In case you're still wondering what to improve about yourself in 2017, these are suggestions to keep your eye on the prize.

1. Meet Your Step Goal

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve been awful at reaching my step goal since the middle of the semester. So now I’m going to try and be more healthy and exercise a little more. And what easier way to do that than walk around during the day and reach your step goal?

2. Less Snacks/Sugar

This one will may be a little harder, especially if you love chocolate and sweets as much as I do. But the holidays are a time when “calories don’t count” (ha, don’t we wish), but unfortunately, they do now. Cutting back on said calories will help us lose all the ones we’ve eaten since Halloween.

3. Smile More

I know some of you are thinking that you’ve no reason to smile more, or no one should be telling you to smile more. And I get that. But smiling more will help make your day more positive if you find something to smile at. And it’ll make you feel better about everything. :)

4. Say Something Kind to Someone Every Day

Everyone deserves a some kindness, especially after the year we’ve had. Spreading that kindness will not only make that person feel good, but you’ll feel good too for making someone smile.

5. Think Something Kind of Yourself Every Day

I know this can be really hard for a lot of us, myself included. But like I said, we all deserve a little kindness, and we should learn to give it to ourselves too. I know it can be really difficult, especially when we only see our flaws. So start small: “I like how my eyes look today.” “My hair looks nice like this.” “This is my favorite shirt, and I look awesome in it!” Self-confidence is a wonderful thing.

6. Be More Positive

Again, I know this can be hard, particularly when the middle of the semester really has you down. But being negative isn’t going to get you anywhere, and it won’t fix anything or make you feel better. So be negative for a little bit, and then find something to be positive about it. It’ll make you feel better and life that weight from your shoulders. So take a deep breath and clear your mind. Everything will work out.

7. Learn Something New

This is super fun and really gives you a confidence boost. It can bring alive your sense of adventure, which is amazing, btw. Learning something new will make you feel better about yourself and give you a better understanding of the world around you, which is a really good thing. And it doesn’t have to be something huge, like learning a language or how to play an instrument. Read the New York Times once a day, or do a DIY project every weekend. Learning and doing are fantastic things.

8. Give Everything Your All

I think we’re all guilty of this sometimes. We think something is dumb, so we don’t try as hard and sometimes it comes back to bite us in the butt. So this year, let’s all try to make sure we’re giving something everything we can, so then, even if we fail, we can still say, “Well, I did my best. And sometimes, that’s all I can do.”

9. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

This can be super scary, but also really rewarding. You want to talk about a confidence booster, this will really give you one. So try that food you’re not totally sure you’ll like. Ride that roller coaster that you’re afraid of. Be brave, in the little ways, and you won’t regret it.

10. Save More Money

Ah, of course. You can never save too much money, but it can be really difficult, especially for my fellow college people. But if we save more, we’ll be better off later. So that extra cents we get back after a purchase? Stick it in a piggy bank. Make a goal of what you want to save each month, and don’t touch it. Your bank account will thank you later. <3

Happy New Years, friends. I wish you happy days and the best of luck in 2017 :)