Every year, people make resolutions about how to change and grow in the new year. As 2023 approaches, it can be helpful to reflect on the previous year and make a list of ways you want to become a better version of yourself. Here’s a comprehensive list of potential New Year’s resolutions for sports fans in 2023.
New Year’s Resolutions for Sports Fans in 2023
Just after the holiday season and the start of a brand-new year is often the time when motivation and hope are at an all-time high. Think about the feeling you get when the new year starts and you have a clean slate with which to work. It’s great to make New Year’s resolutions because it helps you to be intentional about your life and your goals, and it can provide some direction for what to do and what’s most important to you. So why not use 2023 as an opportunity to be the best sports fan you can be?
Learn To Play a New Sport
Get off the couch and get into the action by learning to play a new sport. You can join a rec league or get together with your friends at the gym, local tennis, or basketball court. Keep things simple, hit the road on your bicycle, or sign up for your first 5K walk/run. Being active and learning new skills can help you keep your mind and body healthy.
It doesn’t even have to be a new sport. If you played a sport in high school or college that you loved, why not get back to it in one form or another? Finding a way to participate in your favorite activity boosts your mood, maintains your health, and opens you up to new friends.
For example, if you loved playing basketball in high school, consider searching for local basketball leagues. There are often groups for every age, gender, and skill level, from beginner to expert. You can find and join a basketball group that matches your current ability to make the process more enjoyable and rewarding.
Start Watching a New Sport
Have you ever gotten bored watching your favorite sport? It’s not that uncommon. When you engage in the same behavior every day, it’s likely that you may begin to lose some interest in it. Enhance your passion for sports by branching out and trying other games.
Learning about and watching new sports can help you keep your mind active and healthy by introducing new information and challenging the way you think. Diversifying your sports interest has another benefit — you’ll have something to watch year-round. If you only watch football, you’re out of luck from the Super Bowl to the draft or preseason, but if you watch football, basketball, baseball, and hockey, you’ve got something to watch no matter what time of year it is. Talk to your friends and family to learn about the sports they like for ideas.
Read More About Sports
Sports have been around since humans figured out how to pick up and throw stuff, which is a very long time. Sports history is rich with stories of bravery, passion, and unbelievable feats. You can also learn a lot about our society and how people overcome adversity through sports when you explore sports history. Many people vow to read more in the new year, and as a sports fan, you can make the resolution to read a few books about sports history.
You can choose books based on your specific interests. For example, if you’re a tennis fan, you may read about 23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams. Basketball fans may prefer a book about Michael Jordan, the basketball legend who averaged about two steals, six rebounds, and 30 points per game. Here’s a list of books you can read to learn more about current athletes and sports history:
- “Serena Williams: Tennis Champion, Sports Legend, and Cultural Heroine” by Merlisa Lawrence Corbett.
- “I Never Had It Made” by Jackie Robinson.
- “Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston” by Howard Bryant.
- “Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success” by Phil Jackson.
- “Under the Lights and in the Dark: Untold Stories of Women’s Soccer” by Gwendolyn Oxenham.
- “Michael Jordan: The Life” by Roland Lazenby.
- “Dust Bowl Girls: The Inspiring Story of the Team that Barnstormed its Way to Basketball Glory” by Lydia Reeder.
- “In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court” by Brittney Griner.
- “Long Shot: The Triumphs and Struggle of an NBA Freedom Fighter” by Craig Hodges.
- “Undisputed Truth” by Mike Tyson and Larry Sloman.
Spend More Time With Family
Spending time with your family can help you build connections, foster feelings of trust, and develop deeper relationships with those you love. To spend more time with your family this year, consider making plans to watch and attend sports games together. For example, you may watch football with your sister every Sunday or video chat with your nephew during the NBA Finals.
Attending sports games together can also be a fun family bonding activity. Whether it’s a local professional, college, or semi-professional game, watching a sports event live can be a lot of fun. Consider talking to your family and learning more about what they like. For example, you may take your brother to see a professional ice skating competition or take your mom to a hockey game.
Be a Better Sport
Sporting events are more fun when everyone is having a great time. Win or lose, it’s important to always represent the game by being a great sport. This means being respectful, friendly, and accepting losses. Every year, sporting events can result in exaggerated reactions from fans, both happy and unhappy. For example, think about a city when the team loses or wins the Super Bowl. Many fans take to the streets, either in anger or celebration, and either way, the result can be disruptive.
Whether you’re celebrating a championship for your team or coping with a devastating loss, it’s important to treat others with respect and be a great sport. Remind other fans around you that the point of watching sports is to have fun, and that there’s always the next season. This can help everyone have a great time, and it can help you be a role model for how to have great sportsmanship and respect for the sport and other fans.
Everyone belongs in the sports world, and another way you can be a better sport is to be inclusive of all when cheering on your favorite team. Increasing the number of fans around you just makes the experience more fun. Consider checking out these diverse owned brands on Fanatics to learn more about how you can support creators while supporting your favorite teams and players.
Redecorate Your Home
At the beginning of a new year, decluttering, reorganizing, and overhauling your space can be a great way to support your resolutions. Our surroundings can dictate our emotions, motivations, and general mood. Consider redecorating your home and highlighting what’s most important to you in your environment.
For example, you can elevate the feel of your office and remind yourself to be great through the way you choose to decorate. If you have a favorite athlete or team, consider decorating your space with an autographed item to remind yourself that you can achieve great things through hard work. Check out these home and office items you can use to revamp your space.
Refine Your Game Day Look
If you’re heading to the stadium, court, or field to watch a sports event, there’s nothing better than looking and feeling your best. You can make a New Year’s resolution to support your favorite teams and players by refining your game day look. Fanatics has everything you need to look your best this game day, whether you’re watching the game from home or at the field.
Spruce up your wardrobe with a piece from the Fanatics Premium Collection, designed for the refined fan. This line allows you to show off your fashion sense while still showing support for your favorite team. Go for a bracelet from BaubleBar with your team’s emblem for a subtle yet elegant piece of gear.
If premium isn’t your style, consider going for a vintage look instead. You can pick up a legacy jersey or a classic line to show your style. Fanatics also offers selections in plus size to make sure every fan can find the gear that makes them look and feel great. With all these options, there’s no reason not to make creating a fresh look your New Year’s resolution.
Give the Best Gifts This Year
Giving someone a great gift can show them how much you care. Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and just-because gifts are an opportunity for you to show your loved ones you understand them and what they like. Boost your gift-giving game this year by setting reminders to buy gifts ahead of time and by buying only the highest-quality gifts.
Is a friend having a baby shower? Get them a great gift to help them welcome the new addition to the family. Someone you know loves a certain team? Go for a gift pack to cover all the essentials. If you have those hard-to-buy-for people in your family or friend group, don’t worry. You can always customize their gift so they get exactly what they want.
Whether you’re vowing to be more knowledgeable about MLB history or you’re joining a local rec league to see just how difficult hitting a three under pressure really is, there’s a resolution for you. Sports fans can deepen their knowledge, build their communities, and look the part by setting great New Year’s resolutions.
