2016 has come and gone, bringing with its departure, a new year.

I, like many, have fallen victim to creating long extravagant lists of the things I've hoped to accomplish during the new year, and eventually tossed it aside because of its unrealistic expectations. This year will be different! I have decided that instead of creating a lavish list of dreams/ideas, I will create simple attainable ones. There is nothing worse than feeling like you've failed. So to avoid this letdown, I've come up with a list of ______ resolutions that I and you can easily keep.

1. Budget & Save

Yes, I know, this is number one on everyone's list every year. But this year rather than coming up with a large number that I hope to save up, I will save up a goal total every month. Now with holiday months, this number may decrease, and months where emergencies may come up, it may fluctuate. But I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't always make the goal! This is much more attainable than coming up with a huge number and feeling bummed when it isn't reached.

2. Treat my body lovingly

Diet and work out goals never seem to happen, let's face it. However, this resolution is not to lose x number of pounds or to work out x number of times a week. This goal is all about treating my body the way it should be treated. Whether that's opting for healthier food choices at the grocery store, or going for a walk after dinner, or investing in some skin care. I have allowed my body to be mistreated during stressful times, by filling it with unhealthy foods, and ignoring that tooth pain. But this year, I will honor and appreciate the body that has gotten me this far, because it deserves to be treated as such.

3. Feed my hunger

Poetry readings, movies, art galleries, festivals, whatever it is, this year I vow to feed those interests that have managed to go hungry because of busy work schedules and day to day tasks. It always feels so good to be involved in activities that fill some interest that I have, and this year I hope to include more of those things. Life can get so boring and mundane when it's full of repetitive tasks. But breaking it up with events you enjoy can keep your momentum going.

4. Travel

While I don't see myself able to go to Thailand or Italy, as much as I'd love to. This year I do hope to travel more than I did last year. Day trips, weekend trips, etc, there is so much of this country I have not seen and hope to! Even if it's a border state or a few states over, I hope to explore this beautiful country and begin to nourish an interest in travel.

5. Give & Receive

Some of my favorite moments this past year involved helping others. Whether it was volunteering for an organization, walking for a cause, or donating to a gofundme, nothing is quite like receiving that warm feeling of joy that comes with giving to others. This year I hope to volunteer, donate, or get involved with local programs at least once a month.

So that's it! My totally doable, attainable, and accomplishable new years resolution list. Instead of filling my head with a ton of unrealistic expectations, I hope that by simplifying them I will be able to celebrate these small but large accomplishements at the end of 2017.