Although there is a lot of criticism regarding the whole "new year, new me" mindset, I personally feel that trying to improve certain aspects of your life is a great thing. Perhaps you don't necessarily need to use a new year as an excuse to make a positive change in your life, but if writing 2019 instead of 2018 gives you the inspiration to do so, I only encourage it.

Of course, everyone knows the corporations that mainly benefit from the whole "new me" idea are gyms. Once December rolls around, myriad advertisements bombard us to convince people to buy a membership. These sales may serve as motivation for people to start a healthier lifestyle but, more often than not, these "fitness goals" revolve less around bettering themselves overall and more about reaching a lower number on a scale.

Unfortunately, it does not seem that people have grasped the idea that skinny does not equal healthy, nor will being skinny automatically bring happiness. As someone who has struggled with insecurities regarding their weight for the majority of my life, this is a message that I constantly have to repeat over and over again in my head when my fellow friends inform me that their goal is to lose ten pounds by next Christmas.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve your wellbeing, but there are alternate aspirations you can shoot for in the next year that do not involve counting calories.

2. Become More Environmentally Conscious

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Perhaps by buying a water bottle, you can complete two goals in one. The imminent danger that our planet is in has become more well-known, encouraging companies to create more eco-friendly products. This can include purchasing clothes crafted from recycled material, drinking sustainable, fair-trade coffee, or maybe even decreasing your meat consumption. You don't have to become a full-on hippie who tries to live purely off the energy of the universe, just try not to buy a plastic water bottle at the grocery store.

Having a health goal for the new year is great, but you shouldn't be trying to achieve that "bikini body" in time for swimsuit season. 2019 should be the year that you improve yourself holistically. If that means having a bite of a brownie because it'll make you happy, do it.