We’re a little over a week into the new year. It’s an exciting time, as well as a time to relax from the holidays. Resolutions may have been made and have so far been kept. Maybe some have been broken — and that’s OK. Nobody is perfect.
While the new year may be presented as an opportunity for a clean slate and a fresh start, it is much more than that. Every day we can make improvements and set goals. A person shouldn’t make themselves wait for the new year to make changes in their life, nor should they feel the need to wait. If you want to do something and make a life change or improvement, get down to it and start now.
Resolutions aren’t the easiest to keep with our busy and stressful lives. Between work, classes and maintaining all your relationships, it can be tricky to try and commit to your goal or resolution. Like I said before, it’s OK to lose track for a day or so. Everyone has off days. Don’t beat yourself up about it. You also shouldn’t feel the pressure of resolutions — do what you want. Anything small you accomplish is still a victory.
While there are popular resolutions like losing weight, quitting a bad habit like smoking or spending less, there are also smaller goals that you can accomplish and can you make feel just as good.
1. Remove Toxic People from Your Life
Whether it be on social media or in real life, removing toxic people from your life is always beneficial. Unfriend or unfollow that person on social media who made you feel like less than what you really are. It’s time to cut ties with the people who have repeatedly hurt you, haven't kept their word, betrayed you, or haven’t been the friend that they should have been. It’s time to unfollow your ex on social media and cleanse yourself from the negative thoughts. Ending toxic friendships or relationships aren’t always easy, but in the long run it’ll be better for you and your emotional health.
2. Drink more water.
Water is beneficial in so many ways for your health. It obviously keeps you hydrated. It removes toxins from your body. It helps you lose weight. Drinking water reduces your risk of cancer, as well as joint pains and arthritis. Drinking water also helps you have a healthy heart and better skin.
3. Clean out your room.
Go through your belongings and separate everything from things that you want to keep, may keep and can absolutely donate or throw away. And think: Do you really need it? When was the last time you wore that shirt? Clean your room and get rid of the clothes that are going unworn and trash the useless junk laying around. And when you donate your clothes, you’re making room for new clothes that you’ll actually wear.
4. Stay in.
Going out for drinks and going out to get dinner once in a while is fine and fun. But sometimes it’s nice to just call up your friends/roommates/significant others and have a night in. Make dinner, bake, do each others’ nails, watch movies together, go on walk around your neighborhood — there are so many options you have, plus you’re saving a little money! Staying in might sound boring, but if you’re with good people, you can always have a good night in.
5. Remember that it's OK to get off track.
If you're keeping a new resolution, that's great! It's challenging and there's a lot of commitment to keeping it. But remember that it's OK to have an off day. Restart when you have recuperated and feel ready. You're still making progress even with the smallest steps.
6. Enjoy the little victories/moments in life.
A compliment, a smile from a stranger, a conversation with a good old friend are always nice and can surely brighten up your day. Phone calls with family members, Facebook conversations with long distance friends, Skype dates with significant others while you’re hundreds of miles away are always nice. Losing one pound or getting that paper done early is always good, too. It's time to realize that at the end of every day, there is always some thing to proud of.
Of course you can try keeping a new year resolution. If you work at it and keep to it, you will accomplish it. But also remember the the little things can go a long way.
