New Years Resolutions You Can ACTUALLY Keep This Year

By: Claire Wong ‘23

With the new year comes resolutions, but we all know that new year’s resolutions don’t always last. Here are some alternative resolutions that are more practical and aim to create sustainable, long-lasting habits instead of drastic lifestyle changes. 

Instead of Self Care  → Prioritize Yourself

While self care is important, we often forget to seek out intentional ways of prioritizing yourself. We have spent a long year alone in isolation and it becomes hard to differentiate when alone time is advantageous or detrimental. Maybe part of prioritizing yourself is practicing self care but this new year aim to also spend intentional time to appreciate your self worth and value. Prioritizing yourself looks different for everyone but here are some ideas how to do that in the new year:

• Intentional alone time

• Gratitude journaling

• Read a book for fun

• Meditate

Instead of More Workouts → Accept Your Physicality 

Instead of aiming for a strenuous workout routine, focus on accepting your own ability and work towards a gradual progression in exercise. There will be some good and bad days, but it is okay if your routine is not perfect. Listen to your body and what feels good for you! Here are some more long-term exercise habits to incorporate into your weekly routine:

• 10 minute wake-up morning yoga routine

• 10 minute walk in between classes

• 10 minute dance workout

Instead of Dieting → Be Mindful When Eating

Implementing a diet is not always easy to sustain long-term. Instead of aiming to achieve a specific kind of diet, become more mindful in the food you consume. Learn what is healthy and what is not and make substitutions when possible. Become more aware of what you are putting into your body and how it makes you feel. Here are some ways to develop healthier eating habits:

• Eat a fruit or vegetable for every meal

• Cut down on caffeine intake

• Drink more water

• Learn to cook

Instead of Eliminating Screens → Take Screen Breaks

Especially in a COVID world, our society is very dependent on technology and simply eliminating screens entirely is much more difficult. Rather than going on technology fasts, incorporate more regular screen time breaks to give your eyes and mind a rest. 

Instead of Learning Something New → Pick Up a Lost Hobby

In a life full of crammed schedules and constant activity, sometimes it is difficult to find the time and patience to learn an entirely new skill. If learning a new skill is something you aspire but simply find it difficult to do, revisit a lost hobby or skill and progress in that! Here are some common “lost hobbies:”

• Sewing

• Writing

• Drawing or doodling

• Relearning a language

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