The infamous "New Year's Resolution." The time of year where the gym becomes packed to the brim and suddenly everyone is a health expert. Don't get me wrong, I am an advocate for seeking self-improvement, and what better time to do it than the fresh start of a brand new year. However, I am not an advocate for unreachable expectations that last a few short weeks before the life gets in the way and you are back to the same place you were the year before. Instead, this year I am focusing on New Year's Resolutions that are specific and important, and ones that I know I can stick with even as the busyness of life catches up to me.
1. Take more meaningful photos
No, don't go around snapping pictures of every dinner plate and spring flower, but it is easy for lifelong memories to pass you by without being properly documented. Instead of posing for yet another selfie, try taking pictures of your loved ones or a sunset that brings tear to your eye. You won't be looking back in 25 years on that one selfie when you thought your makeup looked good, but you can look back and smile on memories captured with the ones you love.
2. Take a class
Experiment with that cooking class you always pass by but have never had the courage to enter. Practicing painting with other beginners who won't laugh when your colors accidentally blend into a nasty shade of brown. Just challenge yourself to explore your hidden passions.
3. Floss
So simple, yet so easy to overlook. Or, if you're a loyal flosser, try regularly plucking your eyebrows, or cutting your toenails. Whatever your weakness may be, putting a focus on simple cleanliness can translate to long term improvements.
4. Be a conscious purchaser
After you watched your bank account drain during the holiday season, there is no better time than the start of a new year to try putting an emphasis on consciously weighing the pros and cons before making any purchase. You may be surprised at how many things you can pass up if you simply ask yourself, "do I really need this right now?"
5. Call your friends and family
And no, I don't just mean the obligatory holiday phone call. It is easy for life to overtake you, and nobody is more guilty of this than me, but by simply penciling this time to call your long distance loved ones you can make the effort to show them that they are missed and loved.
6. Eliminate meaningless stress
I know that New Year's Resolutions often are not associated with doing less, but the start of a new year is a good time to evaluate the things that bring you stress, and deciding whether or not they are really worth the trouble it puts you through.
7. Build "me-time" into your schedule
Schedules are often for the other obligations that fill up your time, but if you put a set time once a week that is specifically for relaxing, maybe with your favorite book or a movie you want to see, it will make your busy times more productive and less stress-inducing.
8. Find a workout that doesn't feel like a workout
It doesn't make sense to set a goal to workout four times a week if you absolutely hate running, and it will only be a matter of time before you give up on that goal, which is completely understandable since you shouldn't do something you hate. Instead, do the research and look for a workout you actually enjoy, because it is easy to follow through with your workout regimen if it doesn't even feel like torture.
9. Start a travel fund
If you are like me and have an endless list of places you want to go but your bank account is far from endless, create a jar on your desk where you collect all your loose change you find, or simply decide to add $5 a week into that jar. If you do that for a full year, you will end up with over $250 that you can put towards an adventure.
10. Stretch
It sounds so simple, yet is it so difficult. Personally, if I am spending an hour at the gym, I simply don't want to stay another 15 minutes just to sit there and reach for my toes. But stretching has a lot of health benefits, and will also make that newfound workout regimen less miserable the next day, so give stretching a try.
11. Wash your sheets every weekend
Going an extended period of time without washing your sheets can wreak havoc on your skin and hair, so set a time each weekend to do one load with sheets and pillow cases. Trust me, your skin will thank you.
12. Plan a monthly event you can look forward to
Maybe it is a monthly girls brunch, or a massage, or a concert. Whatever your pleasures may be, plan one event each month that you can daydream about as you battle the Monday blues.
13. Volunteer for a cause you're passionate about
Volunteering is medicine for the soul, and there is truly no better feeling than seeing the fruits of your labor pay off to improve the life of someone or something. Discover a cause you're passionate about and take the time to find an organization that you would feel good working with. Even if you can only commit to once a month, volunteering regularly will help you to feel better about yourself while also making life better for others.
14. Start recycling
If you don't already, take the new year as an opportunity to start recycling in your home/apartment. All you need is a separate trash can and an understanding of what should be recycled, which can be discovered with one simple google search. It is such a simple task, but our planet will thank you for it.
