12 New Year's Resolutions That Everybody Should Have
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Lifestyle

12 New Year's Resolutions That Everybody Should Have

Be, take, form, try. Make 2017 a good year!

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12 New Year's Resolutions That Everybody Should Have
Health Aim

We are now two full weeks into 2017, and so far it's been a rather mixed bag of excitement and dread. The feeling of leaving 2016, a relatively bad year, behind has made this new year seem like a clean slate opportunity. Forget all the bad that happened last year, and focus on making this year a much better one. Let's try to, for now, ignore some of the things which some of us are dreading by focusing on what we want to work on. Here are twelve resolutions we should all do our best to keep this year!

1. Be more kind.

Very basic, but very overlooked. Life is a lot peachier when you try your best to be kind to everyone you meet in 2017. Not everyone you encounter will necessarily warrant it, but try your best to keep a positive attitude towards others - it may inspire them to do the same.

2. Be more conscientious.

Conscientiousness is the desire to do things well and efficiently. Put a real effort into your work, whether it's schoolwork, a job, or anything else. Carry a vigor behind your actions and this will hopefully help you not only achieve your goals, but also help those around you want to work even harder.

3. Be more conscious.

Conscious differs from conscientious as it is about awareness. In our society today, people are becoming much more open and willing to share parts of themselves with others, and it's very important that we are aware of that and careful not to be quick to judge without fully knowing and understanding them. Being aware also has to do with being present in the here and now. To quote Ferris Bueller - "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Don't fret over the future or the past so much and do your best to enjoy what's happening right here in good ol' 2017.

4. Take action.

It's easy for anybody to talk about something they want to change. This year may be a very important one for us to end the chatting and start the real work to implement it. Work on small changes first and then go bigger. What are things you regularly complain about, but do nothing? Start with those.

5. Take the initiative.

Similar to number four, this resolution is about getting started. Focus on being proactive and doing things right away, which you normally put off for later. For example, take the initiative to put all of the dishes in the dishwasher directly after you eat, rather than letting them pile up. Or, more generally, take the initiative to go above and beyond what you're asked to do.

6. Take a break.

Don't forget to give yourself time to recharge. Our lives can be very busy and exhausting, and taking the time to relax for even a short period can do wonders for your mental and physical health.

7. Form healthier sleep habits.

I really need to work on this one, as I'm sure all of my college-aged-comrades do as well. Sleep is so, so underappreciated and so, so important. Forming healthier sleep habits includes trying your best to go to bed and wake up at more regular times, and sleeping for a good amount of time. The goal for young adults (ages 18-25) is considered 7-9 hours of sleep a night, but on the longer end of that is preferred. Getting a good night's sleep regularly will drastically improve your overall health.

8. Form healthier relationships.

This year, take a step back and examine how your relationships are with various people. Whether it is family members, friends, coworkers, or significant others, try to identify any issues you are having and work on those. It is best to start with a simple discussion about any problems, and then to work with the other person, or people, to find a solution that makes everybody happy. This resolution also includes examining how you interact with others to make sure you are putting your best foot forward in engaging with people.

9. Form your future.

Take steps to set yourself up for success down the road. Start saving money by opening a savings account, or investing. Build your credit safely. Work on your relationships that you want to last. Get educated, and get work experience. Practice what you love all the time. Life won't wait for you to be prepared for later.

10. Try new things.

Explore. Be adventurous. Especially for younger adults like myself, it is important that you do as much as you can while you still can. Take advantage of the freedoms you possess and try out things you've never done, seen, tasted, been to, etc.

11. Try to laugh.

At the end of the day, you've only got one life. Why live it miserably, working only to survive. Thrive. Do what makes you happy and what makes you laugh. Find the fun in everyday situations. Keep a positive attitude. Seriously, have you ever laughed for no reason. Right now, as your reading this, just start laughing. Force yourself to laugh. Not only will you smile, but you're gonna feel good for no reason, because you just laughed and you don't know why. Laughing with friends is even better.

12. Try again.

Everybody, I repeat - everybody fails. But you can almost always try again. Take failure as an opportunity to learn, get stronger, and work even harder. No matter what 2017 throws at you, always get back up and try again.


Have an awesome, productive, joyful 2017 everyone!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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