It’s January again. Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? Maybe this is the year to forget the boring, routine promises you won’t keep, like going to the gym every day and calling your parents once a week. Try resolving to be more creative in 2012 with these resolutions:

• Keep a journal. Spend a few minutes every day or so writing down your thoughts, feelings, dreams, and ambitions—not your daily schedule or your upcoming appointments. Let your mind wander; free-associate a little. You may be surprised at the ideas you generate.

• Read more. Vary your reading habits and explore different topics. If you usually read novels, try a biography. If you read only history, try a book on modern-day science. You’ll exercise your mind, and maybe find new connections between ideas.

• Learn something new. Take a class in something unrelated to your job or your usual hobbies—art, auto mechanics, philosophy, etc. Mastering new skills can refresh your outlook on life.

• Meet new people. Make a positive effort to make new friends this year (or professional contacts). Look for gatherings of people whose interests match yours, and network. The more people you know, the better equipped you are to learn and grow.

• Create something for the heck of it. Paint a picture, write a poem, or start a garden—not because you’ll get paid for it, but because you want to. You’ll find satisfaction in achieving personal goals and motiva­tion to keep trying new things.

• Volunteer. Find a cause you support, and offer your time and service. You’ll meet new people and enjoy the feeling of helping out with an important cause.