We’re two weeks into the New Year, which means one thing: your resolutions have probably already been broken. Maybe you decided to join a gym and haven’t even made it there once, or you pledged to give up alcohol and then went on a night out with friends. But that’s okay: the usual resolutions to be thinner, healthier or wealthier can be pretty boring. Instead, Lucky Nugget have come up with a number of alternative New Year’s Resolutions that even your grandmother could manage. Make 2017 interesting – and see if you can get them to last till the end of the year.
1. Get involved in the sharing economy
2016 saw the sharing economy continue to rise. Services like Airbnb became increasingly common as they expanded across the world, and in 2017 they’ll probably be ubiquitous. If you haven’t got involved with the app industry yet, why not jump in with both feet this year? Rent a car through Turo for a road trip adventure, or stay in a fantastic house rather than a hotel. It’s never too late to get involved in the revolution.
2. Memorise the blackjack chart
Being a gaming blog, we couldn’t help but add one of the most important facets of gambling — the blackjack sheet. We mention this every so often, but blackjack is a fantastic table game that’s equally thrilling to play online. If you’re using your internet connection, there’s nothing to stop you from having the guide open while you play – but you’ll be slower and more cumbersome if you have reference it during every hand. Make 2017 the year you learn how to play blackjack properly. Practice as much as you like before playing for real money. Make sure you know when to double down or when to stand: blackjack is a skill, and once you’ve learned the basic rules you’ll know them forever.
3. Case your house to prepare for robberies
Not to be pessimistic, but there’s always the small chance that someone will break into your home. So, whether you’re in a basement flat, penthouse apartment or quiet suburban house, it’s worth thinking about what strategy robbers might use. Keep valuables secured, get locks for your windows, and make sure your burglar alarms are set. Sure, it might be a bit of a weird New Year resolution, but your house can never be too safe. Speaking of security…
4. Improve your online security
We access everything online these days – from buying groceries and accessing your bank account to updating Facebook and checking a hundred different email accounts. However, most people only use one or two passwords for all of their accounts. If someone stole your details, they could access almost anything. Start 2017 off the right way by combing through all your accounts: change every password to something different, and discard of your old standby code. If necessary, you can use a password manager to keep track of everything for you, but just make this password is the most secure of all.
5. Subscribe to more publications
Learning things is fantastic. From keeping up to date with daily news, digging into new car builds or discovering every sports statistic there is, everyone has a specific interest they engage in. Think about the articles you read every day online, and try subscribing to new publications that can teach you more about those niches. Print media is struggling, but there’s still something fantastic about flipping through a magazine that you hold in your own hands. Help support some jobs, and expand your knowledge while you’re at it this year.
6. Master your dinner party patter
For the naturally sociable, ending up at a polite social event is an opportunity – but some of us find talking to strangers tough. Luckily, social interaction is something you can practice too. Learn an infallible joke that’s funny without being controversial; practice your favourite anecdote until you perfect it; or make a list of conversation topics. Don’t just talk about work or weather – put a little thought in now for dividends later.
7. Don’t drink and dial
Nobody should be allowed to use their phone after too many drinks. This year, make your resolution to be mindful of your smartphone usage. No calling your ex after you get drunk, or mindlessly messaging everyone on Tinder at 3am. Don’t regret sending message: just don’t send them at all. Leave embarrassment in 2016!
8. Drink more water
We’re not going to tell you to stop drinking coffee, or to cut down on getting takeaway. Instead, our recommendation is simple: drink more water. It’ll keep you hydrated, which cuts down on headaches and helps concentration. It can also help curb hunger pangs, as people can confuse thirst for hunger. Try drinking some water every time you feel hungry mid-morning or late afternoon, and see if it makes you feel any better.
9. Keep track of something
Whether it’s high and low cards in bridge games or the number of goals in a hockey season, keeping a running tally of something through the year is a great way to have a long-term project you can complete piece by piece. Maybe you could note down who takes sick days in the office each week, or how many news stories you see concerning climate change. Perhaps you want to chronicle your casino winnings on a detailed spreadsheet. Whatever you’re into, having a running tally on something is low effort but still creates a sense of achievement – as well as an interesting set of figures concerning whatever you’re trying out.
10. Place a bet on something unlikely
In 2016, various pieces of unlikely news shocked the world. Novak Djokovic crashed out of Wimbledon in the third round; the UK voted to leave the EU; Trump became the President of the USA and the Chicago Cubs won the World Series of baseball. Imagine the money you could have made if you’d placed bets on them at the points of unlikeliness. You could identify improbable events for 2017 and place a small bet on them – $10 could end up paying huge dividends. But if not, then hey, it’s only $10.
If your 2017 resolutions already feel like they’re off to a bad start, then don’t fret. Try an alternative strategy, and see if you can stick to it for a whole year. Who knows where we’ll be at this point in 2018, after all?
