Instead of making the same resolutions you make every year, like how you’re going to hit the gym every week and finally ask out your crush, you should switch it up. It’s time to make some more realistic resolutions, so that you actually end up sticking to them. Then the new year will feel a lot more productive.
- Smile at strangers. You might not have the courage to ask out your crush, or to walk up to someone to make a new friend. That’s why you should simply aim to smile at strangers instead. It’ll help you become more confident and social. It might even encourage someone to walk up to you and start a real conversation.
- Stop criticizing your reflection. Instead of promising to hit the gym constantly, make it your mission to stop judging yourself for what you look like. If you gain a few pounds, it’s not a big deal. You can either exercise to lose the weight or accept yourself. The end goal is to learn to love your body.
- Read a book every month. You probably won’t read one book per week, so at least aim to read one book per month. It doesn’t matter if that book is a graphic novel, a celebrity autobiography, or a textbook. Just reward your brain with words.
- Only spend money on worthwhile things. If your resolution usually involves cutting down on your spending, it’s time to tweak it a bit. Instead of trying not to spend money at all, aim to spend money on things that are worthwhile. If it’ll make you smile, and won’t make you go completely broke, then it’s worth your cash. After all, you make money to spend money.
- Organize your closet. If your resolution involves volunteer work, but you know you’re never actually going to head down to the soup kitchen, you can simply organize your closet. You’re bound to find plenty of old clothes that you can donate to charity. It’s a small gesture, but it’ll still make a difference.
- Actually ride your bike. A lot of people make resolutions involving traveling. Of course, we can’t all afford to take a trip overseas. That’s why you should ride your bike to different parts of town. You could discover places you’ve never seen. Plus, it’ll keep you active.
- Watch instructional YouTube videos. If your resolution involves learning something new or picking up a new hobby, but you’re too lazy to enroll in a class, you should resort to YouTube. You can look up different dessert recipes, how to do yoga poses, or how to build a birdhouse. Anything and everything is on there.
- Organize your electronics. If your goal for the new year is to get organized, you can start by looking through your phone and laptop. Delete whatever you don’t need and organize the rest into folders. Then you can start working on organizing your desk and drawers.
- Make more phone calls. If your resolution normally involves spending more time with friends or family, but it never works out, make this resolution instead. If you set aside one day per week to make phone calls to your grandmother, your parents, and your best friend, you’ll feel closer to them, even if you never see them in person.
- Cut down on Netflix. Yes, there are still dozens of shows out there for you to binge watch. However, you shouldn’t spend your entire life in front of a computer screen. Try saving Netflix for the days when you’re not feeling well, or when you want to reward yourself after a job well done. You don’t need to watch it every day of the week.
