So 2017 has come to a start, giving us a weird sense of optimism mixed in with anxiety. With optimism, we look forward to new things and a great outlook. The human race could discover new species, find new planets, and even cure cancer for good. The opportunities for 2017 are limitless and exciting! However, the anxiety part comes into play as well. For all we know, our favorite animal species could go extinct, World War III might come crashing down on us, and more of our favorite celebrities might be taken from us. 2016 has given us a lot of anxiety rather than optimism, and it is more to it than worrying about Harambe. It is about worrying that black lives don’t matter to some, or that we’d rather vote for a man who knows nothing about politics at all rather than those who do.

This year, we’ve seen so many prejudice acts against people who don’t deserve it and politics becoming more absurd than usual. But hey, at least the Chicago Cubs won their first championship in over 100 years so there’s some good news there! What I’m trying to say is that 2016 wasn’t humanity’s greatest moment. None of us are perfect, and everyone tends to make mistakes. So with that being said, the New Year will be a huge chance of people to do something good and exciting. What if I told you this year could be better than the last one? Well it is true, but you might have to make a huge change inside and outside before you could have a good year and here’s how you do it:

Live healthy: It might sound like a cheesy New Year’s resolution that will be forgotten the moment you hit the gym, but in all honestly I would recommend it. Staying in shape is key to a healthy lifestyle. Also, you don’t have to go to the gym to stay healthy. Take the time to fix up your diet, go out for a walk around the neighborhood or read a book or (because your brain work outs are important). Take the time to take care of yourself and your body will thank you.

Be honest (with your fellow humans and yourself): Honesty is important for everyone to have, including you. Being honest with yourself is the first step to rebuilding yourself as an individual. While it is true that people might not like honestly, they’ll appreciate the fact you didn’t lie to them and were truthful about your opinion. Just remember that there’s a difference between honesty and being rude.

Stay away from social media (once in a while): Social media has blessed and cursed us at the same time. It blessed us with memes and social interaction, yet cursed us with trolling and unnecessary garbage. When you take a break from it, you’ll feel a great load of your back. All the stress and worries of internet nonsense dies away and you get to enjoy fresh air and a sense of ease.

These are just some of the few tips for enjoying the New Years! The rest is up to you friends, so enjoy your life and be sure to make this year a good one!