New Year new you right?!? Wrong. You say you want to lose weight, eat healthier, get fit... and these might be great ideas, but they all stem from dissatisfaction of yourself. You are not helping anyone by focusing only on the things you want to change about your body in this new year. So for once, don't focus on becoming a "new you," don't let your body image control your New Years resolutions. Make resolutions that are meaningful, that make you get out and try new things; make resolutions to make memories. You don't have to be a new you to have a great year. And if you're having trouble thinking of some meaningful resolutions for 2017, let me share some of mine with you!
1. Volunteer somewhere.
Most of us don't have time to join a non for profit, or a charity, but working for a cause can be a very mentally rewarding experience. I'm not saying to make a huge commitment, maybe simply one day, but one day of volunteering is better than none. Don't put it on your resume, don't post it on Instagram, just do it. Commit to it, because your one day of volunteering is all some charities could ask for.
2. Go to an outdoor concert.
It may not seem like much, but ever since I went to see the Avett Brothers play outdoors on one warm summer night, I can't get the experience out of my head. It was so much fun, so relaxing, and there was no stress, no pressure, just people enjoying the music under the night sky. It might sound silly, but this is one thing I'm going to make sure I follow through on.
3. Find a hidden gem you've never been to before.
Maybe it's a park, or a coffee shop, or a little nook in the library, but once you find it, don't let it go! Sometimes nothing is better then finding a place that you feel 100% comfortable in, especially when you're stressed or upset.
4. Sing at karaoke night.
Alright so I know this one is a stretch, but whether you think you are Mariah Carey or talentless piece of cheese, it doesn't matter! Just do it, yeah you might be scared out of your wits, or you might crack on that high note, but who cares? It's local karaoke, probably in some dingy bar, and nobody is listening anyways! Do it, just for fun, just for you, and in the end it might make a great story.
5. Apply for something you think you'll never get.
What is there to lose? If you don't get it you don't get it, but there is nothing worse than not even trying. Put yourself out there, and you may in fact be just what their looking for! This one is about not selling yourself too short, and reaching for your own idea of greatness.
6. Read a book you never thought you'd want to read.
I know this one sounds weird but just hear me out. There are a lot of really great books out there, and you just never know what you are going to get. So pick up that book that you thought looked awful, and give it a shot. Try to read the entire thing, what's the worst that can happen? Either you've found a book that you judged too harshly, or you can say "oh God I read that and it was awful, 250 pages of word vomit."
7. Celebrate a really obscure holiday.
And do it justice! We all remember when Spongebob and Patrick celebrated Leif Erikson Day (or maybe you don't but I do and it was great). So shop around, and find a holiday you've never heard or, and then just celebrate the heck out of it!
8. Learn how to do something new.
This sounds pretty generic, but it can be really helpful. Think of something you always wanted to be able to do, and then for once, make it a priority. You want to make those cookies your Grandma makes? Do it. You want to downhill ski? Give it a shot. You want to tie a cherry stem with your tongue? There has to be a Youtube video for that somewhere...
9. Road. Trip.
I don't know how many years have to go by before I do this, but maybe 2017 will be the year that I get in my Subaru, grab a friend, and drive across the US. Windows down, music blaring, sun shining, and for once, focusing on the trip and not the destination.
10. Make a notebook of song lyrics.
Put a little notebook next to your bed, and whenever you want to, put a single song lyric in next to the date. Maybe you do it every night, or a couple nights a week, or first thing in the morning. Eventually you'll have a book of days, based solely on song lyrics.
