Every year is always the same: I make some pretty radical resolutions, I follow them for a few days, and then lose the motivation to continue them. Maybe I miss the comfort of my old, bad habits or I just lack the energy to continue on. If there’s one thing I’m certain about though, it’s that I always regret it at the end of the year.
For 2018, I’ve curated a list of resolutions so simple yet so essential to my self-growth. My main goal with these is to have zero regrets by the end of the year.
1. Go to coffee shops alone more often
I love coffee shop culture with all my heart. There are so many wonderful elements to it that make it so enjoyable; people watching, comfortable atmospheres, yummy treats, good music. Cafes guarantee a zen time no matter what. This year, I feel like I didn’t get as much alone time to breathe as I wanted to. Most of my downtime was spent in my room or on campus and, sometimes, that can feel too repetitive.
So in 2018, I plan on having coffee shop days alone very often. Whether it be to concentrate on work or just to be with myself and treat myself, I’m going to give myself at least one day every two weeks. Who knows, it might make me vulnerable enough to talk to strangers and to meet new people the “old fashioned” way. Which leads me to my next point…
2. Make new friends as if technology didn’t exist
Don’t get me wrong: I am extremely thankful for every technological advancement that I enjoy on the daily. But sometimes, I feel like my phone is a crutch and I can’t do anything without it. And I know that is definitely true because humans still had lives before all the apps and social media. Lives that I believe were a lot less complicated by a long shot.
That’s why resolution no. 2 is to go out, say hi to people, find our commonalities and differences, and spontaneously become friends. This way, I’m sure to meet more adventure buddies. Plus, when you meet people in person, you already get a sense of how they are as acquaintances. I’m more likely to avoid the awkwardness that comes with meeting people online first and having nothing to talk about in person. Speaking of awkward…
3. Be less weird and more comfortable in my skin
I’d like to think that I’m always a fearless phenom who laughs in the face of unfamiliar situations. But the truth is, I’m not. There are days where I feel like I’m invincible, then days where I feel like I’m so weak, the slightest gust of wind can judo flip me down. And it’s not a major problem that stops me from socializing the normal way, but it definitely bothers me at times when I want to breathe easy but just can’t.
In 2018, I want to work on my awkwardness. I want to start giving fewer fricks about what people think of me and more fricks about how I feel about myself. Everyone is awesome, so why should I always have to make an exception to that fact for myself? Next year will be about embracing who I am: greatest features, worst flaws, and all. Bad days are inevitable, I just aim to decrease their occurrence.
4. Go to more concerts
This one may seem less serious than the others just by reading the title. But going to concerts and experiencing music (the best thing the universe has given us) live always leaves me with an inspirational high. I went to a good amount this year, but I definitely think I can do better in 2018. It doesn’t matter how good my seats are or who I am, I just want that surge of creativity to exist more in my life. Plus, 2017 was such an amazing year for music that there are definitely some amazing lineups coming to Boston in the new year.
5. Have one self-care night each week
Compared to last year, I was definitely more conscious about giving myself a little time once in awhile to relax and take care of my soul. One problem I had, however, was I would wait to treat myself to some TLC until I desperately needed it. Now that this year is coming to an end, I thought of how many times I could have prevented unnecessary stress by taking action sooner.
Next year, I want to take an hour or two to myself each week dedicated to de-stressing. I’ll do a face mask, watch a good movie, drink tea, and just get super cozy. Even when I feel like I don’t need it, I know I will in the future. By having a set day every week, I have something to always look forward to and guaranteed peacetime no matter how hectic my week might get.
If I could sum up how I want my 2018 to go in one word, I would say “chill”. Next year is for finding my balance and for becoming the calmest version of myself. There will be some days where I feel like returning to my old habits, but I have a pretty good feeling about these resolutions. Cheers to little or no regrets in the New Year!
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