So the New Year is here. We often hear about big plans and resolutions, but it’s a little less common to hear of people actually sticking to these goals. Which is completely understandable! Changing parts of your lifestyle overnight is extremely difficult and can be a major part of why some people’s New Year’s resolutions end up ultimately falling by the wayside. I suggest starting small and focusing on one goal at a time. Remember, the best resolutions are the ones you can actually keep. If you haven’t made any resolution yet, no worries! It’s never too late to get started changing your life for the better. If you can’t quite think of what you want your resolutions to be, here are a few ideas.
1. Find a new podcast to listen to. Take the time to decide on a subject matter that you like or that you would be interested in learning more about. Perhaps you want to learn more about ancient Egypt or even learn different cooking techniques. There are millions of podcasts readily available and the opportunities to find a great listen are endless.
2. Set your alarm a minute earlier each day for a month. After 30 days, you’ll have an extra half hour on your hand to spend how you like! This can be a great opportunity to pick up a new hobby, watch an episode of your favorite show, or even listen to a new podcast.
3. Set aside twenty dollars each week. Maybe to make this happen, you need to eat out one time less a week. It may not sound like much, but setting aside that $20 means by the end of the year, you will have saved $1,040! Can’t afford to set that twenty aside? Not an issue. Any amount helps! Just setting aside ten dollars a week will help you save $520!
4. Give someone a compliment each day. Whether it’s your family member, a complete stranger, or even your pet, a small act of kindness can go so far. Tell the woman walking by you that you like her shirt, tell your waiter that they did a great job or just tell your dog that he’s/she’s a good boy/girl. Opportunities for kindness are abundant.
5. Each night before bed, write down one good or happy thing about your day. It could be that you ate your favorite food, you got a raise, or even that you woke up healthy. By this time next year, you will have 365 little notes of happiness to reflect upon.
As a college student with a busy schedule, it can often be difficult to make goals and resolutions and actually persevere and achieve them because of work, family, friends, and other obligations you may have in your life. With that said, hopefully, I gave you something a little different than your typical New Year’s resolutions like, “eat better”, “get more sleep”, “work harder” – but instead provided resolutions that anyone can easily incorporate into a busy lifestyle and actually stick with. Good luck and happy New Year!