With the coming of the new year, I have no doubt that your newsfeed is infiltrated with articles that suggest all types of resolutions. Maybe you should go on a diet? Why don’t you try to travel more? The effects of these following resolutions though are not tangible, but you will feel a change within yourself by putting them into practice.

1. Stop using the word “just” to define yourself.

You are not “just” a student or “just” a writer or “just” an actor. You are those things but you’re also much more. When you put the word “just” in front of a noun that describes who you are, you are demeaning yourself by implying that the noun that follows is not important. Even if you’re not proud of the noun you’re using to describe yourself, such as “a waitress,” taking “just” out of the sentence automatically gives you more confidence. As my best friend, Michelle says, “you’re only undermining yourself.”

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for the things that you need.

This goes for anything. If you need a co worker to start picking up their own slack, let them know. If you’ve been working your ass off between school and work, but you can’t make rent one month, ask your parents to help you out. Asking for help does not equate to weakness as long as you are trying as hard as you can. If you need your professor to go over certain material one more time even though the question was already answered, don’t be afraid to be that person who asks again. It will be your grade that suffers in the end for being too timid to make sure you understand the material. If your body is telling you to take it easy, don’t hesitate to listen to it before you get burnt out.

3. Learn to say no.

A lot of times, we feel like saying no to our friends, family or to potential suitors is rude. The truth is, any time spent doing something that someone else wants, but you don’t, is a waste of time. If you are going on a date because you would’ve felt rude saying no, the only person whose time is wasted is yours and you can’t get those two hours of your life back. Though you should be open to new experiences and meeting new people, saying no to anything or anyone you’re not interested in is your prerogative and leading people on with “maybe”s and “we’ll see”s when you know there’s no possibility of it happening just wastes both of your time. Saying no not only saves you time but it saves you the energy you spend pretending you’re happy to be somewhere you don’t want to be. This is not only for romantic relations; feel free to say no to any job you feel is beneath you. If you get an offer for a job you are overqualified for, don’t feel like you have to accept it just to get the experience for your resume. It’s true that saying yes to things can lead to opportunities, but that’s also true of saying no to things.

4. Don’t overlook the negative aspects of a person.

Yes, of course you should see the good in everyone, but sometimes people only see the good and they ignore every other red flag. If something about someone makes you uncomfortable or not feel right, there’s probably a reason why and you shouldn’t ignore your gut feeling. Don’t make excuses for someone’s bad behavior because of their good qualities. Eventually, their negative qualities will come into focus and you will have to confront them; might as well do it early on and get it out of the way.

These resolutions are not ones that require waiting until January 1st. You can start them today. The next time you want to tell someone what you’ve been up to, think about how you’re going to refer to yourself before you speak. Make sure the word “just” isn’t in the sentence. If that guy you’ve been talking to on Tinder is giving you a weird vibe, don’t feel like you still have to go on a date with him just because you’ve been chatting. Integrate “no” into your vocabulary. These non-tangible resolutions will help you become more assertive and more confident.