There are a few mindful things you can do to make 2016 the best year yet. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it serves as an excellent start! In 2016, you absolutely must:

1. Explore. It could be a rugged mountainside or an urban jungle. It could be down your own street or somewhere halfway around the world. Where ever you decided to go, explore with an open mind and an open heart. You’re bound to have a soulful and edifying experience. Who knows? You might even make a friend.

2. Shop smarter. Be an educated consumer. Do you know where your food comes from? Do you know if your clothing was made in a factory that pays a living wage? Is your clothing sustainably sourced? Are the ingredients in your everyday items (toothpaste, hairspray, shampoo, household cleaners, laundry detergents, etc.) harmful to the environment? Shopping smart (aka being an educated consumer) empowers you to make the very best choices for yourself and your family.

3. Donate. Money, time, goods–these can all be donated. Does the animal shelter need another pair of warm, steady hands? Do you have used clothing, used shoes, or other gently-used items that could benefit someone else? Have you ever donated blood to the Red Cross? Do you have the financial means to donate a local charity or hospital? The possibilities are truly almost endless once you think about them. What good will you do this year?

4. Cleanse. We are surrounded by toxins. They’re everywhere; in our clothing, in products we use daily, in the air that we breathe and the food that we eat; even some of the people in our lives can have a toxic affect on our minds and our hearts. Every now and then we need to cleanse everything–our bodies, homes, relationships, social media, and activities–in order to stay healthy, alert, productive, and ultimately, happy.

5. Make a Friend. Who among us couldn’t use one more friend; one more person in our corner? We’re not talking about the good-time, part-time, fair-weather friends. We all have way too many of those. Your challenge for 2016 is to make a true friend. Trust us, your soul will thank you. Many of life’s sweetest experiences are sweeter when you have someone to share them with.

6. Unplug. This one goes without saying, doesn’t it? As a society we’ve grown so very attached to our devices. At some point this year, take an e-break. Turn OFF your phone, computer, TV, and/or tablet.

7. Vote. No matter what your political affiliations are, each of us has a civic duty to

vote. You may not feel like your voice matters much in a sea of 300 million other voices, but it does! You matter, your vote matters, so don’t forget to vote! In 2012 only 54.9% of voting-age Americans cast their votes. Interesting, the highest-ever voting turnout was the 1876 election when Rutherford B. Hayes defeated Samuel J. Tilden. The lowest-ever voter turnout was the election of Calvin Coolidge in 1924.

8. Read a book. An actual, printed-on-paper book. There are so many excellent books out there! Literature has the unique ability to inspire, to uplift, and to cause us to feel and reflect in a way that no other medium does. Long or short, mysterious or romantic, for the purpose of this must-do list the genre really doesn’t matter. Reading can reduce stress, help with memory improvement, and improve focus (among other things).

So. Who’s in? Who wants to take this on as a challenge and do all 8? We’d love to hear your feedback. Tell us your experiences and thoughts!