Five Ways to Make a Fresh Start in 2025

All over the world, people greet the dawn of a new year with optimism. We enjoy displays of fireworks globally, including the drop of the famous Times Square ball at midnight. May more gather for parties, celebratory dinners, and family toasts. Even for those who go to bed before midnight, the turn of the new year is significant! A new calendar year offers a chance to start fresh, and explore new possibilities. As we enter 2025, we offer five ideas to inspire those new year’s resolutions. Perhaps this year, you’ll make them last throughout the year.

The staff of River North Law Group wishes you a Happy New Year with all the happy returns it can bring. Should you need our services, we’ll be here throughout the year to help you resolve your case.

Reflect & Celebrate – Get the Family Involved

With the start of a new year, we have an opportunity to reflect on the highlights of the previous year. New skills you embraced, relationships repaired, a promotion or new job, milestones, races won, and so much more. When we take time to reflect on the big moments of the previous year, feelings of gratitude come easily.

Getting the family involved can add beauty and camaraderie to the process, since often those closest to us can recall our wins better than we do. Try gathering the family or close friends for a memorable discovery of each other’s wins, and high points of the previous year. Document the occasion with photos or cards for posterity. Here are some more cool ideas for family gratitude.

Here are four more ideas to inspire a fresh start to 2025.

Declutter & Make Space for the New

Declutter for the new year

Every year, on December 31st, millions commit to getting our personal spaces in order. We clean out our closets, purge junk from our garages, and organize our files and paperwork. We make a pile of papers to shred, freshen drawers and cabinets with new labels, and take old clothes to Good Will.

Even if you pick only one area to tackle, it will refresh your outlook, and make your lifestyle more efficient. If decluttering sounds worse than going to the dentist, you’ve probably aimed too ambitiously. The power of reorganizing doesn’t lie in the scope of the project, but small steps can be infectious. One small project may lead to the next, and sustain improvements throughout the year. The benefits of streamlined living spaces are worth the work.

For a great YouTube Channel to take on your decluttering journey, try the 'queen of decluttering,' Marie Kondo.

Commit to Better Health

Commit to better health in 2023

When we hear the words ‘better health’ over the new year holiday, our minds jump immediately to weight loss. After all, commercials are running everywhere for exercise equipment, diet programs, mobile device apps, and every aid on the market.

However, commitment to better health doesn’t require weight loss goals. New year’s goals can include a broad range of targets from lowering blood sugar to having bunions removed at last. Try expanding your definition of better health to include health targets other than diet and weight management.

One easy goal could focus on getting better sleep. Scientific research proves how fundamental sleep is to our overall health. Not only does getting enough quality sleep help you keep extra weight off, but it can reduce some risk factors for heart attacks, strokes, and chronic diseases. It also helps you think more clearly.

If you haven’t seen a medical provider for a full physical exam in a few years, that may be the best commitment to better health you can make at the beginning of the year. Here are 5 tips for keeping your commitment in 2025.

Schedule it: Make one physical check-up a top priority on your to-do list and schedule it with your chosen provider along with other aapointments.
Plan ahead: Plan your workouts, grocery shopping, and food prep.
Take care of your body: Get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, and be physically active.
Spend time outdoors: 20 minutes outside a day can improve your mood, help you reach optimal sleep, and increase vitamin D levels.
Find an activity you enjoy: Research shows that people with purposeful activity are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood, and depression.

Commit to Lifelong Learning & Reading

Lifelong learning expands your perspectiveThere have never been more options to enjoy lifelong learning. From community colleges, to libraries, to an endless array of online courses. The benefits of lifelong learning can’t be quantified. It expands our dreams, exposes us to new perspectives, and improves conversation. Reading can make you a more interesting partner, friend, or party guest.

Perhaps in 2025, assumptions about reading based on unpleasant memories of studying for school can be replaced with a fresh outlook on reading. At little or no cost in more relaxed, less structured classes you can be well read. You might try new arts & craft, sharpen a childhood interest, join a book club, or take on a podcast just for fun.

Or, if you're feeling more ambitious, take on The New York Times Ten Best Books List.

Volunteer! Brighten the Lives of Others

Volunteer and brighten the lives of others

No matter where we live, there’s no shortage of people, causes, or organizations that can benefit from our time, expertise, or resources. Not only are we as humans biologically wired to share with others, but research from National Institutes of Health neuroscientist Jorge Moll found we get an actual “helper’s high” – thanks to the release of addictive feel-good neurotransmitters – when we help others.

Some people are uncomfortable with the idea that volunteers benefit from serving based on the principle of selflessness. But, when a volunteer can see the benefits both to and from the recipient of their service, it upholds the dignity of those who are served, and opens the door for authentic relationships to be forged.

"The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves". - Helen Keller

We hope you achieve your dreams in 2025!