Looking back on this past year, I see a lot of mistakes I made that could've been easily fixed or prevented: a 0/10 on a forgotten homework assignment, overdraft fees, a face full of clogged pores, and too much time wasted on mindless things. As a junior in college nearing the gate to the Real World, some of these are concerning. This year, I'm committing to these eight resolutions to make 2017 a more mature and silly mistake-free year and I hope you all will, too:
1. Relax on the "emergency only" credit card.
That "But Mom! Nordstrom never has a sale! It WAS an emergency!" card has been played one too many times, my friend. And Mom ain't buying it (literally).
2. Only buy a round of drinks for you and your friends, NOT the whole bar.
No matter how cute that kid from your English class is whom you've met only once, he doesn't deserve a Lemon Drop shot, I'm sorry. Your wallet (and your dignity) will thank you later.
3. Walk to class instead of asking (read: begging) your roommate for a ride.
You thought you'd get through this whole post without a resolution about working out, didn't you? Think again. To me, making a resolution about forcing yourself to "go to the gym 8 days a week" is setting yourself up for failure. Instead, opt for easier swaps to break a sweat (hey, that hill on Campus is steeper than you think!). This way you'll be taking baby-steps to acquiring that Gigi Hadid bod instead of killing yourself everyday at the gym for a week (and then most likely burning yourself out).
4. Do your homework the day it's assigned.
Why do I always find myself scrambling to do my homework minutes before it's due when I had a whole week to do it? If you do your homework the day it's assigned, you'll know the material better, apply the lessons you learned in class, and you might actually just learn something! Go figure.
5. Take your makeup off every night (yes, even when you come home at 3 a.m.)
Studies have proven that sleeping in your day-long makeup can age your face 7 days! *Gasp!* And don't even get me started on all those gross particles in the air that are stuck to your pores and are being rubbed all over your pillow. Thinking about all the Friday nights you forgot to scrub this semester? Yeah... you probably shouldn't do that anymore.
6. Get over your fear of public speaking.
This one might be just me, but flashbacks to a speech I had to give in high school still has me running for the hills in a panic. Public speaking is something everyone is terrified of (whether they admit it or not), however it's something you'll need to master by the time you reach the real world... which is getting precariously close. Time to buck up, buttercup.
7. Cook more.
Lord knows when I'm hungry and lazy, I'll pick up the phone and call my favorite take out. But did you guys know pizza and Chinese food is actually really bad for you? Me neither. But because I'm not quite ready to quit cold turkey, cooking more can certainly help nutrition-wise. Plus, knowing how to make more than Mac & Cheese and a (dope, might I add) turkey sandwich is cool and something you'll need to learn eventually. You have a kitchen—use it!
8. Close the dang laptop.
This one will inevitably be the hardest (seeing how I've already spent the majority of my break binge-watching The OA every day), but definitely needed. Not every second of downtime needs to be spent on your Netflix account. Read a book. Hang out in your friend's room. Cook. Go for a run. Anything to peel your eyes off your laptop screen for more than 20 minutes.
Well, 2016 has wrapped up and I think I will, too. It's time a take a swig of my own medicine. Happy New Year, everyone! May 2017 be 1000x better than 2016, one resolution at a time.
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