This year, I decided to ditch the New Year’s Resolutions and opt for a “Lifestyle Change” instead. It’s been over a month now, and these three quotes that I’ve been living by so far have already had an immense impact on me.

Perfection is unattainable and that is not my goal by any means. I am simply trying to improve my day to day mental, physical, and emotional health, and I cannot believe the changes I’ve already seen. We need to realize when it’s time to kick out the negative voice inside our heads and fill ourselves up with motivational and positive messages.

1. Don’t stop when you’re tired. Stop when you’re done.

This quote is applicable to pretty much any activity you may be doing. Maybe you’re trying to continually challenge yourself at the gym. Maybe you have an exam over material you are absolutely clueless on. Instead of wallowing in self-pity and letting that negative voice inside your mind take over, remember this quote.

The pain and discomfort of being tired is temporary. You can catch up on sleep on your rest day, or after your exam once you’ve mastered the material.

2. Everyone has 24 hours in a day.

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of believing you can’t do something or won’t succeed as well as the person with the 3.95 GPA sitting next to you because they have some “advantage” over you. After laying in bed until 1 a.m. on multiple occasions gaining some inspo from Pinterest and Instagram bloggers, this quote stuck in my head. Every single person on this planet is given 24 hours in a day. Period. Make the most out of your days.

Comparison is the thief of joy, so just remember that the life you’re living is yours, not that girl’s in your economics class or that guy’s who’s the president of 3 clubs and still maintains a solid 4.0 GPA. What you do with your 24 hours is all that matters.

3. Healthy, not skinny.

I, along with a million other females, have tried a handful of diets and detoxes that promote getting fit or skinny quick. Most of these involve boring diets of copious amounts of vegetables and fruit, only to still be painfully hungry all-day long.

In 2018, I’m challenging myself to understand how I can choose meals that are healthy and balanced, pair this with exercise, and be much fuller and satisfied throughout the whole day. I can still treat myself to a trip to Silver Dipper ice cream or snack on some popcorn for a movie night with my friends and still be healthy. It’s not necessarily about counting calories and micromanaging your diet—it’s about balance and overall healthy choices.