Seven Things I Want To Do In The New Year

Everyone makes The List. It usually goes a little something like this:

1. Lose weight.

If this isn’t at the top of you list, then congrats! You’re not a basic bitch.

2. Go to the gym/exercise more.

We usually never specify a date or time because that’s just too much commitment. (Also, see: #1).

3. Get more organized.

We tend to never decide how to actually get or stay organized, which kind of just leads to us resorting to the same bad habits we developed in the previous year and nothing ever gets accomplished until the end of the year when we decide our new resolution is to - you guessed it - stay more organized. You will begin by promptly making a list of all your resolutions (probably on the back of a receipt you found in your wallet). This will end up being the most organized you are all year.

4. Find true love.

Deep down this is on everyone’s list, unless you’re already in a happy relationship (screw you), which means your resolution is probably something mind numbingly gross like "Buy *insert name* more flowers" or "Say 'I love you' more."

I’m not saying these are bad things by any means. I make lists like this every year - we all do - but I think the reason why we rarely ever stick to our New Year’s resolutions for any longer than the month of January is because we set ourselves goals that are too long term, vague, or impossible. (If you have to make a resolution to find true love, you’ve already lost), which winds up making the other eleven months pretty miserable.

This year, I decided to do things a little different and make a list of specific, attainable goals that I’ve set for myself in 2016.

1. Smile more.

I’ve been told time and time again that my RBF (Resting Bitch Face) is too real. I’m really trying to work on that.

2. Say “Yes” more.

I always find myself thinking through things too much, finding the worst case scenario and using it to talk myself out of doing things, and being way too content with sitting in my bed binge watching Netflix. When my friends ask if I want to go for a walk around the building at 3 a.m., my answer will be "yes."

3. Be more spontaneous.

I plan things too far in advance, and I need to know what I’m doing every moment of the day for the entire week. Planning is good, but too much planning is detrimental to your sanity.

4. Write things down.

Thoughts, events, feelings. Occasionally, I forget about plans and double-book myself (try using the explanation “I forgot” to your parents who just drove in to see you and your friends who all bought tickets to see that show).

5. Speak my mind.

I’m way too cautious of other people’s feelings, which sounds great, except when it gets in the way of your own feelings. For all the times I want to say “yes” this year, I want to learn that it’s also okay to say “no.”

6. Speak more in general.

Say “hi” to the people I see every day in the dorm halls instead of pretending to look at my phone. I guess this kind of goes hand-in-hand with that 'smiling more' concept. I’m not rude, I’m just painfully awkward. I promise.

7. Finish reading all those books I started.

As I write this, I’m staring at four books next to me that I’ve started since moving in to college and have yet to finish. Seventh-grade-Jenna is very disappointed in Freshman-in-College-Jenna.

8. Keep up with my resolutions.

As the year goes on, I’m sure I’ll add to this list as things change and happen around me, but for now, I want to start my year off on a fresh note and a clean slate.

Here’s to 2016.