New Year's Resolutions: love them or hate them, they're all around us. Every year hundreds of thousands of people make promises to themselves. Most of them (myself included) probably won't keep their New Year's Resolution. But, why? Probably because we're making extreme resolutions that don't fit with our current lifestyle. It's hard to develop a new habit; it's much easier to give up on it. That's why resolutions like "I'm going to lose 20 pounds" often don't last: losing weight is a lifestyle change, not a spur of the moment decision.
So, how can we break this ruthless cycle of giving up on our resolutions? Pick something that makes sense in your life. Resolutions don't have to be big; they can be small and provide just as much satisfaction when you achieve them. Here are some resolutions worth keeping.
Compliment someone every day.
Everyone loves getting complimented. Most of the time, I think of a compliment that I want to say to someone, but I chicken out. I can't even tell you how many times I've wanted to say "I love your eyebrows" to a stranger, but instead I keep on walking. That one sentence could completely change someone else's day. Isn't that worth the risk of embarrassment?
Drink more water.
We've all heard the "drink eight glasses of water a day" advice. In reality, it's unlikely that most people drink that much, especially college students. More of us should be drinking water, because a body needs water to survive. Not only that, but it's zero calories. Cheers!
Adopt a plant.
Adopting a plant is better than adopting a pet for a few reasons. For one thing, they're apartment-friendly. They won't pee on your carpet or make too much noise. They're low maintenance. All you have to do is give them plenty of water and sunshine. It's a good feeling to take care of something and watch it thrive. Plus, if things don't go well, you can just go buy another one.
Sleep more.
This one goes out to all those college students who can't imagine getting more than six hours a night: put down that essay, it'll be there tomorrow. You can't be your best self if you're sleep deprived.
Sleep less.
Or for those of us (like myself) who are a little too eager to jump into bed...life is waiting for you. Adventure awaits. You aren't likely to find it if you're sleeping for half of the day. As unpleasant as it may be, set an alarm. It won't kill you.
Put money into your savings account.
For a broke college student, the idea of putting money away is laughable. "What money??" Even a dollar of your paycheck, or a quarter you found on the street, is something. Eventually, it'll add up to something bigger. It'll be there for a rainy day, or an unexpected bill, or maybe even your retirement fund.
Put down your phone.
In the 21st century, it's hard to put down our phones. Facebook feeds refresh faster than you can read them, and that's only one form of social media! I am so guilty of this. When I'm bored, I pick up my phone. When I'm lonely, I pick up my phone. When I'm hungry, tired, embarrassed...I pick up my phone. This doesn't have to be an extreme resolution. But maybe, instead of picking up the phone when you're bored, you could go for a walk. Or put together a puzzle. Later, when you're lonely, hungry, tired or embarrassed, your phone will be waiting for you.
Take more pictures.
As a society, we already take a lot of pictures. I think that's great. In fact, I think we should take more. They don't all need to get posted on social media--keep them for your own personal mementos. Almost every picture in my phone has a memory attached to it. I look at a photo and I remember the most minute details about the day it was taken. It's like a trip backward in a time machine. So, take the picture. Trust me. You'll want to remember that sunset in 20 years.
