Woman holding her hands up in the shape of a heart. | Resolve to have fun, be kind, and try something new this year at Looking Glass - a new home community in Parker, CO

Resolve to Have Fun, Be Kind and Try Something New This Year!

New Year’s Resolutions…have you made any? Already broken a few? Surveying the last two weeks’ worth of musings on the internet there’s no shortage of suggestions. Here’s a small sampling —  a variety of unusual resolutions to consider — including a few psychological and character building suggestions we’ve NEVER heard before!

Try Something Fun

NPR has some great recommendations for New Year’s resolutions – some fun and frivolous, others serious and practical. Ideas range from getting your first tattoo, to hosting more dinner parties, and provide links to practical advice for achieving those goals. 

You could also, Try a restaurant you’ve never been to – like SAVERINA in DTC. This Italian favorite recently reviewed by EATER as one of the 10 best in SE Denver last fall and is about 22 minutes from your front door in Looking Glass. Or try one of the 25 best Denver restaurants of 2024 according to 5280.

If you like yapping and verbal processing, you might Start your own podcast. There are plenty of experts with ready advice, from Podbean and UDEMY (an entire class of how-to info) to helpful hints from Podcast Insights.

Or, Start your own audio journal. Lots of well-adjusted people keep a written journal to vent, document, daydream and plan, but if your hand/pen can’t keep up with your brain/thoughts, then audio journaling might be the answer. 

Try Something Different

You could set a goal to challenge yourself in ordinary ways, like resolving to Create a budget, Become a morning person, or, Don’t buy anything unnecessary for a whole year. (That last one might contain an impossible degree of difficulty!) 

Or perhaps you’d like to stop being a people pleaser, or need some healthy coping mechanisms when you’re in a funk. You can also revert to the old standbys: Organize my home (yawn) and Minimize clutter (snore) – which is not to say those are not worth pursuing. It’s just that Resolving conflict with my partner and Breaking free from a co-dependent relationship are not just novel but vicariously intriguing. 

Try Something Positive

Here’s a self-improve-your-character resolution: Stop Gossiping. Ouch! In other words, don’t be THAT person. Instead spread positivity. How, you might ask? The Power of Positivity website has 33 suggestions, ranging from reconnecting with someone you’ve lost touch with (which incidentally boosts longevity) to helping an elderly neighbor, family member or friend. 

Being a jerk is, unfortunately, contagious but according to Scientific American, so is kindness. While we don’t understand the psychology behind it, one individual’s kindness can trigger others to spread positivity.

If you’d like to resolve to be a kinder, gentler, all-around better person, check out Parade’s list of 50 New Year’s resolutions, which include Staying in touch with people who matter (audio/video call instead of text), Letting go of grudges,  Sending handwritten letters,  and Talking less, listening more.

2025 Happier, Healthier Homier Resolutions

A happier home could include making a home inventory list with photos of your prized possessions. It seems like a CHORE to create inventories… until calamity strikes. But documenting belongings can make it easier to file a claim after a loss or disaster. The lists from What Happens Now make simple work of the process with a head start of room-by-room lists of possessions/décor/appliances/fixtures that you can tweak.

Good Housekeeping says that stress reduction at home can be achieved by Becoming a plant owner. Research showsthat the presence of indoor plants can lower human stress levels, and one study found actively caring for plants calmed the nervous system and lowered blood pressure. So swing by the Pine Lane Nursery on Apache Drive in Parker this weekend after brunch and zen your way to home happiness.

Through The Looking Glass 

The master-planned community of Looking Glass in Parker will welcome at least 200 new families to a variety of amenities here: 130 acres of open space, five neighborhood parks/pavilions/playgrounds, 22 miles of trails, a swimming pool for summer fun and nearby shopping and entertainment. Check out the home designs and floor plans from D.R. Horton, Taylor Morrison, Dream Finders Homes and coming this spring, Richmond American, offering both paired and single-family options.