New Year’s resolutions often fail because they demand drastic changes or stem from self-criticism. This year, shift your perspective and aim for attainable goals inspired by self-care and personal growth. Instead of restrictive diets or lofty life-altering commitments, try focusing on small, meaningful steps that make you feel good every day. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Cook something new. Challenge yourself to try one new recipe a week. Dust off those beautiful cookbooks or dive into the endless world of online recipes via Pinterest, food blogs, or TV shows. The supply of free recipes is virtually endless. While you’re at it, try recipes from different world cultures or bond with family and friends by cooking together or perhaps organizing virtual cookoffs where you all try the same new recipes together.

Become a plant owner. Plants not only brighten your home, they can also improve air quality. If you’ve struggled to keep plants alive before, make this the year you commit to learning proper care. Research plant types and care instructions and resolve to give your new green companions the attention they deserve.

Prioritize work breaks. For those working from home, it’s easy to blur the line between work and leisure. Set alarms to remind yourself to take breaks, stretch, or simply step away from your desk. Enjoy coffee or meals in a different space, creating a boundary that helps recharge your mind.

Move your body more. Staying active doesn’t have to mean signing up for a gym membership or investing in expensive cardio equipment. It can be as simple as stretching, taking a walk, dancing, shooting hoops in the driveway, or even building a snowman.

Take a digital detox. If you’re checking social media once or more every hour or running out of streaming TV shows to binge, it might be time to unplug for a bit. Replace screen time with old-fashioned, analog pleasures such as soaking in a hot tub, indulging in a new skin or personal care routine, reading hardcopy books or magazines, playing board games, gardening, doing puzzles, or just talking (versus messaging) with friends and family.

Practice single-tasking. Somewhere along the line, we have been persuaded that multitasking is a superpower. You might accomplish more, but the quality of your work can suffer, and burnout is common. This goes for mental focus too. Work not only on doing one thing at a time, but also on keeping your mind focused in the present on the task at hand.

Improve your sleep routine. Good sleep is essential for health and immunity. Create a calming pre-bed ritual – move during the day, avoid screens before sleep, stretch, meditate, or take a warm bath. Keep devices out of reach to avoid late-night scrolling, and aim for a consistent bedtime.

Make your home more fragrant. Pleasing scents are a fast track to producing more dopamine, the chemical that signals and mediates pleasure in your brain. Experiment with simmer pot recipes, scented candles, or essential oils to create a soothing, uplifting atmosphere in your space.

The possibilities are limitless. This year, try shifting your focus from overwhelming, self-critical New Year’s resolutions to “small, positive steps I can take each day to improve my life.” With this mindset, success is well within reach.