Two people in an art gallery smiling.

Joyful, Art-Filled New Year’s Resolutions

by J. Attridge, UMFA communications coordinator

We’ve reached the time of year when people begin to ask, “What’s your new year’s resolution?” I usually just make up some sort of vague less-of-something resolution like “less phone time,” “stop eating sugar,” etc., but the resolution is usually forgotten as soon as the conversation is over.  

Why do we make these resolutions? How can we make resolution-making actually work for us? For me, I think the problem has always been that the goals are to forgo, rather than to gain or pursue something I actually want. The resolutions have always been to “lose 20 lbs.” rather than something I would actually enjoy and would fulfil the ultimate health goal like “go swimming twice a week.” What if we framed our goals around what brings us joy, and what we actually want rather than obligatory abstaining. 

According to research on habit formation, it is more effective to replace a habit than it is to just try to stop a behavior. In Charles Duhigg’s 2012 book, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business he says that the golden rule of habit change is that “you can’t extinguish a bad habit, you can only change it.”  

So perhaps, adding to our lives will be more effective in improving them than just subtracting from them. Rather than focusing on what we don’t want to do anymore, let’s focus on filling that time with what we do want! What if this new year we chased joy and choose goals that will illuminate our lives with art!

B.Y.O.R (Build Your Own Resolution):

Step 1: Choose a Joy
Let’s start by thinking about things that have made us happy this year. What are the highlights? What did you do this year that had you thinking, “Why don’t I do this more often?” 

For me, my highlights included time spent on creative hobbies like free-motion embroidery. The time I spent on these new skills was time I wasn’t spending doom-scrolling. I have been learning to enjoy the process rather than obsessing over whether or not I was doing a good job. (If you’re anything like me, you may relate to wanting to get a ‘good grade at hobby’, (because that is definitely both reasonable to want and possible to achieve). This coming year my resolution is to spend more time on my creative hobbies, and I think this is something I’ll actually remember past January. 

Think about your favorite memories from this last year, what do you want more of? Once you’ve found a piece of joy you want to chase in the new year, let’s make it official! 

Step 2: Schedule It
In a recent talk hosted at the UMFA, cartoonist Scott McCloud explained that he doesn’t let his schedule be a decision every day. He has already decided when he works, and it’s a schedule and a routine that isn’t even a question. That way he’s not exhausting any of his energy deciding if/when to work before even starting. Don’t rely on future you to make the decisions or make it possible, set yourself up succeed ahead of time. Choose a reoccurring time for your resolution. I’m scheduling Monday nights in my calendar as “Hobby Time 💛”. This way I’ll have a reminder, and that time will already be set aside, so I don’t have make time later, or remember to fit it in. 

Step 3: Record Your “Why”
Next, let’s write down the “why” for our resolution. This is so we can know if our resolution helped to achieve our goal. For me, my resolution is to spend more time on my artistic hobbies. The “why” behind that is because I’m chasing that mental satisfaction and joy that I get from doing that. If for some reason my hobby time isn’t doing that for me, I can reference my “why” and alter what I’m doing with that time. If it’s stressing me out, or if I’m getting bored, I’ll know I need to change my resolution slightly to suit my reason behind the resolution, rather than just getting frustrated and giving up entirely. 

 Think about your “why”, and how your resolution helps you work towards it. Get specific but leave yourself room to pivot. For example, if your resolution starts off with “swimming twice a week” because that brought you joy and made you feel physically good, but then March rolls around and it’s not making you happy anymore, maybe swap swimming out for an Art + Wellness class at the UMFA, or another physical activity that supports your “why.” Follow up with yourself. Be flexible and honest about what you want and why. 

Art-Filled Resolutions and Resources:

Now that we’ve got some whys and hows, follow the guide below for ways UMFA programs and resources can help you achieve your goals this year! 

Social Resolutions:

Visitors in the UMFA galleries.

Creative Resolutions:

Three women work on art projects at a table covered with supplies. One woman stands and arranges paper, while the others sit and focus on painting or drawing. Another person is in the background near tote bags.
  • Practice drawing and give your future self the perfect backdrop for creativity. Find something new to sketch each month in each of the 12 permanent collection galleries, or in an upcoming exhibition.
  • Move over Pinterest! Find inspiration without distraction and explore art from around the world by searching the UMFA collection anytime, anywhere. 
  • Pick up a new hobby, or get back into an old one, by attending free art workshops at the UMFA. Keep an eye on the event calendar for Creative Aging, Third Saturday for Families, and Drawing Discos, or subscribe to the newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming classes.

Curiosity/Knowledge Resolutions:

Two people looking closely at a small photo device.
  • Feed your brain by attending lectures and film screenings at the UMFA! Keep an eye on the event calendar or subscribe to the newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming events. 
  • Explore the UMFA collection and learn more about art history by exploring art history blogs, UMFA collection records, and educator lessons on hundreds of topics. 
  • Expand your understanding of art history and art present with a guided tour. 
  • Become an arts and culture aficionado with a NARM eligible UMFA membership that unlocks free admission to over 1400 other museums, zoos, botanical gardens, and more across the US, Canada, Mexico, and beyond. 
  • Learn more about art in bite-sized five-minute Art Breaks! Explore a work of art and be inspired to make art of your own. Learn about these seven elements of art with artworks in the UMFA’s collection. 

Wellness Resolutions:

A young boy stands looking at "Spiral Jetty" in the distance.
  • Get outside/in nature by attending free UMFA in the Wild events this summer and Third Saturday for Families: Treescapes this June. 
  • Practice tai chi, mindfulness, and yoga by attending Art + Wellness at the UMFA this spring! Keep an eye on the event calendar or subscribe to the newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming classes. 
  • Get your steps in while surrounded by the beautiful collection of the UMFA. Some people take their walks around the neighborhood or in shopping malls, you can walk in style around the UMFA. 
  • Set aside time for you! Take yourself on dates to your favorite places each month, the UMFA is a perfect spot let yourself think and explore at your own pace.
  • Check out a free family backpack from the UMFA welcome desk to experience Spiral Jetty or Sun Tunnels in a whole new way! Get outside with your family and experiment with a compelling array of hands-on materials and multisensory activities.

Wishing you an Art-Filled New Year!

I hope to see you at the Museum in the new year! Focus on what makes you happy, and I hope the Utah Museum of Fine Arts can illuminate your life with art in the year to come.