The end of the year is a time for reflection and hope. Reflect on the year at one of the biggest NYE party countdown list and end your year on a high. But each new year also brings about hope. It marks a fresh start to the year and the chance for it to become your best year yet.

Here are 5 resolutions for a happier you in 2014. 

1. Reward yourself

Nothing feels more awesome than being in a celebratory mood. Find any and every reason to reward yourself. Be it kicking a bad habit or making a slight improvement in something, celebrate.

I’m not a morning person, I get Morning Blues every other day. You gotta call Thor if you wanna wake me up. So when I do wake up, on time, I treat myself to a hearty breakfast at a Singapore café. I feel so happy so much so I actually feel it’s kinda (almost) worth it to wake up that early.

2. Love yourself

When i say love, I don’t mean self-obsessed narcissism. Neither am I encouraging you to post 24 selfies a day. Loving yourself is being comfortable with who you are and how you look.

This new year, let’s not crumble when being judged or misunderstood because you know very well what kind of person you are and why you do certain things in a certain manner. You don’t always have to prove to others, you don’t always have to account to anyone for your actions.

This new year, love yourself just the way you are. (*cues Bruno Mars*) Love yourself in your natural state, even without make-up or big-eye contacts or styling your hair. Everything else should be enhancement, not your source of confidence. When you love yourself, people can feel it.

3. Laugh it off

How many hours a day do we spend worrying? 25. Because we over-worry way more than we can take. No doubt, laughing it off doesn’t solve the problem, but at least it keeps you mentally ready to tackle it head on.

4. Do something you’ve always wanted to

Buckets after buckets, yes, we all know you have an extensive things-to-do-before-you-die bucket list. But are you doing anything about it? Go sky diving, go speed dating, go pick up a new hobby you’d never dare to no matter how much you wanted to. After all, your life satisfaction is greatly determined by the completion of the things you wanted to do.

Speaking of bucket lists, be sure to check out our lists of things to do in Singapore before you die.

5. Do something meaningful

If you have a heart to volunteer, get it done before you get overly occupied with money generation and climbing the social ladder. If you belong to the other bunch, why not give it a shot?

Volunteer for activities that interest you e.g. cats, wildlife, children, fundraising, cooking. Besides benefiting the underprivileged, you might very well discover benefits that actually reap in a lower opportunity cost than spending the time earning quick cash somewhere else. No harm trying!

What are some of your new year resolutions? Share them below!