Approximately 80% of people who make New Year’s resolutions drop them by the second week of February, reported Inc.
So we’ve thought up 6 common New Year’s resolutions and matched them to Malaysian-made products and services that could help you form these new habits.
In line with the recurring #StayAtHome orders for MCO 2.0, all of the suggestions listed below can be achieved from home.
1. Get Fit
This is a popular one that always gets cut short for me once Chinese New Year snacks get rolled out. If you’re anything like me, hopefully iconFIT Group Exercise can be good partners in helping you stay fit.
iconFIT hosts group workout classes to make exercise a social activity. But as group sports and gatherings have been halted, you can instead sign up for their virtual workout sessions that cost RM39/month. This gives you unlimited access to their classes over Zoom, which are extremely beginner-friendly.
Editor’s Note: Information in the above paragraphs have been edited to reflect greater factual accuracy.
2. Learn A New Skill
Whether or not you’re a believer in online courses, there’s no denying that sites like String Soul and Caritutor.my can be a resourceful platform in modern education.
String Soul is a mobile based online piano tutoring app where children can have one-on-one virtual piano lessons with a professional tutor. Its Starter Pack costs RM120 for four 25-minute lessons.
On the other hand, Caritutor.my is an online directory for tutors of any interest, whether it be dance, coding, or even PT3 lessons. The fees can vary, based on listings put up by the individual tutors.
If you’ve been inspired by the home baking craze over the last year and are committed to doing the same, a reasonable purchase would be this Malaysian made stand mixer from Kitmens to pair with YouTube tutorials.
Their KM-B5 mixer comes with a LED display and timer that even beginner bakers can’t go wrong with, and its design enables you to store the attachments on the mixer’s base itself. This means less clutter. It’s currently on sale, priced at RM1,095 (original price is RM1,495).
3. Improve Mental Health
More than ever, we need someone to lend an ear for the sake of our mental health as we’re once again forced into isolation.
Mental health services from private therapists or counsellors could cost between RM200-RM500. But good news, you can find a range of Malaysian organisations offering affordable therapy under RM100.
Do note that these fees are available because the sessions are conducted by trainee counsellors who will be monitored by professionals, and not the professionals themselves.
Some of the names you can find providing online counselling services are Centre for Psychological and Counselling Services (RM30), People Psychological Solutions (RM60), and Cara Cara (RM80 per session for a 6 sessions pack).
Naluri is a digital therapeutics solution founded by ex-AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman Rani. It can curate a personalised mental health programme and track your progress under its app. Subscribing to Naluri will cost as low as RM125/month for unlimited coaching sessions.
There are also mental health apps like PlusVibes. It lets you chat anonymously and seek advice from professionals to express your problems freely.
Editor’s Note: Information in the above paragraphs have been edited to reflect greater factual accuracy.
4. Start A Home Business
2020’s MCO had turned more of us towards trying to earn income through the hobbies we finally had time to explore and hone our skills in.
Hence, the number of self-employed Malaysians are growing.
Ibupreneur is a platform where unemployed, financially dependent stay-at-home mums can sell their baked goods with support provided.
Other platforms that aid home cooks in selling their food online are Kravve and Homely, which aren’t exclusive to just selling baked goods.
Of course, these examples are all in the F&B industry, as they can be done from home without facing clients physically.
5. Eat Healthier
One of the easiest ways to improve overall health is to eat more vegetables. This resolution can be easier achieved when the vegetables come to you, rather than being dependent on you going to buy them. Local subscription boxes like Plant B and Veggies.my can help your journey.
Founded by 2 sisters, Plant B delivers vegetables subscription boxes from their family’s farm in Cameron Highlands. They have two subscription plans, a 2-week plan (RM74) or 1-month plan (RM136).
Alternatively, Veggies.my has a few different plans to choose from. For example, their 1-month subscription plan comes in 3 sizes:
- Set A for 5-6 varieties (RM126.00),
- Set B for 7-8 varieties (RM198.00),
- Set C for 9-10 varieties (RM270.00).
You can also choose to subscribe for up to 3 months for a 20% discount.
If you’d prefer not to cook yourself, you could opt for Savor Of Life, a startup delivering meal subscriptions for plant-based meals starting from RM124 for 5 meals.
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No matter what resolution you’re planning on turning into a habit this year, what may come in handy is to make them measurable.
Some steps you could take is to write them down, and break them down into smaller daily tasks that are more achievable. That will eventually add up to the result you’re looking for in the end.
- You can read more listicles we’ve written about here.
Featured Image Credit: String Soul, iconFIT, and Savor Of Life
