New year, new you, right?
How many resolutions can you make just to keep doing the same things over and over?
Instead of making resolutions, try doing a bunch of things throughout the year. Anything. All of those things you've dreamed about, but you always push it off. Well, now is not the time to push it off. Now is the time to do it. After a pretty rough 2016, it's time to try and make the best of 2017. You have a whole year to make it what you want. I'm not talking about losing weight, making yourself exercise, or any of those other things people lie about doing in the new year. These are things to make you happy, to make your life something worthwhile. These are things to get you out of a funk, to get you out of going through the motions. There's so much to do, so many potential memories to make out there. Why put it off anymore? Your resolution should be not to make a resolution, but instead to do. And this is what you should do. A bucket list for 2017.
1. Save money and take a trip
People are always saying, myself included, how they want to go here and there but they never do. They don't have the money, they can't get off of work, etc. Just do it. Don't make excuses and just do it. If you put back money every day until you want to book a trip, I guarantee you'll be surprised at just how much you have. Five dollars here, a 20 there, even a dollar can go a long way. It all adds up. I'm not saying you'll have enough to go to Hawaii (but if you do I'm very jealous), but maybe you can go to Pigeon Forge, New York City, Orlando! Get lost on a beach or a mountain top. Enjoy yourself. You deserve it.
2. Do something you've always wanted to do but thought you were bad at
Maybe you've always wanted to write a book, play basketball, or start your own business. DO IT. Who cares if your writing skills suck, no one says you have to publish it. IT doesn't matter if you're five feet tall, go to the rec or get some friends and start a weekend basketball league. Get all of the hats you've knitted and start and Etsy account and start making some extra cash. Whatever your thing is, just do it and enjoy yourself. Try new things, find your niche. Your happiness is what matters.
3. Visit a state you've never been to
Different than taking a nice vacation. This can be for a weekend, just a break to see something you've never seen. If you're from West Virginia and never been to Pittsburgh, what are you waiting for? From California and never been to Oregon or Arizona? Go! If you don't have enough money for a flight and a hotel for a week vacation, then try taking a drive to somewhere close by that you've never been to. Give some love to the good ole USA.
4. Bake/Cook something from Pinterest
I love baking and cooking. It's like an art. I'm not necessarily a chef, but I haven't burned the house down yet! I also love to go through Pinterest and pin all sorts of yummy things that I will probably never actually make. But that stops now. Maybe once a week or once a month, bring something new to the table, literally. Open your palette to new and exciting things. Even if it turns into a fail, at least you tried something new. Maybe even bring your significant other into it and cook together. Makes a nice bonding experience.
5. Get a massage
You have years of stress on your shoulders. Time to get those knots out and the relaxation in. Have headaches, pain, or just feeling knotty? This is something you deserve. This is something you should, no need, to spoil yourself with. Once this year, maybe even once in the beginning and one at the end, you should treat yourself to a spa day. It's for your health, think of it that way.
6. Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the world around you. It can also be a way to travel if you want to. There are so many ways to volunteer. You can work through different companies, building homes, teaching English, and so many other things. Think about joining Habitat For Humanity, the Peace Corps, or even see what your local church is doing. What better way to make yourself happy than making other people happy in the darker times in their life?
7. Do something daring
Go skydiving. Go to a trampoline park (my parents would think this is incredibly daring). Take a dance class. Do something that scares you, something that exhilarates you and brings this world into a new light. Do something once a month or do something big once a year. Take the world into your own hands and rule it like the Queen/King you are.
8. Get the band back together
Remember all of those friends you have or maybe used to have. Maybe you haven't seen them since high school or college. If you realize you're in the same place as the people that were a part of your life, bring them back in it for a night. Have a bonfire, go out for drinks. Reconnect. It's so fun to bring everyone back together and reminisce, make new memories. Make it a new thing to do. A few times a year try and get back together.
9. Live the moments, save the memories
It can be so easy to get lost in the day to day. Sometimes we lose sight of what's really important. We take too many pictures instead of paying attention to the concert. We scroll through Instagram instead of listening to what our family is saying. Take the time this year to really live. Take a few pictures. But don't forget to really live. Make the memories this year ones to last a lifetime.
