According to the Oxford Canadian dictionary, the word resolution carries a few different meanings. One of these definitions is “the act…of solving a problem”.

While the idea of creating New Year’s resolutions seems par for the course come January 1, it seems to imply that our lives are chock full of troubles.

If you don’t vibe with the habit of annual self-assessment, you’re not alone: according to a recent Ipsos poll, just 30 percent of Canadians will set a resolution for 2017. Of those, nearly three-quarters will not follow through.

With such a low success rate, it’s no wonder we are turning away from the tradition. There’s something to be said for taking steps to enrich the life you already have without disparaging the year you’ve just conquered.

With that, here are five tips for boosting knowledge, positivity, and awareness in 2017, and—hopefully—in the years that follow.

Try something new

It seems all too obvious, but the challenge associated with learning a new skill or hobby can lead to an unparalleled sense of satisfaction while creating an outlet for creativity that you might not have in your professional life. A new skill gives you something to look forward to after a difficult day at the office—instead of turning your mind off in front of the TV set every night, choose to engage your brain. If the fast feet on Dancing With the Stars have always enthralled you, sign up for a dance class. Envious of the delicious meal crafted by a relative over the holidays? Skip the take-out, head to the grocery store, and try cooking a new style of food. There’s no shame in embracing your inner granny and picking up a set of knitting needles, either, and if the weather continues to go the way it has been, a homemade tuque or pair of mittens is sure to go a long way.

Sign up for a course

With technology moving at an unstoppable pace, your degree from 2004 could probably use an upgrade. If heading back to school full-time isn’t in the cards, you don’t need to look far for affordable options that will bring you up to pace. If you’re a fan of the traditional classroom setting, colleges like Vancouver Community College, Douglas, and Langara offer short programs and classes with flexible schedules. If you prefer to study in the comfort of your own home, online learning options are endless, with many local institutions offering courses available over the Internet. Among the increasingly popular Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs—free courses offered via institutions through platforms like Coursera and Udacity—common topics of study in 2016 included finance, data science, entrepreneurship, coding, and computer programming.

Trade screen time for the outdoors

Heard of computer-vision syndrome? It’s just one of the many side effects caused by spending too much time in front of an artificially lit screen. (That’s in addition to the sore neck, upper back, and wrists that come with spending eight hours a day at a desk.) If your screen of choice is a smartphone, cyber sickness—a term used to describe the headaches, dizziness, and compromised sense of balance that come with incessant scrolling and video-watching—is another common response. If you’ve made a habit of using your work breaks to peruse social media or have spent the last six Saturdays at home streaming episodes of Game of Thrones, opt to get outside and move limbs instead of just digits. Studies have shown that stepping outside can reduce depressive symptoms. Take a hike, walk the seawall, or stroll through a new neighbourhood for an increased sense of wellness.

Pay it forward by volunteering

According to the latest federal statistics, more than 40 percent of Canadians donate their time to causes that are close to them. In a society that seems to reward busyness, there are things we avoid doing with the claim that we simply “don’t have the time”, but there is a host of benefits associated with carving out a weekly, biweekly, or monthly block to help those in need. Connect with a local charity, nonprofit, or care group, or find out if your skill set is needed at the Go Volunteer website, which lists requests by local organizations that are seeking assistance. Align your volunteering with your professional goals, and you’ll also create possibilities for career advancement. Not only will you expand your network of friends and acquaintances, you’ll increase your social skills, sense of purpose, and self-confidence.

Take five with meditation

If you’re feeling bogged down by the weight of your job, your home life, or your finances, it doesn’t take long for that negativity to take over your mind. One way to conquer that constant hum of impending responsibility is to shut your brain off—even if just for a moment. In a video that went viral on social media in 2016, Tibetan Buddhist master Mingyur Rinpoche tells viewers that meditation is possible anywhere, anytime. He says it’s all about asking your chattering “monkey mind” to focus on the simple task of breathing. If the struggle for inner silence is too difficult, start off with a short, guided meditation. Developing such a practice can reduce stress and increase self-awareness while laying the groundwork for a fresh, more positive outlook.