The time of the year has come. With the New Year upon us, endless hopes appear along our timelines as friends and family alike post their goals for 2017. Seemingly, each resolution is related to weight loss, or cutting out a food like sugar or gluten. "To hold myself accountable" they say, or "to stay motivated with the support of my friends", where in reality, the reasons for the posts are beyond you.

Not only is this harmful and contributing to the diet culture we find ourselves in, but it furthers the idea that weight is what is wrong with people. By shedding a few pounds or cutting off a necessary food group, the notion that a person is nothing more than their weight and diet is furthers. We have endless options with the symbolic change, yet most limit themselves to losing 10 pounds. Why?

We, as a collective society, live our lives through the eyes of self-loathing and doubt. There is always something that could be better, always something about us that needs to change. To an extent, aspiring for change can be healthy, but I think we've forced change on ourselves from a deeply rooted sentiment of one's being.

What can we change about our lives, that doesn't belittle our qualities? What promotes self-acceptance while also providing discovery and peace, and avoids self-indulgence? Or small changes that do not require much, but create a world of change?

Answer the phone.

Take care of yourself.

Smile more.

Read more.

Drink more water.

Think before you speak.

Learn to love yourself.

Or accept yourself.

Or try at the very least.

Find better ways of coping.

Give more compliments

Accept more compliments.

Eat breakfast.

Talk with your family more.

Pet a dog.

Volunteer once a month.

Or when you have time.

Respond quickly.

Throw out dry pens.

Clear your storage

Read a book.

Read 3 books.

Thank your waiter for trying when a restaurant is busy, rather complain about your service.

Brush your teeth everyday.

And floss while you're at it.

Eat intuitively. Listen to your body.

Say yes more.

Say no more.

Spend less time on your phone.

Thank your bus driver.

Wash your dishes every night.

Let your phone get to 100% before taking it off the charger.

Walk up the stairs every once in a while.

Avoid politics on Facebook.

Watch the News more often.

Dedicate time to find peace each day or week (whatever works for you).

Stop trying to justify yourself. You are valid.

Use a planner or calendar.

Cut out toxic people.

Recognize your negative thoughts and try to fight them.

Pick your clothes out at night for the next day.

Change your bedding more often.

Throw your blanket in the dryer before bed.

Commit to a project.

Allow yourself to be you.

I know resolutions are often misguided and a little too optimistic, but there is something satisfying about starting something new with the beginning of the year, with the shedding of the past, literally and figuratively. Challenge yourself, but don't set up goals that are more work than what they're worth. Even if you accomplished something from this list, or another dream of yours even once, know that you have the power to change, as long as it's for the right reasons.

Here's to a good 2017.