The new year has finally graced us with her presence, and 365 days (minus these first few days of January of course!) to start fresh and make the year one of positivity, fun, and many new memories.

Many people choose to make New Year’s resolutions, following them with a gusto for the beginning of the year, but then quickly allowing them to fall by the wayside as the weeks go on. The reason for this is because most New Year's resolutions ideas are unrealistic and very hard to stick to on a long-term basis. They are also often things we don’t really want to do but feel like we should, such as completely ditching the caffeine, or committing ourselves to hour long sessions at the gym 6 or 7 days a week. 

 

 

While New Year’s resolutions can be fun, there’s really no point in making them unless they are something you absolutely want to do or accomplish. They should also be something you can fit in during your busy weeks, so they don’t become something of a novelty, but rather a daily, weekly or even monthly commitment to something that makes you happy. Resolutions should not be about proving yourself to anyone, but rather about doing something that makes you feel good about yourself, or even something that ignites your creativity or helps you grow as a person.

Whatever you choose as your New Year’s Resolutions are completely up to you and unique to each individual, but here are some fun ideas to get you started!

 

The number one New Year’s resolution is to exercise more, and it’s no surprise that gym memberships soar at this time of the year. However, studies show that more than 80% of people do not stick to this resolution and are then left feeling unmotivated.

Choosing to exercise for the sole purpose of achieving a hot bod is not the right mentality to have, and when results aren't seen right away (or you feel down on yourself for missing a workout), this is often cause-for-failure.

Instead, why not choose to live your life in a healthier and more mindful way? Take care with the foods you nourish your body with, as these foods become a part of you, so filling your body with whole, fresh antioxidant rich foods is the way to go. When you eat right and your body becomes healthier, you have more energy to get moving and take up a sport or activity that you actually enjoy. You’ll be so busy enjoying yourself and your newfound well-being, that you’ll wake up one morning and wonder where those sexy abs and toned legs came from!

 

Inspired by, Shonda Rhimes, the writer behind TV hits such as Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, we encourage you to make a resolution to say YES more this year. In her TED talk, Rhimes explains how saying yes to all the things that scared her, such as speaking in public, appearing on live television, and acting, actually helped to undo those fears.

Think about what fears you have and what you avoided last year and instead of ignoring them again this year… just go for it! Apply for that promotion, sing at open mic night, run your first 5k… say yes to it all! You never know what might happen. 

 

 

We don’t mean to sound gloomy when we say this, but did you know that the number one regret those on their death beds have is, “I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me”?

 

No matter our age, most of us tend to have some sort of outside influence on the way we live our lives. A teenager in a college crossroad being pulled in the direction of their mother or father's alma mater because it’s “tradition,” parents of young children staying in their hometown because it's the “stable thing to do” rather than travelling for a year like they had planned or even an empty nester putting off the college course they wanted to because they feel like they’re “too old.”

 

We could go on and on forever, but you get the point. Make this year more about being your authentic self and do what will fulfill you, not what your family, friends, or even society deems “right” for you at this point in your life.

Saying no to that which you know in your heart will not satisfy you can be just as powerful as saying yes to situations that scare you.

 

We live in a time where needing something has been overshadowed by wanting. Many people live their days wanting the latest iPhone, Nike sneakers, makeup, and so much more. Soon this behavior turns into never being satisfied with what we have because we’re constantly in a state of wanting more, wanting (what we perceive to be) better.

So this year, we challenge you to choose to love what you have because what you have is so much more than millions of others have. You'll find that gratitude goes a long way in improving your physical, mental, and emotional state.

If you’re thinking, “Oh I don’t have time to write in a gratitude journal every morning,” then know that it doesn’t even have to be that extreme... It can be as simple as digging out those CDs you used to love in high school. Flip through the lyric book and hear the music like you did when you came home excited to play the record all those years ago.