Every year we promise ourselves that we’ll stick to the same old new year’s resolutions – We’ll embrace dry January, start jogging and actually wear those unbelievably expensive shoes we’ve had at the back of our wardrobe since forever. Predictable plot twist: it’s totally unrealistic. By the third of the January we’re sitting on the sofa, downing some cheap alcohol and wearing pyjamas we’ve owned since maybe high school (you know the pair with the hole)? So how about setting ourselves some more achievable goals this 2019, maybe ones that we can actually stay on track with?
Using a Planner
Do you buy a planner every year and then halfway through January turn it into your new doodling book or abandon it somewhere under a big pile of papers? Me too! What I tried at the beginning of 2018 was just to set aside 20 minutes of my time every week (I chose Sundays) to plan my upcoming week. What I find is being able to set aside smaller time slots to get something done not only motivates me to do it but also does not seem like a chore. Also being able to see your week laid out in front of you is a great way to manage time as well as get ahead on class work or other commitments. I was able to successfully stick to my planner for the ENTIRE year!
Photo via STIL
Get Five Hours of Sleep
This seems like an upgrade from your usual three right? The purpose of these New Year’s Resolutions is to be consistent, so setting unrealistic goals like sleeping seven to eight hours a night is asking to be broken. Instead, set a goal to get at least five hours of sleep every night. This will not only be an easy to follow resolution but I’m sure you could use the extra sleep (especially at this time of year)!
Photo via LearnEnglish
Read A Book
Again, consistency is key. So, instead of promising yourself to read 20 books in the year, try to keep things calm. Make a list of five books that are at the top of your list, then pick one up and read it! It’s that simple! If you want to be a little more ambitious, set a time frame, maybe a month, to finish that book and start another! This goal is easy and attainable, and in the long run averages to about 12 books a year! If you find a month is too long, you can customize your time frame to fit your availability.
Photo via Elizabeth Flock
Clean your sheets
Last year I made a resolution to keep my room clean. Well, it’s December and I can tell you that resolution was broken somewhere around March. So, what you can try this year is to say I will change my sheets regularly. Changing your sheets every week will have your room looking new and fresh. And who knows, maybe having clean sheets will inspire you to clean your room too (but maybe not).
Photo by Monica Silvestre via Pexels
Power Off
Okay, this was a trick I started halfway through the year of 2018 and I have stuck with it since! Once a week for three hours, I leave my phone as far away from myself as possible and just power off from the world. I find it is a nice way to clear your thoughts and just have some time to yourself without the pressures of friends, family or social media on you. If three hours once a week is too much (I thought so too at first), you can start off with 20 minutes a day and work your way up! You will not only feel more free but also feel less stressed!
Photo via Wanda Burton
2019 is a new year but that doesn’t have to mean setting new impossibly difficult to maintain habits! No, what that simply means is setting smaller but specific goals tailored to your lifestyle that you can actually keep. Not only will you feel better about yourself for being able to keep these goals but as time progresses you can set new goals or build on your current ones. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither were habits!
Photo via Krawkow