As we are quickly approaching the end of the year and the start of a new, fresh year, I can’t help but wonder if I can actually make and successfully keep any New Year’s resolutions. Year after year we read advice on ridiculous and nearly impossible ways to positively improve your life in the year to come. But after one to two weeks of attempting these crazy resolutions, we often find ourselves resorting back to our old ways of eating junk food and procrastinating. Here are three easy New Year’s resolutions to try next year:
1. Make healthier choices.
I am the last person to encourage working out, but I have realized how much exercise can positively influence your attitude. Being active in any little way will help; for example, taking a hike with friends, skipping the bus and walking to class or even doing 10-minute workouts in your living room with your roomies. As far as eating healthily, don’t deprive yourself of the foods you love, just find little ways to improve your diet. For example, instead of binging out on Insomnia cookies and ice cream, get yummy frozen yogurt with fruit toppings. Or instead of eating that whole Dominos pizza, balance it out with one slice of pizza and a side salad. Not depriving yourself from the comfort foods you love will make it much easier to keep this resolution.
2. Have a planner and actively use it.
Writing down all your assignments, meetings, activities, etc. will make your life much more organized and stress-free. This resolution seems like a small one, but getting all of your schedule down on paper will make it that much easier to stay focused and level headed. It is such a great feeling to see all the assignments you have to complete and crossing them each off as they are completed. Using a planner will give you a much more structured year.
3. Put your happiness first.
Although this resolution has limits (let’s be honest, skipping that huge test would be putting your happiness first, but let's think of this one in the responsible sense), this will dramatically improve your year. This is the hardest resolution of all, but remembering to do what makes you feel happy will begin to improve your confidence and overall well-being. If you really don’t want to go to that party, then don’t! Don’t feel like you have to sacrifice your happiness to do what everyone else is doing.
Although New Year’s resolutions can seem impossible, it is important to set little goals for yourself and make strides toward completing them. These three resolutions are ways to positively improve your year.
