This article will make you a better person in 2022

I saw a post from someone saying that their New Year Resolution is 'be a better person' Wow. Such ambition, I love it! However, that rezzy is a bit vague for my liking tbh.

If you're into the principle of being a better, kinder, more ethical, present and generally brilliant you in '22, but want to make it more attainable, here are four NYRs that you can pinch to get you off to a good start. Some of them nicely measurable, others more about a direction of travel that mean you're always going forward, no matter how slowly. Let me know what you think. Go on, ENGAGE WITH ME.

Alternative resolutions for 2022

1/ I will pick three brands with questionable ethics that I frequently use and find an alternative to each, and use these wherever I can until Jan 2023.?(NB My focus is on finding better alternatives, instead of being crippled by hunting down the perfect alternative. A small step in the right direction is better than standing still.)

Ideas:

• I'll switch to using Minor Figures oat milk instead of cows' semi-skimmed in my coffee.?
• I will switch my banking to Triodos, Starling or Monzo (or ideally one that I've researched myself because I know this is some stranger's LinkedIn and not official FSA-regulated shit)
• I will just entirely boycott Amazon and use basically anything else but especially local and/or independent shops that pay their taxes

2/ I will write myself a positive Post-it note each week and stick it on my desk. It doesn't need to be wanky or spiritual and it doesn't matter if I forget to do it sometimes, it just matters that I try.

Ideas for messages:

• Stand up and stretch, you look like a fucking croissant
• Go and eat some fruit
• You are bloody beautiful

3/ I will take microsteps every day to help me like my body more. It's the only one I have and freeing up my brain from negative self-talk will make my life better in so many ways and set a good example for those around me.

Ideas:

• Cleaning up and diversifying my social feeds by getting rid of the triggering folks and replacing them with people who show me that beauty comes in all shapes, colours and sizes. On IG try @stephanieyeboah, @21andsensory, @powerofplus.co
• Ditching the scales
• 2-3 mins per day active work on my body image with the Project Body Love podcast

4/ I will learn how to be an ally to people of colour, even when learning is a hard and uncomfortable process. I might read some books as part of DOING THE WORK, but I know it's about more than joining a book club, so I will focus on putting my privilege to work, not just sticking pics of "Why I'm no longer talking to white people about race" on IG and calling it a day.

Ideas:

• Google it - hard
• Read some books then give them to others to read
• Follow IG accounts who actively want to educate (@blairimani is an incredible place to start)
• Don't ask people of colour to educate me, they've got enough on
• Keep doing the right thing even if I'm not sure of the right words or if I'm worried about getting it wrong

5/ I will use my day-job for good, rather than just for paying the bills.

Ideas:

• Go freelance so I can pick and choose who I work with
• Work for a brilliant non-profit or ethically-minded company
• Apply to work at Thompson, a branding agency specialising in health, wellbeing and non-profit, with a totally awesome attitude to just about everything (message me to find out what roles we're recruiting for. No recruiters please)

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PS This actually wasn't supposed to be a job ad but I just couldn't resist throwing that in at the end. Now of course I'll sit and wonder: did I cheapen an otherwise brilliant article? Or is it irrelevant anyway because everyone gave up after the nonsense clickbait of a title? We may never know. Unless you ENGAGE WITH ME.