With it being the New Year, everyone is always talking about their New Year's Resolutions. Though most people make them, most people don't actually stick to them. The same old, "lose weight," "eat healthier," and "go to the gym," resolutions get redundant and hard to follow. Though those are all great ideas, we usually give up after about a month. New Year's Resolutions shouldn't be hard or miserable to follow. Here are 17 things you can actually do this year and stick to.
1. Be happy with yourself.
This is number one because this is the most important thing to do this year. Make yourself happy. Be happy with how you look, who you are, and who you are surrounded by. Put your happiness first for once.
2. Spice up your wardrobe.
Something about buying a few new pieces of clothing can just brighten your whole mood. In the middle of winter, buying a new sweater or pair of boots can have you ready for the new year in style.
3. Call up that old friend.
Maybe text that friend from high school you haven't talked to in a couple months. Call that one friend you've been missing and set up a time to hang out. Catching up with old friends and maintaining those relationships is so important.
4. Do something adventurous.
Go bungee jumping. Take a whitewater rafting trip. Go downhill skiing. Travel the world (or maybe just one country.) Do something way out of your comfort zone and let yourself enjoy it. Sometimes doing something you aren't totally comfortable with is the best way to learn about yourself.
5. Take up a new hobby.
Start doing crafts or painting. Have grandma teach you how to knit. Learn to play the piano. Get involved with a sport or new activity. Sometimes life gets so routine, we forget what we are living for. Let yourself be enveloped in a new hobby and learn about something different in the world. Break your everyday routine and add something new to spice it up.
6. Volunteer.
The world needs more volunteers. Whether it be taking a mission trip or helping out homeless dogs once a week; do something. Volunteer at the local homeless shelter, soup kitchen, hospital, animal shelter, or children's program. Give back to the community with the time you have and make a difference for someone.
7. Take time for yourself.
Give yourself the gift of alone time. Take time out of every day to just spend quietly by yourself. We get caught up in our social lives, work schedules, and commitments and sometimes forget about ourselves. Take some time to gather your thoughts everyday and slow down a little. Your body and mind with thank you.
8. Mend a broken relationship.
Whether it means finally forgiving someone, finally giving that apology, or just picking up the phone and saying hello; do it. The feeling afterward will be one of release and happiness. Life is too short to harbor hatred and anger. Mending a broken relationship doesn't have to mean starting a friendship. It just means allowing yourself to let go of whatever is holding you back from people.
9. Redecorate.
Surround yourself with things you want to be surrounded with. Change your life up a little bit. If you are sick of the brown decorations in the kitchen, make them blue. Bored of the red rug in the bedroom? Get a purple rug instead. Changing your surroundings can add a little pep and motivation to your life. It may just surprise you.
10. Read a good book.
Our society is so glued to our phones, we often spend more time looking at a screen than at a page. Sitting down with a good, old-fashioned paper book warms the soul. It doesn't matter what you like to read, just sit down and take some time to read it.
11. Make family a priority.
Family will always be there, but you have to make the time for them. Call your mom, go to lunch with your sister, and send grandma a letter. Instead of going out with friends on a Saturday night, have a family movie night. Don't forget about the people who love you most.
12. Go on a trip.
Make it a point to go on one trip this year. Go see something you haven't before, whether you travel the world or go to the next state over. You don't have to spend thousands of dollars to go on a trip. Even a road trip with friends can be the trip of a lifetime. Take a weekend in a part of the state you've never been to. See parts of the world you never knew existed. You only have one life to live.
13. Stay exactly how you are.
Some people feel they need to change with the new year. They want to change their looks, their weight, their style; everything. Instead of doing something drastic, vow to stay the same this year. Don't change who you are, instead be happy. Be happy with your weight, style, and look, and aim to stay the same. You're perfect just the way you are.
14. Say "I love you" more.
This word isn't used enough. Love everyone. Love your family, love your friends, love a stranger. Love doesn't have to be romantic or taboo. Love is what we need more of in the world today. Don't be afraid to call your dad just to say "I love you." It doesn't make you weak to tell your friends how much you love them. Spread love around this year.
15. Overcome a fear.
Are you afraid of heights? Afraid of the dark? Afraid of public speaking? Conquer a fear this year. The first step to overcoming a fear is facing it. Face your fear head on and learn to be bigger than it. It will allow you to enjoy life so much more fully.
16. Catch up on sleep.
We don't get enough sleep. Obviously, oversleeping every day is a terrible idea. But once in a while, give yourself the chance to sleep in. Go to bed a little earlier than normal. We are always going at full speed, and we need to remember that without sleep, we will burn out. Let yourself catch up.
17. Accomplish something to be proud of.
Do something you can look back on and say, "in 2017, I did ____." It doesn't have to be something major or something you are recognized for, but make it something. Whether its something you start, finish, or think of, do something you can be proud of for the rest of your life this year. Make 2017 a year to remember.
