New Year’s Resolutions… they’re a little intimidating, right? It can be a lot of pressure to promise yourself to be better because if you don’t fulfill that promise, the only person you’re failing is yourself. That’s why I’m not the biggest fan of New Year’s Resolutions – sometimes I think they can hurt more than they can fix.
Starting the new year with the energy to be a better human being is great, but I think realizing that you can exist without the need to be the most optimized version of yourself is more important.
But if you do want to implement some new healthy habits into your routine, I think little, low-stake resolutions are the way to go. Here are some simple habits to bring into the new year that, in my opinion, won’t make you feel like a failure if you forget to do them every once in a while.
Drink More Water
Drinking enough water each day is incredibly important to your overall health. I generally find that when I drink more water throughout the day, I end up feeling more energized and more refreshed. But as a busy college student who barely has time to think about her meals, I definitely forget to watch my water intake from time to time. Recently, I have tried to make this a new habit for myself, so here are some of my tips to help you to remember to drink more water!
- Make daily intake goals
- Set reminders on your phone
- Bring your reusable water bottle everywhere you go
Stretch!
One of my goals at the beginning of this month was to stretch more. According to Riverside Corporate Wellness, stretching can reduce stress, promote circulation, improve posture, decrease muscle stiffness and increase range of motion.
Though many benefits can result from stretching daily, I have also enjoyed waking up with something to do that doesn’t take too much energy and makes my body feel instantly better. There are also tons of resources on social media platforms you can use to help you get started. I personally like searching “10-minute stretching routines” on YouTube to give me a little bit more structure.
Put Away the Phone
I know I’m not the only Gen-Z teen who struggles to keep their phone at arm’s length, but I do know that making it a habit is a good thing. Sometimes I spend hours mindlessly scrolling when I could be doing so much more with my free time, and also know I could relax in more productive ways. Spending a lot of time on your phone every once in a while isn’t a huge deal, but when it becomes an everyday activity, I believe scheduling breaks is always a good idea.
For tips on how to step away from your device, read my article, Social Media: Why You Should Regulate Instead of Eliminate.
Get More Sleep
This is a HUGE goal of mine this year- to increase the amount of Z’s I get each night. I know it can be easy to get caught up doing homework, watching TV or scrolling on TikTok before it’s time to hit the hay. I do it all the time, but I think being mindful of how detrimental only a few hours of sleep can be is helpful to keep in mind.
In my opinion, having a relaxing night routine has been a favorite method of mine for getting to bed before midnight. I know sometimes we don’t always have the energy to commit to a 12-step skincare routine every night, but keeping it simple and adding a fun element to the mix is what has helped me remain consistent for the past few weeks. For my fun element, I treated myself to a lavender sugar scrub that makes me excited to wind down every night.
Also intentionally having an activity before bed that has a limit to it has helped me as well. Social media has no end, so hours can fly by without you even noticing. With intentions to watch one episode of a show, or to read a few chapters of a book before you fall asleep, this can help you get to bed at a more reasonable hour.
Resolutions should be positive guidelines, not strict rules that are too hard to keep up with. It’s okay to stray away from your routine, and it’s also okay to treat yourself sometimes. I hope some of these resolutions are helpful and simple enough to make a part of your daily routine, but just remember to be gentle with yourself. You don’t have to be perfect or always look for ways to better yourself. You can just be you, and that’s okay too.
Here’s to 2022!