New Year’s Eve is the big celebration of the new year for most people. You might not realize it, but New Year’s Day can be just as fun as a New Year’s Eve party! Whether you’re alone or with friends and family, you’ll find plenty of fun activities on our New Year’s Day list. When it comes to creating special memories every year, you can even use some of these ideas as unique new traditions.
A shopping spree, a home refresh, or making New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to start your new year. Instead of spending time inside, why not spend some time outdoors? Our list includes ideas that require you to head out for brunch or to a concert venue to catch a show on New Year’s Day. In addition to New Year’s Day shopping, several stores will be open for New Year’s dinner ingredients on this day as well.
We are confident that no matter how you plan to start 2023, one of these activities will help you get off to a great start.
Treat yourself to a movie on New Year’s Day if you didn’t make it to the movies in 2022. Don’t hold back on the snacks and make it extra special.
If your resolution for the new year is to read more books, this is an excellent way to start. Choose a novel that interests you and spend the day reading it.
On New Year’s Day, spas are closed, but you can still indulge in some self-care. Organize a spa day at home and DIY your own spa treatments.
A new year brings a fresh start, which is part of its beauty. What better way to ring in the new year than by trying out some new cuisine with your besties?
Get some fresh air by going hiking with family and friends. Bring your dog for bonus points!
Embrace the new year with family, friends, and lots of carbs. Eggs are another option. Coffee, of course. You can wait until after brunch to start eating healthier in 2023, right?
Get on those ice skates and hit up a permanent or pop-up rink, grab your snowshoes and go for a hike, or find a snow tubing hill and you’ll start the year off right.
New Year’s Day gets dark really early – but some geniuses have figured out a way to turn that into a feature. New York City’s Lumino City Festival and Norco, California’s Electric Noel are two examples of arts events that use light as a medium. You’ll feel good about social distance and have an excuse to get a hot cocoa afterward, since they’re held outside or drive-through.
During after-Christmas sales this year, there are some great bargains to be had, and we all know the early bird gets the worm. Don’t let your holiday gift cards go to waste! If you don’t want to cook, consider getting takeout from one of the restaurants open on New Year’s Day.
Watching TV on January 1 and recovering from the night before is a hallowed tradition. There are several channels that provide daylong (or week-long) marathons of classic shows, such as Syfy with its Twilight Zone marathon every December, WPIX with its Honeymooners marathon, and BBC America with a days-long Dr. Who marathon. Then again, Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ are always available if that doesn’t appeal to your tastes.
You’ve committed to working out and staying motivated. Cooking easy meals at home instead of eating out. Spend time meditating, getting organized, or practicing gratitude. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution is for 2022, if you take the time to get it done on January 1, you can boast that you’ve never failed at it. Have you chosen one yet? It’s not too late to be inspired.
We’ve received the last gift of the holiday season from relatives far away and other well-wishers – but not all of them were a hit. Remember: the thought counts, but don’t keep an uninspiring gift just because it was gifted to you. Try holding a swap meet for regifts – or doing your own White Elephant exchange – and see if you can place them where they will be appreciated.
Bowl games, whether on New Year’s Day or the observed holiday you can take in some great college football games.
January offers the chance to make amends for December’s excesses, such as excessive drinking, eating, and spending. The 52-Week Money Challenge, Whole30, and Dry January are all worthwhile month-long challenges that people wait until the new year to tackle. See if you can get a mini-goal out of the way that first month if you don’t think it’s really appropriate for a year-long resolution.
There are big events like the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia and the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena.
Make a healthy start to the new year. It’s an annual tradition to run races on January 1st. These races mean people plan to start their new years at a speedy clip, with the Running of the Lights in Clemmons, North Carolina and the Hair of the Dog Walk/Run in Tucson, Arizona. In Clemmons, North Carolina, and Tucson, Arizona, athletes are getting ready for races like the Running of the Lights and Hair of the Dog Walk/Run.
There’s an old trick: Start every year with all your hangers facing one direction. Make sure you flip the hanger around each time you wear something. In the event that you have not worn it in a year and the hanger is still in its original position, you can let it go! Additionally, you can get rid of any clothes your children have outgrown, as well. By selling your old, good-condition clothes on sites like ThredUP or Kidizen, you can free up space in your closet while earning some money in the process.
The first day of the new year is a tradition when different cultures eat pomegranate, lentils, and noodles to bring good fortune. Then again, at least you ate something yummy if that luck thing doesn’t work out.