For many, the dawn of a new year is the perfect time to set goals—making for some jam-packed gyms in January. Unfortunately, New Year’s resolutions are easier to make than keep, and many well-meaning folks give up after just a few days or weeks. Heck, January 17 was even designated as National Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day! To improve your odds, experts suggest setting small, specific goals instead. Read on for 10 bite-size ideas to make 2024 your happiest, healthiest, most productive year yet.

Eat Your Veggies
Whether you want to lose weight or improve your overall health, fresh fruits and veggies are key. “[They] can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar, [ultimately keeping your] appetite in check,” according to Harvard’s School of Public Health. Luckily, our region is home to a bounty of veg-friendly eateries serving up meals so mouthwatering you won’t even miss the meat. Zest Kitchen (zestvegankitchen.com) in Rocklin serves an entirely vegan menu in casual environs; the breakfast burrito, seasonal panini, and salted caramel brownie are all musts. Sink your teeth into savory, meat-free Indian soups, curries, and more at Folsom’s Mantra (mantraindian.com). And at Vegan Circus (vegan-circus.com)—a food truck dishing up cruelty-free carnival classics—savor playful takes on fair favorites, like pink lotus churros, corn dogs, and fantasy funnel cakes.

 

Read a Good Book
“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book,” says author J.K. Rowling. One way to discover great books is by joining a book club—and there are plenty to choose from. If you’re looking for a casual vibe, try Books on Tap, organized by Ruby’s Books (rubysfolsom.com) and hosted the first Tuesday of each month at Red Bus Brewing Co. (redbusbrew.com/calendar); Face in a Book (getyourfaceinabook.com) in El Dorado Hills also hosts numerous groups, including a Daytime Book Club and Young Adult Book Club. If “clubbing” isn’t your vibe, simply ask one of our local booksellers for some must-read recommendations. Tina Ferguson, owner of Face in a Book, is loving The Fury by Alex Michaelides (a masterfully paced thriller) and The Mystery Guest (a national bestseller containing both comedy and sadness) by Nita Prose.

 

Get in the Game
Did you miss the pickleball craze? Now’s the perfect time to join in, as a new pickleball entertainment complex is coming to Roseville later this year. Electric Pickle (electricpickle.co) will offer indoor and outdoor courts, along with music, gourmet food, and cocktails; think Topgolf for picklers. In the meantime, learn the game at Johnson Ranch Pickleball Complex (sparetimesportsclubs.com/sports/pickleball)—the largest facility in Northern California—which offers “Pickleball 101” and many other opportunities for both members and non-members to play; or join the Folsom Pickleball Club (folsompickleballclub.org) and register for their “Introduction to Pickleball” event, typically scheduled the first Saturday of each month.

 

Go Outside
You can never soak up too much sunshine. Studies show that fresh air can boost your energy, improve your mood, and help you sleep better. Beat the winter blues by heading outdoors. The paved trails of Roseville’s Miner’s Ravine Nature Reserve (placer.ca.gov/6003/miners-ravine-nature-reserve), Folsom’s Johnny Cash Trail (folsomcasharttrail.com), and the UC Davis Arboretum (arboretum.ucdavis.edu) all offer year-round recreation opportunities for walkers, runners, and cyclists.

 

Save a Buck
Next time you need an outfit, head to a consignment or resale store. You’ll save money and help keep items out of the landfill. ReLove Consignment (weloverelove.co) in Folsom offers a huge selection of stylish secondhand clothes and accessories for women; FreeStyle Clothing Exchange (freestyleclothing.com), with four locations in the area, sells gently used items for both men and women; while Renaissance Fine Consignment (renaissancecorp.com/el-dorado-hills-store) caters to buyers seeking high-quality, designer fashion (think Chanel, Gucci, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton) at a fraction of the original price.

 

Lend a Hand
Most food banks experience a significant drop in donations after the holidays. Help feed those in need by donating a bag of non-perishable items to Twin Lakes Food Bank (twinlakesfoodbank.org), Food Bank of El Dorado County (foodbankedc.org), or Placer Food Bank (placerfoodbank.org). Better yet, organize a food drive at your workplace, church, child’s school, or other organization. The food bank websites have info on most-needed items, as well as how to organize and register your drive.

 

Spice Things Up
Life feeling a bit bland? Spice things up by taking a cooking class from the comfort of your own kitchen with Sacramento Spice (sacramentospice.com). Local chef Shankari Arcot—winner of the California State Fair’s Iron Chef Competition—has been sharing her love of cooking with locals for over a decade with virtual and in-person culinary courses for all ages (kids included!) and levels. The cooking classes at Folsom’s Murer House (murerhousefoundation.org/cooking-classes) are designed to help home cooks master the skills to prepare tasty, everyday meals (like arancini on January 13 and minestrone on January 20).

 

Boost Your Knowledge
No matter your age or interests, you can always learn something new—especially at a museum! If you’re a local history buff, the recently updated Gold Rush Museum (visitplacer.com/the-gold-rush-museum) in Auburn boasts a mining tunnel, Gold Rush “Twitter wall,” indoor panning steam, and many other hands-on exhibits. Or, if you’re a tech enthusiast, ring in 2024 with a visit to the Roseville Telephone Museum (www.consolidated.com/museum), which has an extensive collection of antique telephones and memorabilia.

 

Travel (Locally)
Even if you can’t swing an overseas vacation this year, you can experience new places. Put on your finest frock and travel to England—and back in time—with a Victorian-style high tea at The Tea Nook (teanooklincoln.com) or Sotherton Tea Room (sothertontearoom.com), both in Lincoln. Or check out Placerville’s Savory Pies of the World (savorypiesoftheworld.com), which—just like the name suggests—offers a fresh, tasty selection of hand pies from all culinary corners of the globe, from Ireland and Italy to Russia, Thailand, and Japan.

 

De-Clutter & Donate
Get a jump on spring cleaning! Tackle one shelf, drawer, or bin at a time. Remove everything and separate items into three piles: keep, donate, trash. After purging, donate usable possessions you no longer need to a local charity, such as Snowline Hospice Thrift Stores (snowlinehospice.org/thrift), with locations in Folsom, Cameron Park, and Placerville.