New Year Resolutions. Every year we make them and every year we break them. I keep trying to figure out why. Personally, it’s because I have absolutely zero self control, but I know a lot of people who know themselves and their limits and they still can’t manage to keep up with their goals. Why is that?
I have come to the conclusion that the new year is an awkward time to declare change in my life. There’s nothing natural about the new calendar year. I’m not starting the school year in a new dorm or starting an internship in a new city. It’s a new year, but it’s the same old me.
So instead I’m making resolutions for the summer. The summer is a period of change and transition: you’re ending a school year, going home, maybe doing an internship, preparing for the next academic year. It’s a natural time to learn habits, change old ones and improve yourself.
So that’s what’s up. We’re making resolutions.
Some important notes about my resolutions:
- I’m not starting all of them at the same time. That’s overwhelming. I want to ease myself into these routines so that they will eventually become habit.
- When setting goals, it’s important to use positive statements. What does that mean? Basically say “do” instead of “do not.” Example: Try “Use stairs.” instead of “Do not use elevators.”
Also before I share my resolutions with you, I think it’s important preface with the fact that resolutions are very personal to me as they are to many others. They tend to reflect some of my greatest insecurities, so it takes a lot to put them out there for the interwebs to devour.
So finally, without further ado, I present my resolutions:
- Work out. *Uproarious laughter*. Isn’t this everyone’s resolution?
- Say no more often. Stop thinking that you’re going to ruin someone’s day by doing it. You can deal with other people’s disappointment. What you can’t deal with is committing to one thousand obligations at the same time. And sometimes people will surprise you. Because sometimes people are super understanding. Surprise! We’re all human!
- Watch all of The West Wing. You’ve been putting this off for far too long.
- Call your family and the people important to you more often. One of my friends once told me that he sets aside two or three hours on his Sunday to call his family and friends and talk to them for a couple minutes. I used to tell myself that I was too busy for this, but that’s not true. I’m just lazy. And that’s not a valid excuse.
- Go. to. all. your. classes. This is not a drill.
- Start a gratitude jar. Everyday, write down one thing you’re grateful for on a slip of paper and put it in a jar. At the beginning of next summer, you can start opening one gratitude per day and smile at the things you were thankful for.
- SLEEP. You need it. You deserve it.
- Take care of yourself. In more of a eat-breakfast-shower-everyday-dress-well-wear-makeup-don’t-leave-the-house-looking-like-a-schlump sort of way. Don’t make the groutfit your aesthetic.
- Be kind to your skin. Always take your makeup off before sleeping. Change your pillowcase often. Wear sunscreen.
- Stairs over elevators. Unless it’s more than four flights.
- Make time to get away. Go get lunch in a new location. Check out an exhibit at a museum you’ve never been to. Go to a park and do some dog-watching (always better than people-watching, 12.4/10 would recommend). The point is staying in the same place all the time can be boring and tiring. Go explore and try something different.
- Drink 72 oz of water everyday. Having to pee all the time ain’t cute, but hey, neither is dehydration. Also you can die.
