In the past, my New Year’s resolutions have been nothing but unrealistic, empty promises. On multiple occasions, I have set myself a goal like “finding myself” or making a difference in the upcoming year. Not that they were necessarily bad resolutions, but it’s really hard to judge if I’ve really “found” myself considering that who I am changes a bit with each passing year. Rather than letting another year of unfulfilled goals go by, I’ve decided that for 2017 I will set myself a list of realistic resolutions. Though some may seem trivial, each one is still a step towards making the new year a better one right from the start.

Let go of negative people

In the past, I’ve held on to relationships that were not benefitting me in anyway. This year, I will make sure I am strong enough to let go of the negative influences in my life.

Cut down on coffee

This one may seem easy, but it’s actually one of the more unrealistic resolutions on my list. I’m going to try to limit myself to only three cups of coffee a week (by this I mean Starbucks or Dunkin.) I know this is going to be tough for me, but my bank account will definitely benefit a lot from it.

Cut down on late night snacks

Being in college, late night work and studying is unavoidable. Because of this, I tend to snack on whatever I can easily get my hands on. This usually means whatever is in the vending machine such as chocolate bars and chips. In the upcoming year, I could do without the unnecessary calories.

Forgive myself for snacking

In reality, I am young and so I can afford a chocolate bar here and there. If I cheat a bit on resolution #3, I’ve decided not to be so hard on myself.

If you feel it, say it

I’ve always been afraid of vocalizing my feelings. I don’t like confrontation and I’m terrified of rejection, but I’ve decided it’s time to move past those fears.

Don’t skip class unless it is absolutely necessary

First semester was pretty rough. I was sick once, meaning I had a real excuse to miss a few classes. However, after that I got pretty lazy and decided that naps were more important than my education. For the spring semester I hope to make it to every class. That way I won’t miss any important lectures or work and I’ll be able to keep my grades high.

Don’t be afraid to stay in for a night

Because I have decided that I won’t be skipping class to nap anymore, I’ll probably be pretty tired next semester. So, if I feel like going to bed at 10 on a Friday night rather than going out with my friends, I’ve decided that I won’t feel bad for doing so. I’ll be living with my friends for the next 3 years at least and can afford to miss out on a party from time to time.

Do laundry twice a week

I absolutely suck at remembering to wash my clothes. There have been times I’ve left my laundry bag in my wardrobe for two weeks just overflowing with my clothing. I’m going to start setting myself reminders to do the laundry two times a week. There’s nothing better than going out in public knowing the jeans you’re wearing have in fact been washed recently. Plus, it’ll make me feel like I have my life together more than I do.

Do what makes me happy, regardless of how others will react

I’m at the point in my life where I need to stop caring so much about what others think. I am my own person now and I feel that I should be able to make decisions without worrying about how my friends and family will react. If I want to cut off all my hair, I’ll do it. If I want another tattoo, I’ll get it. My life is in my hands only.

Forgive myself if I fail to adhere to this list

If in a year I have failed to stick to any of these resolutions, I’ve decided I won’t hate myself for it.