2018 is here in full swing and when is a better time to make some changes in your life to feel more fulfilled than these early days of the year? So for those who are a bit behind on their New Year’s resolutions, we have gathered 5 things to take up this year!
(Or better yet, anytime really. There is no time limit to start improving yourself!)
1-Get into Shape
We start our list with a classic one: Getting into shape. Sure, you’ve been travelling mostly or just settled into the Netherlands and have been super busy sorting everything out. Being an expat is not one of the easiest tasks out there. So we understand, but all those bitterballen and stroopwafels will eventually settle in somewhere as well!
If you feel like you need more movement than those 15 minutes of cycling to work then maybe it’s time for you to consider signing up for a gym membership. Afraid you can’t commit to a membership that’s for a year when you’ll be leaving in couple of months or travel for a while?
No problem! Gym Nomad has you covered!
So how does it all work? You can go to their website and fill in the preferred date of your short-term subscription (anything up to 8 weeks) and your location, now they’re mainly covering gyms in Amsterdam but other cities are coming up soon. Some internet magic later and all gyms, pilates-studios and running crews turn up with a fixed price for your selected period. Check it out, prices are way lower than expected and they nicely described in English what’s happening there and when. So no surprises such as when you’re preparing for a yoga class but it’s kick-box-time already.
Sounds too good to be true? Just check them out for yourself! Or read our take on it right here!
2-Learn Dutch
Yes, yes, we know that the Dutch are pretty good at speaking English. In fact so good that they were named the best country in the world when it comes to it. Don’t let that get you from learning the wonderful language of Dutch! Because whether you have recently arrived in the Netherlands or have been living here for years, having at least a basic knowledge of the language will without a doubt make your life easier (and more fun!).
So let this year be the last one to postpone and get to learning. As Dutchreview, we even rounded up some of our articles to get you started! Here you can read about all the struggles you might go through. Maybe you would like to read about what the future will look like with ‘5 stages of Learning Dutch‘. Finally, for the ones who already know some Dutch, we have a few words to add about the weather!
3-Visit Other Cities
The Netherlands is not all about the big cities such as Amsterdam, Den Haag or Leiden! As one of your New Year’s resolutions, take your time and grab your OV-Chipkaart and hit the roads!
You can visit the oldest city in the Netherlands (hint, it’s Nijmegen), visit the Vermeer Centrum in Delft or walk the streets of Maastricht for the weekend. Whichever city you choose to visit, you’ll not only have a good time but get to know the Netherlands a bit better as well!
4-Don’t Forget the Other Countries
Maybe your journey to the Netherlands was not so long or maybe you’ve traveled here from far countries. It doesn’t matter! Make 2018 the year for new discoveries. Don’t limit yourself with the Netherlands and go beyond!
Grab a bratwurst in Germany or get drunk at the Oktoberfest, explore the historical city of Brugge and taste the amazing Belgian beer in Brussels, see the Eiffel Tower in Paris! Do we need to say more?
5-Get a New Hobby!
That dusty guitar standing in your living room, that knitting set your aunt got you for last Christmas or that water colouring set you bought couple of years back…
You know what we are talking about and if you find yourself playing with your phone, sitting on the couch for hours at a time; maybe it’s time for you to take up a new (or a forgotten) hobby! It’s not only good for passing some time but also good for that stress you’ve been bottling up. Plus, a perfect way to reduce all the gift costs for the holidays. (Tea cozies for everyone!) Give it a try!
Just know that even though you are calling your weekly pub crawling a hobby, that doesn’t mean the rest of the world agree with you.
So, what are your New Year’s resolutions for 2018? Don’t forget to share it with us in the comments!
