How to Build Your Holiday Wish List If You Want a Better You for Next Year

By the end of the year, there’s a lot of stuff to reflect about and ponder over. That means it’s a great time to think about how you want to better yourself in the coming year. With New Year’s right around the corner, the holidays are a perfect time to stock up on all the stuff you need to make those self-improvement dreams a reality. Here’s how to tailor your wish list to make it happen.
 
If you want to learn a new skill
 
Very few things are better for our minds and souls than learning. Mastering a new skill lets us continue our education well into adulthood. You’re never too old to learn a new trick - you’re not a dog. Think about this when prepping this year’s wish list.
 
You should add music to your wish list this year - specifically a new instrument as well as some lessons to help you become proficient. You can go ambitious and try to learn a less-popular instrument like a viola or saxophone, or you can start out with the guitar or keyboards. The benefit of the latter is that they are good musical theory instruments that can be both awesome on their own, but also kickstart you toward other musical adventures. Plus, some of the best online guitar lessons are merely $20 or so a month.
 
If you want to eat healthier
 
A common self-improvement goal is to eat better. But can you really wish list yourself to a good diet? Well, yes and no. Starting and more importantly maintaining a healthy diet is hard work. It takes dedication and sacrifice. But you can help yourself with a handful of products and services.
 
One option for your wish list? How about a food delivery service like Blue Apron. If you struggle to find the energy to go to the grocery, find a recipe, and cook, take two of those steps out of the equation and have quality meals delivered to your door, ready to cook. Next, think about these three kitchen gadgets:
 

• For cheap, wish for a vegetable spiralizer to create all the zucchini and sweet potato noodles your heart desires.
• For a moderate price, a quality slow cooker or an Instant Pot slow/pressure cooker. You can cook healthy food in large quantities in a “set it and forget it” manner.
• For a more expensive wish list item, how about a Vitamix blender for all of your protein shake, salsa, pesto, nut butter, and other processing needs?

 
If you want to relieve some stress
 
You can’t begin a self-improvement journey if you’re burdened by stress. This holiday season, wish for something that can help you shed a year’s worth of anxiety.
 
One good idea for your list is to create a vacation fund. You can use a crowdsourcing website like GoFundMe for this. Once you’ve created a campaign, you can easily share it with your friends and family, who can then contribute a lot or a little to your vacation fund. It’s hard to think of something better for stress than a free vacation.
 
For something a little more traditional, think relaxation in the immediate term. You can ask for something like a pillow massager for neck stress or an oil diffuser for some aromatherapy. Check here for some more stress relief gift ideas.
 
By creating a holiday wish list that’s tailored to how you see yourself improving over the course of the next year, you can avoid the pitfalls of poor gifting - another sweater from grandma or another Starbucks gift card from your brother. Be specific, and focus on what you need to succeed.
 
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

This blog was written by Julie Morris. If you are interested in blogging for FIRST Ladies, click here to sign up on the schedule.