This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on December 31, 2015.

The phrase “new year’s resolution” isn’t always a positive one — we have all been there: multiple resolutions over multiple years overwhelmingly resulting in failure, and most of them revolve around the notion of “bettering” ourselves. From losing weight and getting fit to quitting a bad habit such as smoking. Millions of us in the same boat have not only utterly disappointed ourselves in the quest to change our lifestyles, but even forgetting that we had even made these resolutions in the first place during the start of every year. 

Come 2016, do things a little differently. Instead of making a resolution to change yourself or your lifestyle, try making a positive change in the world by helping in whatever little way that you possibly can, or do something that you have always wanted to do but never found the time to.

1. Involve yourself in charity work

There are hundreds of avenues for us to volunteer our time; from animal shelters to food drives for the homeless and needy. Visit www.paws.org.my to find out how to volunteer at an animal shelter, or www.kechara.com/soup-kitchen to volunteer to feed the homeless. Not all of us have the means to adopt a child physically, but there are countless of non-profit organisations today that gives everyone the chance to “adopt” a child or an animal by sponsoring them for however long a duration that we are willing. The Born Free Foundation (www.bornfree.org.uk) allows donors to “adopt” endangered species such as Ethiopian wolves, polar bears, elephants, chimpanzees, gorillas, tigers and cheetahs, all of whom are given names. As well as to give a child a better future, look up www.unicef.org.

2. Read one book a month

This can be a tall order for some, but not so intimidating if you pick books that are not seemingly difficult like Game of Thrones. A good start would be to pick out classics that have been canonised in the English language (or whichever language you choose) because of how they shaped literature throughout the years, or even how they changed the world. Some great shorter English novels both fiction and non-fiction are: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Macbeth by Shakespeare, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. 

3. Adopt a pet

There is a serious pet overpopulation problem in Malaysia, with the majority of pet owners unwilling to desex their pets and opting instead to drop off litters of kittens and puppies at local shelters. In 2016, why not add a furry friend to your family? Animal shelters like Paws Animal Welfare Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals houses cats and dogs of all ages, all of which are adoptable for a minimal fee. The upside is that these animals have already been desexed and vetted prior to being released for adoption. Alternatively, visit www.petfinder.my, where many rescuers list adoptable animals along with their pictures and descriptions of their personalities online. 

4. Learn a new skill

Depending on your level of commitment, this can either be exceptionally hard, or relatively easy. You could learn a new language, how to cook a new dish, how to take great photos, how to swim or ride a bike, how to sew, or even some basic skills that will be of great help around the house, such as basic plumbing or carpentry. 

5. Create a ‘Rememberlutions’ Jar

Featured on Buzzfeed, the Rememberlutions Jar is something you can fill with memories and accomplishments throughout the year. These “rememberlutions” can be simple things like visiting a certain country, or a great accomplishment such as learning how to kickbox. At the end of the year, you’re supposed to open the jar and reflect on your best memories of 2016, and feel a sense of pride in all that you’ve achieved.