2025 is over and we’re on to a new year. To say the least, it’s been a lot! Instead of dreaming up New Year’s resolutions that we may not keep, we thought we would look for ways to make 2026 better. Here are some ideas for incremental changes we can all make to ensure 2026 is a better year for each of us.
1 Shop Vintage
Of course, as vintage sellers we want you to shop vintage. There’s more to it than supporting us and our vintage selling friends though. Purchasing pre-owned items is an easy and cost-effective way to help slow climate change. Vintage items purchased within your own country also have the benefit of no tariffs.
Between social media, billboards, TV, and radio, we’re barraged with ads encouraging you to buy more are everywhere. Their sole purpose is to entice us to spend more money. We are a society of consumption. Most of what we buy, we don’t actually need. So, purchase what you truly need and limit your spending on things that feel good in the moment but don’t add value to your life.
And try shopping vintage and secondhand. For every item kept in circulation, that leads to one less new item made, one less item tossed in a landfill, and one more way to leave our planet better for the next generations.
2 Shop Small
Big retail doesn’t need our money. Corporations rake in money. Consolidation has only made them larger while limiting our ability to choose. Buying from small sustainable businesses, whether locally or online, not only supports those businesses directly, but puts money into their local economy, which helps to support other small businesses as well. Supporting a small business means a it can grow, pay it’s bills, pay living expenses and be resilient in emergencies.
3 Donate
As we start a new year, clearing out things we no longer use or need is a great way to freshen up the home. So many families are in dire straits, strained by a difficult economy. If you have the ability to help, please do. Donating anything in good condition to a local charity is a great way to help. Be selective with your donations though, make sure items are in working order, good repair and usable. Broken, soiled, torn or overly worn items should never be donated. Some things do need to be thrown away or recycled.
You can always donate money or your time to a charity of your choice. There are several searchable sites to help you find a non-profit organization you feel comfortable with.
4 Learn Something New
Have you always wanted to learn a new language, climb a mountain, learn to sew, or maybe take a yoga class? Learning a new skill is not only good for your brain, it’s good for your soul and even your body. Anytime you challenge yourself to something new you create new connections in your brain. You may also make some new friends along the way.
Cell phones have sucked our attention dry and left folks lonely and lacking in person connections. Those connections are what create societies and communities. Signing up for a class or group in your local community is a great way to learn something new and make new connections. Be it a book club, or painting class, perhaps a local clean up group, you’re bound to learn something.
5 Teach Someone Something
You don’t need a college degree or classroom to teach someone a new idea or skill like teaching a child to tie their shoes or teaching a friend a new recipe. Teach a family member how to play a favorite card game. Helping someone learn makes your brain cells fire in new ways, it also just feels good. It’s been said the best way to learn something is by teaching someone else. Teaching a teenager to drive, a child to play a new card game or an older relative how to use a new app on their phone is both rewarding and a cognitive boost for you and them.
6 Set Realistic Goals
Big or small, setting goals helps to reach them. Whether it’s getting to the gym regularly or getting a degree, putting your goals in writing with realistic steps makes completion so much easier. Sharing your goals with others gives you an extra push helping to keep you on track. Break bit goals into smaller bits. For example: getting that degree can start with signing up for school, then completing a first semester, moving forward one step at a time completing smaller goals along the makes a major goal much less daunting.
7 Eat Healthier
Making simple changes to your diet can result in big changes in your overall health. Choosing more fresh food and less processed foods can lead to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, more energy, weight loss, and staving off other health issues. Pass up the fast food and choose something fresh instead. Start by committing to shop for groceries instead of stopping for fast food. If your kitchen is readily stocked with food, you’re far less apt to hit the drive thru on the way home. Go slowly, change up one or two items at a time. Replace French fries with a vegetable. Create meatless meals more often. Try using grains, legumes, or meatless pasta meals instead. These items are just as filling and often lower in cost.
8 Get Some Exercise
Exercise doesn’t have to mean working out at the gym. Even a few minutes each day makes a difference. Play ball with your kids, take the dog for a walk, ride your bike, join a local sports team or head to the dance floor. Gardening is a great way to get some exercise while spending time outside. Just moving your body regularly not only feels good, but is good for you. Take a walk with friends instead of meeting for lunch or perhaps walk after a good meal. Simple tricks like parking farther away from the shops, taking the stairs instead of the elevator all make a difference. Your body will appreciate the movement.
9 Travel
Travel doesn’t have to mean a two-week trip to Europe or a cruise. Traveling can be as simple as a day trip to the next town over, an afternoon spent at the beach, the local zoo or museum or a weekend away. A change of scenery, the chance to meet new people and do something outside of your usual routine can be refreshing. Many towns and cities feature day trips to local attractions at reasonable prices. Check with your local community center for schedules. Take advantage of holiday house tours in neighboring towns. Head out to nearby locals to check out the holiday lights one evening.
10 Communicate More, Communicate Better
Between our addictions to our phones, the omnipresent news alerts, and everyday life, we can miss opportunities to truly communicate with others. Social media has created an instant and constant flow of information. We cannot possibly digest it all which often means we look for shortcuts to conversations. Stepping back from the barrage and allowing ourselves to hold meaningful conversations with others allows everyone to feel seen and understood which leads to better outcomes overall.
Rather than making New Year’s resolutions that we don’t keep, try some of these options instead. None require dramatic or overnight changes, but each one can be done in small increments that make a world of difference in the long run. And isn’t that what those resolutions are really about? Creating change in a good way.
Bonus: Volunteer
It’s been a rough year for many folks. Even a hour or two of your time once a month can make a difference. With so many organizations vying for your attention and money, it can be tough to decide. Think about what’s important to you. It might be childhood hunger, animal rescue, medical research, literacy, education or something else. Find a local branch and sign up to volunteer. You’ll be helping out and the benefits are more than just knowing you’re doing good, they’re good for your well being. There are online guides to help you decide here: Idealist, JustServe, Points of Light, Do Something, as well as others.
