The excitement of the holidays and winter break brings along some of the best parts of the year: seeing old friends, holiday parties, reuniting with your childhood bedroom and more. After the glitter of the holiday season has settled, one more thing waits for us at the end of the year: New Year’s resolutions.
Each year, we’re confronted with the same looming pressure of a shiny, new January. By the time we’ve reached the end of the year many of us have long forgotten about the commitments we made last New Year’s. Maybe your workout regimen fell apart or you didn’t make it to every destination on your travel list. If sticking to these goals feels impossible, you’re not alone. New Year’s resolutions often have one common problem: they’re not realistic. If you plan on making New Year’s resolutions for next year, you may need to start with something more simple.
- Make and update a 2023 Playlist
It can be tough to stay consistent with some methods of self care, like keeping a journal or documenting your life in a scrapbook. However, there are easier ways to track your changing personality and tastes, like making a continuous playlist from January to December.
- Get a new pillow
Something as simple as swapping out your pillow is an easy one-and-done change to start off the year with. It can be difficult to make and stick to new nighttime routines, but a new pillow might improve your sleep quality.
- Wear sunscreen daily
In the colder months of the year, SPF might completely slip some of our minds, but wearing sunscreen during the wintertime is just as important as it is during sunnier months. Even though UV rays are less intense during the winter, adding a daily moisturizer with SPF to your routine can work wonders for skin in the long run.
- Buy a plant (and keep it alive)
Staying motivated throughout the year is one of the biggest struggles that each of us face. Taking care of ourselves is difficult enough, so why add another living thing on top of it? However, owning (and maintaining) a plant is a way to add life to a space, give you a sense of accomplishment and even boost your mood and creativity.
- Read the news every morning
With so many news outlets out there, it can seem overwhelming to commit to just one. However, if you’re someone who reaches for your phone right when you wake up, choosing one news subscription to read every morning can be a good, informative substitute for scrolling through social media.
- Take a road trip with no destination
A lot of people automatically think of traveling when they think of New Year’s resolutions, but if you’re a college student or just trying to save money, extravagant vacations might not be the most realistic of goals. If you’re interested in seeing new things, you don’t have to rule out traveling entirely. Gathering a couple friends, getting into the car and driving until you stumble upon something worthwhile can be just as much fun as planning out an adventure.
- Send more handwritten letters
Though it’s a bit tedious, snail mail is one of the most sentimental ways to let someone know you’re thinking of them. Even if it’s only for the birthdays of close friends and family, giving and sending handwritten notes is a simple way to show people a little bit more love.
- Buy flowers for yourself once a month
The pressure of unrealistic resolutions concerning looks, lifestyle and worth can be overwhelming to accomplish in the span of just one year. If one of your resolutions is to put more effort back into yourself, buying yourself flowers every now and then is the perfect way to lift yourself up and brighten up your space at the same time. If flowers aren’t your style, taking yourself out to lunch or having a self-care night also does the trick.