5 New Year’s Resolutions for Movie & Beer Lovers
Why bother making the same boring resolutions you do every year? It’s 2022 already, which means plenty of new opportunities for movie and beer fans!
How the is it 2022 already? Where did 2021 go? Heck, 2020 was two years ago now? If you’re like me and panicking just a teensy bit about just how fast the past couple years have gone, it’s time to take a breather and relax with a movie and a beer. Maybe make some New Year’s resolutions while you’re at it.
Sure, the most common resolutions include things like going to the gym more and checking some travel locations off your bucket list. While those are great (if you’re among the few who actually follow through with those items, anyway), why not take this time to add some fun, realistic stuff to your 2022 New Year’s resolutions list?
5 New Year’s Resolutions for Movie & Beer Lovers
If you’re a fan of both beer and movies, you’re definitely going to want to check these off throughout the new year:
1. Try a New Beer Style and Movie Genre
It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut of comfortable-ness. I love West Coast-style IPAs and action movies, for instance. Both have become my usual go-tos, and I don’t even think twice about them when it comes time for decisions. I even got my girlfriend into IPAs and action flicks early on when we moved in together, so there’s even less opportunity now for me to do any differently.
But change can be good. Deviation away from our normal routines allows for growth, and perhaps more importantly, stepping out of our comfort zones allows our normal favorites to feel less stagnant and stay exciting.
That’s why the No. 1 item on my New Year’s resolutions for 2022 is to try both a new beer style and a new movie genre. Never tried a Schwarzbier for example, so maybe I’ll look for one and see why they’ve been around all these years. And romantic comedies? I’ve seen them, but it sure has been a while. Maybe it’s time to give them a fresh take and see what all the fuss’s about. Either way, I’m expanding my horizons… even if just a little bit.
2. Invest in Proper Equipment
Still drinking beer out of the can or that one pint glass you got on vacation that time? It’s time to consider making 2022 the year of some much-needed upgrades. Different styles of beer call for different styles of glassware. Choose correctly, and you’ll find some subtle yet distinctive differences in the brew’s complexity. Time to ramp up your beer glass knowledge and take your tasting to the next level!
While you’re at it, why are you still streaming so many movies on your tiny laptop screen or worse, your phone? If you’re old enough to drink beer, you’re old enough to have a proper TV. Big screens with high-quality resolution are more affordable than ever these days, and even thrift stores often have decent used ones from folks who recently moved. Seeing more is believing more, friends.
3. Visit a Movie Theater You’ve Never Been To
Yes, the COVID pandemic is still going on, so you should only visit movie theaters if you feel comfortable and are practicing safety (and wear a mask, damnit!) Hopefully things will improve by the end of this year… but then again, isn’t that what we said last year folks? This year, my goal is to continue going (carefully) to the movie theater when there’s something that’s really meant to be viewed on the big screen.
But perhaps more importantly, I want to expand my horizons by going to a theater I’ve never been to before. And I’m not talking about that new AMC or Regal down the street — the big chains are great and all, but let’s go for something with more character! I’m in L.A. so I’m fortunate to have my fair share of choices. I’ve never been to the New Beverly, for instance, which is an old grindhouse run by Quentin Tarantino of all people. For those of you elsewhere, here’s a list of unique movie theaters to help you get some ideas.
4. Check Out a New Brewery
While you’re at it, add ‘check out a new brewery’ to your New Year’s resolutions list. While there were a lot of shut downs earlier on in the pandemic, the good news is that a surprising amount have actually launched anew. Really! Every year in late December, the Brewer’s Association releases an annual report called “The Year in Beer.” In the most recent report (December 2021), the BA showed that a total of 710 new breweries opened up in the United States, which well surpassed the 176 breweries that closed last year.
So, this year we can all do our part to support local business and have new beer-adventures while we’re at it. And hey! Some breweries even host movie nights!
5. Put the Phone Down (More Often, Anyway)
Obviously it’s pretty much impossible for a working, functioning adult in today’s society to go without their phone. But research shows that the average American person reaches for their phone around 63 times a day and spends almost five and a half hours browsing. Isn’t it time we took a break?
I know I’m pretty guilty of being the first one to pick up my phone and start checking out a beer’s stats on Untappd or looking up who that familiar-looking guy is in the movie I’m watching. But how about just… not? If you’re like me, you end up browsing longer than you mean to anyway and start missing out on the real life going on around you (like enjoying some beers and /or a movie with friends). This year, I’m going to make a point of putting my phone away and out of sight more often.
As you’ve probably heard year after year, the vast majority of people don’t end up following their New Year’s resolutions throughout the year. And depending on where you’re looking, some people even suggest not bothering to make any resolutions at all because the success rates are so low. But that’s a glass half-empty kind of approach, I say! I think the key is to make some resolutions you’re interested in and that will actually bring joy to your life, like the ones above!
So, what are your New Year’s resolutions for 2022, beer and movie fans? And speaking of which, any must-try craft beers or upcoming movies everyone should be on the lookout for in the coming months? The year is young, and we’ve got time.