And tried to look at everything else, the everyday stuff, through what I call the Prism of Positivity.
Again, it sounds super dicky and my kids will wince at it getting an airing, but the basic theory is I imagine the slice of the world I see as a giant kaleidoscope. One which I have the power to turn to change the view. Adjust the light and colours.
So, yeah, I had more fun!
Days away from another new year, resolutions are on my mind again. I like them for intention, for being honest with yourself about where you are and where you want to be. I see them as inherently hopeful and optimistic, that you believe tomorrow can be better. And I think the choices and cues of a can-do attitude are picked up by osmosis by others.
Resolutions are also on your mind. A new survey of 1039 Australians found 73 per cent of us – around 14.8 million people – have set a goal for next year. Diet and exercise-related resolutions are the most common, with one in three wanting to eat better, 36 per cent keen to get fitter and 33 per cent keen to lose weight.
Almost a fifth of us have vowed to sleep more and 10 per cent want a better work-life balance. More women than men make new year’s resolutions, and they’re more of a thing with younger generations. Only half of Baby Boomers have one compared to 92 per cent of Gen Z and 83 per cent of Millennials.
Loading
Not trending for 2024? Travelling more, meditating regularly and drinking less booze, according to a survey by Forbes Health/OnePoll. It also found the average resolution lasted a tick under four months and action-oriented goals were more likely to result in success after a year than avoidance-oriented ones.
The interesting stat is just 8 per cent of resolutions are achieved.
Which makes me feel safe putting my 2024 goals out there: becoming a foster parent and getting a tattoo. Both still at the investigation stage, but there are 365 days to work with. Happy New Year people! May you be focused and fun-loving in equal measure.
Kate Halfpenny is the founder of Bad Mother Media.
The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
