Whether you woke up January 1st with a hangover or not (my only hangover was from a second helping of some Kansas City barbeque the night before—no regrets), I’m sure you’re thinking about making some changes throughout 2017. “New year, new me” is practically tattooed on our foreheads this time of year. But it seems that no matter how much ambition and drive we have in achieving our New Year resolutions, we often fall short. No, it’s not because we lack will power and determination. It’s really because we’re biting off more than we can chew. The start of a new year is a great time to clean up bad habits and better yourself, but it’s easy to fail when we aim to change too much too fast. Instead of diving straight into the pool of New Year resolutions, let’s try dipping a toe in. If you find yourself overwhelmed with your 2017 aspirations, here’s a list of possible alterations that can make any resolution attainable.
1. Change “Be Happier” to “Smile More”
Wouldn’t it be great if all of a sudden we could wake up and let go of anything that makes us upset or sad and focus on the good in life? That’s wishful thinking, but unfortunately, it takes a long time to develop a positive attitude if you’ve been struggling for a while. If you want to feel happier throughout the year, simply try smiling more often. Remind yourself to smile when you’re feeling blue, and think of all the good you have in your life. Additionally, the act of smiling reinforces happy feelings, so the more you do it, the less visits Debbie Downer will make.
2. Change “Be Healthier” to “Try a New Vegetable”
Ahh, yes. The most abundant New Year resolution. Most of us want to become fitter, healthier versions of ourselves, which of course, is a great idea. However, we usually try to change everything about our current lifestyle. Maybe you want to exercise more, watch less TV, stop eating so much Pizza House feta bread, AND start cooking more, but trying to do all these things at once is overwhelming and will likely lead to quitting. Instead, start small, and try incorporating one new vegetable in every now and then. Try it in a dish or on its own, and eventually you can work your way up to trying new healthy lifestyle habits.
(I know what you’re thinking, but trust me, vegetables aren’t that bad)
3. Change “Get Better Grades” to “Attend Every Class”
Getting better grades is a great resolution! But sometimes it can be tougher than imagined. Your classes could be more demanding this semester, or your professors could grade a little harder. So to avoid feeling defeated after a tough semester, a great alteration instead is to attend every lecture and accompanying discussions if you are able. Attending class will never hurt you when it comes to your grades, so while it’s tempting to stay bundled up in your bed on these cold, winter mornings, going to class is achievable and in turn leads to better academic performance. Win-win.
4. Change “Be More Adventurous” to “Try Something New”
One of my past resolutions has been to be more adventurous, but I always struggled to achieve it since I never know when I’m being venturesome “enough”. Go big or go home always seems to be the route I need to go, but it’s always too daunting. If you fall into this routine as well, an easy way to snap the record is to simply try anything new. It could be the cute coffee shop around the corner, or it could be that daring, deep blue lipstick you’ve been itching to try. Stepping out of your comfort zone doesn’t have to be drastic, so spark up that adventure inside you by just trying something new.
5. Change “Stress Less” to “Allow Time for Relaxation”
At the University of Michigan (and every other college), it’s a little tricky to feel stress free. Okay, it’s really tricky, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible! Instead of telling yourself to stop stressing out so much, get specific, and schedule some time to relax. It can be as simple as setting aside 30 minutes a night to do something you love, such as reading a book or catching up on your favorite Netflix show. If you make time for your mental-break sesh, you’re less likely to procrastinate, and you’ll be truly devoting yourself to your mental health (IMPORTANT). The last thing you want is to have a massive stress breakdown because you keep putting stressful thoughts on the back burner without giving yourself time to breath. Take the time off and regroup. You’ll thank yourself later.
What other resolutions do you have?
Images courtesy of Giphy.