1. Take better care of your health.
Don't let your resolution be just about "losing weight." It's important to be healthy, which, for a lot of people, includes losing weight --- and that should be the goal. According to statisticbrain.com, the top new years resolution for 2015 was to lose weight. Ways to combat that in a weight-obsessed world are to make it about being a better you, make it about being healthier, make it about taking care of yourself. Focus on eating healthier, not eating less or dieting; focus on making sure the needs of any physical ailments you may have are met; focus on your mental health. This one is big. According to the ADAA, forty million adults are dealing with some form of anxiety, yet only one third of that number are getting help for it. If you can afford it or have health insurance that helps you afford it, get help. There is no shame in taking care of yourself, whether it be physical or mental.
2. Evaluate any toxicity in your life.
Along with taking care of yourself, you need to remember that toxic people are everywhere and chances are, you've dealt with one or currently are dealing with one. I found this article by Psychology Today rather helpful if allowing me to determine if my relationships were toxic or not and a few things I could do to help myself get past them. If you're considering letting someone back into your life after a fight or a specific time of purposeful non-communication, check out this article for a little help to see if you should. Always remember, nothing can tell you exactly what to do or exactly if the person in your life is toxic, but use your best judgment and make sure that you're surrounded with people who support you and love you. Putting your needs first is not a bad thing.
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3. Be aware of what's going on around you and help if you can.
In 2016, a lot of terrible things happened. The list doesn't just include all of the iconic stars that passed, but Aleppo and the Syrian government, Russia's involvement in not only that but our presidential election --- our presidential election. To a lot of people, 2017 is going to be a new year with new resolutions and new ideas. However, to others, 2017 is the beginning of the scariest thing to happen in our lifetimes. Donald Trump is President and congress is Republican. This means, unfortunately, he's going to be able to deliver on a lot of his harmful promises. As a woman and someone who relies very strongly on Heathcare.gov's services, I'm terrified. As a white woman, I'm constantly thinking of my POC friends and fretting. In these times, we need you to help us. Defunding Planned Parenthood is an attack on women, on race, and on the lower class. We, as a people, have to fight this and we need help from those not affected by Donald Trump's destructive rhetoric. Make this a resolution: DO NOT accept him or respect him ---- reject him and fight his regressive and harmful ideals.
There are a hundred more things you can do, but in order for 2017 to be a better year, making sure you as a person are where you need to be is imperative. Don't be afraid to put your needs before others' wants. Remember, however, that while your health is important, this year is going to be devastating for a lot of people and their needs are going to be stripped from them or, at the very least, they'll be fighting for them not to be. It's important to remember that for a lot of people, a new year does not mean that whatever battle they're fighting is over. 2017, here we come.
