Fancy bringing a bit of change to your life, but in need of some New Year’s resolution ideas? Here are our 26 for 2026!
1. Raise funds for charity
Every penny counts, from hundreds of pounds raised through an ambitious fundraising endeavour to loose change in a collection box. There are several opportunities you can get involved in throughout the year, such as attending the Music in Action charity concert at Trinity College Chapel on 27 February, featuring the English Chamber Orchestra, or donning those running shoes for the Cambridge Half Marathon on 8 March. There’s also the Cambridge Dragon Boat Race in September, held in aid of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, which hosts several other charitable events throughout the year. You can always donate to someone else’s fundraising challenge if you don’t fancy it yourself!
2. Eat well
Now that the excesses of the festive season have passed, try establishing a new routine that not only gets you back to a healthy diet, but also introduces a few new meals and flavours rather than always resorting to the same tried and tested favourites (taking into account any dietary requirements you may have, naturally). And if you can make use of local produce, so much the better, as it’ll support Cambridgeshire farmers and businesses as well as reducing food miles.
3. Bring laughter to your life!
Laughter has proven health benefits, and Cambridge venues have got a host of side-splitting comedy acts lined up, including Jessica Fostekew, Seann Walsh and James Acaster at Cambridge Junction, and Chris McCausland, Harry Enfield and Susan Calman at Cambridge Corn Exchange. Plus, don’t miss Bury St Edmunds Comedy Festival in February and March, and Big Deal Comedy Club, which is now hosting three shows a week at the Town & Gown.
4. Visit a local attraction
As our I <3 Cambridge interviewees admit in every issue, many of us city residents have never actually experienced some of the area’s most well-known visitor attractions! From punting and paddleboarding to exploring Cambridge University Botanic Garden and the city’s many museums – this is the year to make the most of everything Cambridge has to offer. After all, why should tourists have all the fun?
5. Random acts of kindness
Send a card to a distant pal, donate a warm coat to a winter homelessness appeal or a basket of non-perishable items to a food bank. Why not offer a helping hand to a neighbour, bake extra cakes to give to a friend, bring flowers home for a partner or simply send a thoughtful text message to let someone know that you’re thinking of them? The tiniest gesture can mean the world.
6. Pick up a book
Escape your screens and dive back into those glorious paper pages filled with knowledge, intrigue, excitement, life lessons and new worlds to explore. We’re pretty spoilt when it comes to bookshops here in Cambridge, and there’s nothing like the feeling of actually holding books in your hands to appreciate their look, feel, content and smell as you choose your next adventure. So, head on over to The Haunted Bookshop, Bodies in the Bookshop, G David Bookseller, Oxfam, Cambridge University Press Bookshop, Waterstones and Heffers.
7. Prioritise yourself
Whether it’s a one-off wellness treat to get 2026 started on the right foot, or scheduling in regular sessions to carve out time for yourself, a little bit of pampering can be a great wellbeing boost. Treatments and sessions are provided by Paus, House of Beauty, Waresley Park Estate and Gresham House Wellness at Gonville Hotel, among others. Or why not try yoga or Pilates? Sessions are at local village halls, community centres, fitness centres and dedicated studios across the region.
8. Plan a holiday
It’s a classic January move for good reason, ensuring you’ve got something to look forward to later in the year. Whether it’s an overnight stay, a weekend break or a full week abroad, taking a break from the daily grind is a must – preferably in new and relaxing surroundings where you can completely let go of all the worries, cares and to-do lists of everyday life. From the many wonderful Cambridgeshire hotels and holiday rentals to coastal retreats in nearby Norfolk or far-flung international destinations, it’s time to start your ultimate getaway research!
9. Be social
If you’re looking to make new friends, widen your circle or find an activity that you can enjoy with your existing friends, why not consider joining a book club, hobbyist or special interest group; attending organised socials like the friendly clubbing nights hosted by the Early Night Club; or looking into volunteer work for a favourite charity or your local community (volunteercambs.org.uk is a good resource)? If there’s nothing that suits, could you start your own group?
10. Attend an event
If we do say so ourselves, Cambridge Edition is a great resource to make sure you keep abreast of the many festivals taking place throughout the coming year. Try attending at least one big event that you’ve never been to before, or make a return visit to one you enjoyed in previous years. Just a few key dates to look out for are Pride, Cambridge Folk Festival, the Foodies Festival, Open Studios and Cambridge Film Festival.
11. Take a day trip
Whether for shopping, to catch a show or to visit attractions, exhibitions and special events, there are so many great places you can reach within an hour or two by car or train from Cambridge. Why not try Saffron Walden, Bury St Edmunds, London or Norwich for starters? It’s all about getting something in the calendar to make sure it happens!
12. Refresh a room
Choose a room in your house that’s a bit unloved or feels slightly stagnant and give it a new year zhuzh with a few choice additions such as soft furnishings, houseplants or pictures (which you’ve been meaning to hang for months!), or by opting for a full overhaul to inject brand-new energy and colour into your home for 2026. Local homeware stores such as Glasswells, Lee Longlands and Small & Green are perfect places to start for inspiration – as well as Cambridge Edition’s own interior pages, of course!
13. Get inspired
Attending talks to listen to inspirational individuals share their thoughts, experience and expertise is a great way to renew your motivation throughout the year. Whether it’s the person you find inspiring or the topic they’re speaking on, enthusiasm can be infectious, and you’re likely to leave the auditorium full of energy and ideas. Many of our local museums, galleries and venues host regular talks, including the Fitzwilliam Museum, Kettle’s Yard, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge Junction and the Arts Theatre Cambridge. Keep an eye out for announcements about this year’s Cambridge Literary Festival!
14. Learn a new skill
Lots of places in the Cambridge area provide taster sessions or more regular classes to help you learn new practical and creative skills. Take Marmalade Print Studio in Soham, for instance, which offers relaxed printmaking workshopsfor beginners. There are also language classes, such as French and Spanish with Alliance Française. For a range of vocational courses or evening classes, adult education can be found at Anglia Ruskin University, Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge Regional College and more. Online there’s Future Learn and the Open University.
Other ideas
15. Reduce screen time
16. Research your local or family history
17. Support indie businesses
18. Drink more water
19. Give up an unhealthy habit
20. Enjoy more family time
21. Meditate to help de-stress
22. Practise daily gratitude
23. Spend time in nature
24. Take more photos
25. Rekindle an old hobby
26. Forget new year’s resolutions and just have fun!