After the insanely stressful year that was 2020, many people are looking for ways to become a better person or to do things where they can feel better about themselves. You may think that this entails a lot of energy that you just don’t have to spare. However, knowingly bettering yourself can increase not only your energy levels but your entire level of health as well. Positive is as positive does. Here are some ways that virtually anyone can make 2021 their year to remember.

Donate Your Time

If you are retired or simply have a bit of extra time on your hands, consider volunteering for a cause that means a lot to you. This could be anything from volunteering at your church or food bank to taking time to read to kids at a children’s hospital or visiting lonely seniors at rest homes. No matter what you choose to do, you’ll gain satisfaction knowing that you are giving some of the best of yourself to others.

Go Back to School

It’s been said that you should never stop looking for ways to keep learning. This is especially true if you received a Bachelor’s degree but always thought that you should have continued your education. For instance, if you went to college for business but were unable to pursue your Master’s degree at the time, why not go back in 2021? With favorable lending rates available to be used to your advantage, there’s no better time than now. Not only will finally getting your MBA satisfy you, but it can definitely increase your earning potential as well.

Read More Books

A fun, and free, way to learn is to simply dedicate time to read each day. Reading on a regular basis strengthens neural pathways in your brain and can even create new ones. If you are on a budget, don’t worry about buying books from the store or trying to maintain an e-book subscription, just head on down to your local public library and check them out for free.

Get in Some Exercise

You don’t have to sign up for a gym membership to get in some refreshing and healthy exercise, not to mention you’ll be saving on the hefty membership fees. With the advancements of home gyms, exercise bikes, or even going for a run, there are plenty of way to add fitness into your daily routine. Even taking daily strolls through a nearby park or doing some light calisthenics will bring about healthy changes to both your body and mind.

Start Saving

If you haven’t started any kind of retirement fund as of yet, now is the time. If you already have a fund in place, try to look for ways where you can increase contributions. If your employer matches what you put in, be sure you’re maximizing to the full extent, otherwise you’ll be leaving free money on the table that could be compounding over the next few decades until you retire. Who knows, if you continue to increase contributions each year, you could even end up retiring early!