Welcome 2018!

I have never really been a traditional resolution kind of person. Sometimes, to better ourselves we don’t need to add more things, we need to remove some.

Here are a few of the most common to start.

1. Stop Overspending

I don’t need to tell you why spending beyond your means is detrimental in the long run; I’m sure you already know you will decrease your savings and increase debt, while decreasing your spending flexibility, subsequently making it difficult for you to respond well to an increase in expenses, or decrease in income. The best way to soothe that money burning a hole in your pocket is to create a budget. Mint: Personal Finance & Money is one of the highest rated budgeting apps out there, and it’s free! (Also available for Android)

2. Less Time Inside

screen protectors to cut that annoying solar glare or reflection.

3. Drink Less Sugary Drinks

In what seems like a nutritionists daydream, bottled water beat out carbonated beverages in sales last year, which is great! However, 50.6% of adults in the United States still consume at least one sugary beverage daily. So how can you separate yourself from this statistic? Drink more water! Contigo makes one of my favorite water bottles for tracking water intake.

4. Cut Out Hyperbolic Language

This is a personal goal for me (that I credit inspiration to the 133rd episode of the Not Too Deep podcast), but I believe many of you can relate. Lately I have noticed that even minor inconveniences will be described as "literally the worst thing to ever happen". We create new definitions of these words and apply them to inappropriately minor scenarios, which is perpetuated furthered by social media. So next time, instead of saying "He is literally the worst", I will take a beat, and think of some more colorful adjectives.

5. Less Procrastination

This is the real monster, isn’t it? There has been a lot of debate on what kind of person procrastinates, or how it originated. As a serial procrastinator myself, I have found that a firm deadline and breaking up tasks have significantly decreased instances of procrastination, even with creative activities. Personally, nothing has been better for scheduling than a good ol’ fashion planner, but for the more tech inclined, Finish sets short, mid, and long term deadlines, and Procraster provides short-term rewards for breaking up tasks.

6. Stop Watching So Much TV

Many of us are totally guilty of spending countless hours glued to the couch, surfing channels to find the one show or movie you want to watch. This was my resolution last year, and I have to say, I was pretty successful with this one, which is why I believe anyone can be successful. All you need to do is cut the (cable) cord. There are multiple and cheaper alternatives to cable TV, like Netlifx, Hulu, and YouTube.

7. Stop Skipping Breakfast

Studies have shown that skipping breakfast can set up a pattern of starving and indulging, which increases your chances of overindulging later in the day. Make ahead breakfasts are perfect for those with hectic mornings, and won’t leave you starving during your 8 A.M.