Want To Make 2017 Your Best Year Yet? Make These 10 Promises To Yourself

The new year is finally upon us, which means that Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook will be full of BS “new year, new you” mantras. While I don’t necessarily go in for cliched resolutions, there are some promises that we should all make for the sake of our sanity and happiness. If you want to enjoy 2017 to its fullest, it’s time to cut the crap and start putting yourself first.

1. Quit comparing yourself to other people. If you’re the type of lady who looks at her pals and feels bitter pangs of jealousy, this one’s for you. Stop it. Yes, your bestie may have better hair than you or a higher salary, but that doesn’t matter one iota. The more energy you waste envying her seemingly perfect life, the less you have to focus on yourself.
2. Stop dwelling on the past and what could have been. The past is just that. It’s over. I’m sorry to break it to you, but it doesn’t matter how many times you replay those tired old scenarios in your head — they’ll never change. There’s no “shoulda, woulda, coulda” anyway. The truth is that nothing else “could have been” except just what happened. Accept it and move the hell on.
3. Learn when to say no and walk away. Sometimes, it can be hard to say that one tiny little word: “no.” We’re a generation of people-pleasers, and it can cause us some serious harm. If a situation isn’t working for you in some way, you need to walk away before it’s too late. It’s okay to say no and get yourself out of that situation. You only have to please yourself.
4. Stop putting up with other people’s BS. Warning: If you let people walk all over you, they’ll keep on doing it time and time again. Most people are ridiculously selfish and will get away with whatever they can. Whether you have a nagging friend or someone who just takes from you emotionally, it’s time to tell them to get lost. You don’t have to put up with their BS if you don’t want to. The sooner you learn that, the better.
5. Don’t try to force relationships to work when they just won’t. When you’re looking for love, it’s all too easy to think that every guy is THE guy. Forcing relationships that just don’t work for you is a plain awful idea. At the end of the day, you’ll just end up hurt and heartbroken. If it isn’t working, acknowledge it and leave it alone.
6. Make yourself happy before anyone else. If you’re unhappy, you can’t make anyone else around you happy. Your own insecurities, troubles, and hang-ups will leak out into your everyday life and, frankly, make you a misery to be around. Before you do anything else, focus on pleasing the most important person in your life: you. It’s not selfish; it’s the only way to be truly content.
7. Quit texting that guy, for goodness’ sake! Oh, jeez. If you’re still texting some guy who’s clearly not interested, it’s time to take the hint. He’s not into you. No big deal. It’s not the end of life as you know it. The more you text him, though, the more of a fool you’re making out of yourself. Stop texting that jerk right about now. It’s toxic and it has to stop.
8. Don’t let the bastards get you down. Well, it just wouldn’t be right if I didn’t throw in at least one cliched phrase, would it? You may have heard this one time and time again, but there’s truth in it. If you’re letting other people dictate your happiness, you’re doing yourself an injustice. You shouldn’t give a damn how others see you — value your own perception of yourself more.
9. Spend your time wisely on the things that actually matter.  Time is the only irreplaceable thing in your life. The clock’s ticking and your time is quickly running out. Sorry if that seems a little melodramatic, but you get the point. Stop dwindling your time away on things that don’t matter, whether they’re people, pastimes, or whatever. Try to use every minute of your day on something that either makes you happy or improves your life.
10. Appreciate the things you already have. You probably spend a whole load of time wishing that you had certain things, right? Let’s be 100% clear: that’s a real sickness. It’s time to stop and be real about your life. Look around you and take in all the things you have. From the love of your family to a great group of friends, you’ve already got a ton of blessings you ought to be thankful for. Start appreciating how fantastic your life already is and quit dreaming of the next best thing.