2016 starts soon. Have you made a list of New Year's resolutions yet? Every December, I make sure to write down my goals for the new year. January is like a fresh start; a chance to fix the mistakes I made in the past year.
But at the end of every year, I realize that I achieved none of the goals I had planned. Sure, there are a few resolutions I get to check off the list. But most of them aren't concrete things that can be achieved within a specific period of time. Instead, these are goals that must be persistently sought after. They are lifetime pursuits.
1. Take care of yourself.
This is a goal everyone starts off with at the beginning of the year. We have every intention of actually doing something about it. But by February, life gets in the way and we stop reaching for this one. I'll start tomorrow, we tell ourselves.
But make it your mission to remind yourself of this: don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Eat some fruit. Go for a run. Take a moment to just let yourself breathe. Take a hot shower. Take a nap. Go a day without makeup or contacts. These things seem so small; they're easy to keep putting it off. But they're not small. A daily dose of vitamins or an early morning run can be the difference between a great day and an awful one. Your body is a temple and it's the only one you get. Take care of yourself.
2. Practice your hobbies.
Your New Year's resolutions list may say "draw more" or "knit more" or do more of something. These goals are also easy to neglect. In a world that says success is determined by your salary, we forget that hobbies are important too. We need to draw and write and sing and dance and play sports. Not to make money. Not to become famous. But because we enjoy doing them. Dedicate part of your daily life to practicing these things that make you feel alive. No, they may not expand your wallet or bank account. But they fill your soul, which is more important anyway.
3. Put your phone down more often.
There is so much more to life than what's on a tiny screen. The world existed before technology, and it will continue to exist if you leave your phone at home every once in a while. There are so many places to see and people to hang out with in person. So go on adventures. Be spontaneous. I promise your phone will still be there when you get back. And those adventures will still count even if you don't post about them.
4. Smile more.
CBF seems to be spreading more rapidly. Don't let it infect you. It takes less effort to smile than it does to frown. I even practiced smiling just as I typed this and once I started, I couldn't stop. You don't need a reason to be happy. Just let yourself smile for a while and you'll see that it really is contagious.
5. Love yourself.
At the end of the day, you are left with you. Sometimes, we're blind to our own beauty and need to be reminded of it. You don't see the way your eyes light up when you talk about something you love. You don't see the way your nose crinkles when you're confused, or the way you cover your mouth when you laugh. You don't get to see the way you walk or hear the way you talk. Your view of yourself is limited. Don't get tired of yourself. If you were to discover one thing to love about yourself every day, you'd be discovering something new every day for the rest of your life. Flaws are beautiful and perfection is overrated. Cut yourself some slack and remember to love yourself.
