New Year’s Eve is right around the corner. That means the flood of “new year, new me” posts on social media are also just around the corner. Yaaaay (insert sarcastic eye-roll here). 

Every January, we all set those classic resolutions: I’m going to be healthier, get organized or spend less money. Unfortunately, by the time February rolls around, many of the items on that list have already been abandoned. 

Let’s keep it real — resolutions are hard to stick to. Too often, we set unrealistic, broad expectations for ourselves, rather than picking one tiny change that’s attainable. 

The other half of the problem is that most goals are boring, making them very difficult to achieve. If we picked more reasonable (and fun!) goals instead, we might actually start to see success come January of the following year. 

Try breaking a resolution down into smaller bites, with milestones and markers of progress that bring you joy. Here are some ideas!

Listen to a new podcast

These days, there’s a podcast for just about everything – celebrity interviews, crime junkie mysteries and even weekly recaps of everybody’s favorite show, “The Bachelor.” We regret to admit that the last one definitely falls into the inherently cheesy category, but there are plenty of other options out there .that offer practical tips, inspiring stories or a daily dose of humor to brighten your life 

Start a Morning Routine

Whether our alarms go off at 5 a.m. or 8 a.m., there’s a good chance that we’re all hitting that snooze button approximately 8-10 times. After that, the race to get out of the front door is really on. 

There is no denying that it’s hard, if not impossible, to jump out of bed right when the sun comes up with a happy-go-lucky attitude. However, doing so could make you feel more energized, positive and ready to take on the day. 

Don’t worry, a snooze or two is definitely still warranted. 

Read More Books

Most of us can agree we’d like to read more, and we’ve discovered the key. Hear us out for a minute — stop picking books that you’re not interested in. If you hate something after a few chapters, don’t force yourself to finish it. You have our approval to toss it to the other side of your room. 

Instead, move on to something you actually like. There’s no better feeling than staying up all hours of the night with an enticing page-turner.

Do One Thing for Yourself Every Day

There’s a lot of talk about “self-care” these days, but for good reason. Dedicating some time for yourself can help you relax from a hectic day. 

It could be anything — like going to a workout class, getting a massage, going on a long walk, meditating or starting a skincare routine. Find what works for you and stick to it … you’re worth it! 

Drink More Water

We know, we know — another year and another New Year’s resolution to be healthier. Well, that goal is a whole lot easier when you have specific ideas in mind, like drinking more water. 

Don’t worry, you don’t have to buy one of those gallon jugs off of Amazon. Instead, start small and try incorporating 1–2 more glasses of water into your daily routine. 

Shop Local

You could make it a goal to support local restaurants and businesses before heading over to the big business guys. For instance, try going to the locally-owned coffee shop down the street, rather than Starbucks. Or check out the mom-and-pop hardware store instead of Lowes or Home Depot.

You could pick a new spot each week to support and help your community in the process!

Try a Spending Fast

If you want to pay off some debt or save more money, consider doing a “spending fast” once a week each month. 

During this “fast”, you’ll only want to purchase only the essentials. Stay away from $6 coffee runs and expensive happy hours. Try to stick to the things you need!

Travel More

The world is a beautiful place. It’s time for you to get out there and see it! 

And you don’t have to hop on a flight every time you have the itch to travel. You could take a road trip to a nearby state park, or across the whole country if you’re feeling especially adventurous.

January is often labeled as the start of a new year and the start of the rest of your life. In reality, it’s not that serious. Yes, it’s the start of a new year, but that doesn’t mean you need to change your entire life overnight. Instead, pick a few creative and fun resolutions to make manageable improvements and focus on enjoying your life, just as it is! 

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