Happy New Year, mes amies! I am a big fan of bringing in a new year; while everything isn't magically going to change just because the calendar year changed, the new year is a time to reflect on the things you did and didn't like about the previous year and serves as a motivator for you to swtitch things up and try new things ("new year, new you," as the old phrase goes). So, in honor of the beginning of a new year, here are 7 (because 7 is the luckiest number) things to try out in 2017.

1. Try a New Hairstyle

Be real with yourself -- when was the last time you changed up your haircut? If you're anything like me, you've probably stuck with the same-old same-old for, I don't know, four, maybe five years now and you might be a little tired of it. Here is some encouragement to CHANGE IT UP. Maybe you want to go shorter (that's what I just did); maybe you want to add bangs; maybe, if you aren't ready to commit to a completely new cut, you want to experiment with new ways of parting or styling it, or even dying it a new color; whatever you have always wanted to do with your hair, now is a great time to do it.

2. Work on your personal style

I am a big believer in personal style. While it is easy to fall into the t-shirt-and-athletic-pants dress routine in the morning (which I admit to occasionally falling victim to), think about this: is that actually the way you want to dress every day?If it is, that is totally fine, but I know that some people dress that way because they aren't really sure how else to dress. For some, the thought of putting an outfit that isn't jeans and a tee together is overwhelming, not to mention figuring out what accessories and shoes to put with it, plus there are so many people to look at for inspiration that it is hard to figure out who to start with. However, it doesn't have to be that difficult to tune into your personal style; you can easily start with what you already have in your closet and find new ways of styling it. For example, you can try tucking one of your t-shirts into a pair of jeans and pairing them with your favorite Converse. Something as simple as tucking in a t-shirt can really change up the look of an outfit, and then you can slowly start adding accessories such as belts and jewelry to change up the look even more. I think that this blog post sums up perfectly how to go about channeling your own style -- better than I can, anyway.

3. Get a new hobby

Have you always wanted to learn to sew? Take photographs? Apply makeup? Well, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON? It is easier than ever to learn something new these days because of the world of YouTube and Pinterest tutorials, and goods can be obtained much more cheaply considering the fact that we have Amazon and eBay to help us get what we need when we need it. If there happens to be a class at your school geared toward a hobby you want to pick up, even better -- who knows, you might love it enough to make it more than just a hobby (speaking from experience here, people). Not all hobbies have to cost a lot of money, either; maybe you want to take up writing or scrap-booking. Hobbies are an excellent way to take a break from the everyday hustle-and-bustle of life, and if you don't already have one (or ten), you should really consider picking one up this year.

4. Learn a new language

This sounds pretty unfeasible, but learning a new language is actually fun and easier than it sounds (easier than impossible, I mean). There are a few ways of doing this, but my personal favorite from 2016 was combining Duolingo, dictionaries, and listening to music/watching movies/reading material in the language I was learning (French). There's something fun (and certainly challenging) about learning a new language, and it's a rewarding thing to be reading/watching something in that language and to actually understand it without needing to constantly look at the translation.

5. Let go of old grudges

It's easy to let things bottle up and to hold a grudge against someone for, um... a really long time (like, years). However, holding grudges isn't all that healthy, and they can create unnecessary stress in your life. A lot of the grudges we hold aren't all that big of a deal at the end of the day, especially ones against people who aren't even in your life anymore. I know it can be hard to let go of the past and forgive people who wronged you, but it is an important part of living an emotionally healthy life. When you learn to let go of your anger against others, it allows you to focus on yourself and more important things and allows you to have healthier relationships with people in the future because you aren't being weighed down by what happened to you in the past. In the upcoming year, let bygones be bygones and be free of unnecessary emotional burden; you'll be surprised at how much happier you are if you do.

6. Learn to listen

I will be the first to admit that I am a bad listener. I have a terrible tendency to jump into conversations whenever and to get distracted when other people are talking to me. If you are like me, listen up -- this needs to change. Being a bad listener is something that is easily fixed and that will change you for the better. No one likes to be around someone who doesn't lend them an ear when they need it, and sometimes when you don't listen you miss out on something important, either to that person or to you specifically. Being a good listener is a valuable skill that can be used in almost any circumstance and, when you are a better listener, people will be more willing to listen to you, too.

And, finally, tying right into these last two...

7. Work on changing the things about yourself you don't like

We can all think of something we don't like about our personalities; for me, the biggest thing is that I push people away and don't listen to them when I know I should. I've heard that the first step to fixing a problem is admitting that you have it in the first place; so, this year, admit to yourself that you have flaws that need fixing and take the steps to actually fix them. This is one of the most difficult things to do on this list, but it is also, in my eyes, the most important one, and it is one worth investing some time in.