5 Realistic Resolutions for People with Disabilities

New Year’s resolutions allow us to achieve personal growth throughout the year. As we start a new year together, Paraqaud remains dedicated to enhancing accessibility and increasing social engagement for people with disabilities. Our team has provided a few of our favorite realistic resolutions for 2024 — read on to find the best option for you. 

1. Start Working Out 

Working out more is a common goal for people as the new year kicks off. But for people with disabilities, working out is especially important. Nearly 41.6 percent of adults with a disability are obese, while only 29.6 percent of adults without a disability are. Due to mostly sedentary lifestyles, you may be at increased risk of health complications such as heart disease or diabetes. 

Establishing a regular gym routine can boost your physical and mental health. But, at the same time, it can be hard to go to a traditional gym. Depending on your ability level, you may need a gym tailored to your needs. 

The Stephen A. Orthwein Center at Paraquad offers fully adaptive equipment and a crew of trained professionals on standby. Our facilities are key to enhancing accessibility through consistent movement. Whether you’re striving to increase your strength or lose some weight, our team helps you create a routine attuned to your goals.

2. Try a New Hobby 

Hobbies are known to reduce stress and improve your overall well-being. Plus, these realistic resolutions provide an outlet for increasing social engagement in your life. The new year is the perfect opportunity to incorporate a new activity into your schedule. 

Some fulfilling hobbies for you to consider include: 

• Caring for plants

• Cooking or baking

• Painting

• Reading 

• Learning to play an instrument

• Playing an adaptive sport

Alternatively, you could use your free time to explore public policies affecting our community. By keeping yourself up-to-date on policies, you can advocate for policies enhancing accessibility in your community or raise awareness for issues not being addressed. 

3. Make New Friends

Research shows that high-quality friendships protect against mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. But as an adult, lasting friendships are hard to come by. You must be intentional with your time to foster new friendships, going to the same places and talking to those you come across. 

Though this is one of many realistic resolutions, it can be hard to exert yourself every day. Many people try to establish a routine to help them make friends in the new year. 

We recommend attending established social engagements such as support groups or classes to see the same people consistently. Bare minimum, seize at least one moment each day to talk to someone new and create a connection. With enough effort, you’ll establish connections with a few people in your daily routine and find that you have things in common. 

4. Build Your Confidence 

Confidence is the start of countless memorable experiences in our lives. It’s common to struggle with self-confidence, so the new year is a great time to use realistic resolutions to your advantage. You can build your confidence by: 

• Improving your hygiene. As the common saying goes, “Look good, feel good.” Taking care of yourself is a valuable first step to building your confidence — even if it’s as simple as a haircut. 

• Practicing positive self-talk. Confidence starts with you — be kind to yourself and practice positive affirmations such as “I am worth it.” 

• Push yourself out of the box. Take the initiative to try new things, whether that’s going to a local social engagement or traveling to a new destination. Consistent exposure to the unknown will help you believe in your abilities and realize the world isn’t as scary as you make it out to be. 

  5. Get Involved at Paraquad

By enhancing accessibility in the St. Louis area, Paraquad has created a community of people with disabilities. While we’re all different, each one of us can understand the multifaceted nature of life with a disability. Paraquad offers countless opportunities to explore realistic resolutions in the new year, from peer mentorship to employment programs.

Contact our team to find out how you can get involved in 2024.