Every year when the new year rolls around people every where resolve to "change their lives" and be better than they were the previous year. I am here to tell you those things are good and you should always strive to be better than you were, but make the resolutions doable! Don't set impossible goals for yourself, because you will only end up disappointed in yourself and feeling down. I have complied a list of healthy habits I am going to strive for in 2017 and I hope you can with me as well!

1. Stop holding on to the past.

This is easier said then done. We think back on those nostalgia memories, and we just want to be back in that moment because we think we were happier then. A lot of the times our mind plays tricks on us. We may have been happy on that occasion but that happiness is not gone. Good times come and go but they are constant. Life is exciting. Take every moment as it comes and let yourself experience a range of emotions. Happiness can be achieved once again. I promise you. Be patient and be thankful. Be thankful for the happy times but also know many more are to come. Practice gratitude.

2. Live in the moment.

This ties along with the first step. Take every moment as they come and go. The present is a present!

It is so much more pleasant to be around someone who actually cares what you are saying, and their eyes aren't glued to their phone screen while they are with you. When you get on your phone while talking to me, you are showing me that this person who is not even physically with us is more important than me standing right in front of you. Be interested in others' lives and in return, you will live a more full life.

3. Take care of yourself.

Eat healthy. Less sugar, more vegetables.

The Whole 30 is a wonderful place to start if you have an unhealthy relationship with food and you want control over your plate.

Don't put toxic things into your body. Drugs, tobacco, excessive sugar, and alcohol are not your body's friend. You may feel good in the moment, but in the long run (and thats kinda what life is about..the long run) you will not feel good. Lung cancer is anything but cool. And obesity and alcoholism is anything but a fun time.

Wash your face. Do not leave your make up on at night, it ages you.

Brush your teeth. FLOSS!!! Flossing is so much more important than people realize.

Wear lotion. Put some type of lotion on your face before bed! This also helps with aging and wrinkles in the future.

Use hair masks as much as you can. Your hair will thank you.

Take hair, skin, and nails pills everyday. They work.

Use coconut oil.

Coconut oil is AWESOME. You can use it for so many things! For example, you can use it on your hair for split ends, on stretch marks, and in your food as cooking fat. Also, several studies have shown that coconut oil helps as a natural treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Here's the list I found. There are several more people who have come up with it, so feel free to do your research on it! Also, it's not very expensive.

4. Be patient with yourself and work hard.

It's okay not to get to where you want to be overnight. Even a week after. Or a few months. Keep forgiving yourself and never give up. Your mind is a powerful organ. You CAN do anything. It just requires a lot of hard work and perseverance. You are not going to feel motivated everyday. That makes you human. Rest when you need to and work when you need to.

5. Stop comparing yourself to others.

Everyone is at a different stage of life than you. No one else has lived your life and you haven't lived theirs. Just because someone seems to have the perfect life online doesn't mean it really is that way. This may be a newsflash to you but social media is a front people put on. They literally put up the best pictures of themselves and others. That girl may not even look like that in person. There are apps for everything now, even ones that make you skinnier, tanner, and have whiter teeth. Don't be fooled.

These are some things I plan to stick to in the new year, and I hope they have been of some help to you as well! They are not impossible to accomplish. Take each day one day at a time.