to more meaningful results.
Organization and clear communication are key to maintaining harmony and balance in a shared living space. Conducting a chore audit can help identify patterns of responsibility and ensure a fair distribution of tasks. As Andi Mannion suggests, having systems in place can lead to a more loving and resentment-free home. Malika Gharib's favorite takeaway from the 2022 episodes was the importance of intention in photography, as discussed in Beck Harland's episode on taking meaningful photos. Understanding the reason behind taking a photo can help create lasting images that tell a story and hold significance. So whether it's organizing household chores or taking photos, having a clear purpose in mind can lead to more fulfilling results.
Appreciating candid moments and avoiding regrets: Reflecting on past regrets and capturing candid moments can lead to personal growth and joy, rather than future regrets of inaction.
Capturing candid moments and being present in the moment can bring joy and help us avoid future regrets. During a conversation with a photographer, Malika shared her appreciation for capturing real moments, like her mom sweeping up dog hair, instead of perfectly curated images. Daniela, the photographer, emphasized the importance of intention when taking photos. For New Year's resolutions, our regrets from the past can serve as valuable signals for growth. According to author and journalist Daniel Pink, regrets of inaction outnumber regrets of action as we age. By processing these regrets using Daniel's 3-part formula, we can learn from our mistakes and move forward. So, in the new year, consider taking more candid photos and being present in the moment to avoid future regrets of inaction.
Reflecting on Regret: Looking Inward, Outward, and Forward: Be compassionate with yourself, share feelings, and learn from past mistakes to fuel future actions.
Dealing with regret involves looking inward, outward, and forward. First, be kind to yourself when reflecting on mistakes. Treat yourself with compassion and recognize that everyone makes mistakes. Second, share your feelings of regret with someone else, whether it's through conversation or writing. This step isn't necessarily about making amends, but rather verbalizing your regret. Lastly, extract a lesson from your regret and use it to fuel future actions. Regret can be a transformative emotion if treated as valuable information, not something to wallow in. For example, if you regret not working on a creative project, schedule time to do so moving forward. Remember, New Year's resolutions don't have to be rigid goals, but rather small intentions to live better. For more resources, check out NPR's Resolution Planner at npr.org/newyears.
Exploring the reasons behind people's choices: The Choiceology podcast shares insights from experts and real-life stories, Saatva prioritizes freshly made products, and Code Switch tackles race and identity in a deeper way.
Understanding the psychology and economics behind people's decisions can provide valuable insights. In the podcast "Choiceology" by NPR sponsor Schwab, listeners can explore true stories from various individuals, including Nobel laureates and athletes, about why people make certain choices. Meanwhile, Saatva's founder and CEO Ron Rudson emphasizes the importance of receiving a freshly made product, as each Saatva mattress is made to order and not stored in warehouses or basements. Lastly, the Code Switch podcast from NPR offers conversations about race and identity that go beyond the day's headlines, recognizing that these topics are integral to every person and every story.
