We are officially into 2016 and it's time to lock down your New Year's resolutions! I've never made resolutions and stuck to them, but every year is always a new chance to set some firm goals in place and work on them while working on yourself. Here is what I hope is an extensive and different list of resolutions that I encourage you to try for 2016. Happy New Year!
1. Get a workout plan in place and stick to it.
2. Eat healthy, but don't sacrifice good food for a crazy diet — there are a million ways to eat healthy and still enjoy the food you are eating!
3. Keep a journal and document your year.
4. Be money conscious and save up for new things this year.
5. Travel to a different state or city.
6. Read more books.
7. Spend more time outside.
8. Spend less time on your cell phone or computer.
9. Go to a concert for a lesser known performer at a small venue — it might be the best concert you ever go to and tickets will be cheaper.
10. Get involved in your school, town or state.
11. Take more pictures and videos of your outings, friends and family gatherings to remember the year.
12. Research and get involved with a nonprofit organization.
13. Volunteer more! Whether it's at school, in your community or as a representative for an organization, there are millions of causes that could use your help.
14. Try a new sport.
15. Take lessons for a musical instrument — or just look on YouTube for tutorials and tips!
16. Reconnect with a friend you haven't spoken to in a while.
17. Visit family members more often.
18. Make more things by hand — draw, paint, build, decorate. It can be a great stress reliever.
19. Discover new music and make it a point to listen to any and every song that comes on Pandora, Spotify or YouTube at least once. You may be pleasantly surprised.
20. Write letters to your friends at other schools and send them for on birthdays or holidays — what a surprise to get actual mail!
21. Squeeze every bit out of each day that you can and make each day count.
22. Go to bed earlier.
23. Clean your room every day and redecorate often, it keeps things interesting.
24. Get something off your chest to a friend or family member.
25. Be honest and confident.
26. Be kind to yourself, you are your biggest supporter.
27. Get ahead on work or responsibilities so you have more free time to do things you enjoy.
28. Treat yourself every so often with some dessert. You only live once, right?
29. Save up for something that you really want by the end of the year.
30. Stretch more, even if you don't care to work out.
31. Explore your hometown or city. You'll be surprised at what's been hiding under your nose.
32. Make new friends.
33. Give your best effort to everything you work on and produce that has your name on it.
34. Find a new hobby or interest.
35. Try something you never thought you'd want to try — cooking class, yoga, knitting, playing the guitar, etc.
36. Quit things that don't make you happy.
37. Surround yourself solely with people that help you grow and become a better person.
38. Don't be afraid of failing or making mistakes.
39. Take better care of your body and pay attention to any injuries or symptoms.
40. Get out of your comfort zone.
41. Be kind to everyone and try to reconcile with anyone you aren't on great terms with.
42. Celebrate every day and find something positive in each day regardless of how bad it may be.
43. Dress up more.
44. Start a year-long project that you can add to each day like a photo log, online blog or scrapbook.
45. Get to know your neighbors better.
46. Drink more water.
47. Watch the news or read the paper every day to stay connected to the world and stay up on current events.
48. Become familiar with political news and research candidates for the upcoming presidential election.
49. Spend more time with friends from home, high school or other parts of life that you don't see as often.
50. Be sure, at the very least, to make yourself happy and live life to the fullest this year so that right before midnight on Dec. 31, 2016, you can look back on a year well spent.
