Aren't you tired of making the same resolutions every year because you couldn't commit to them past mid-January the previous year? When it comes to New Year's resolutions, the trick to succeeding is to set general ones where throwing in the towel isn't an option after your first minor slip up. Here are resolutions that nearly anyone can adopt this year.
Be more present
The problem with focusing on the past and the future is they leave little energy to focus on the present. I invite you to focus on what's right in front of you, the task at hand, and where you'd like to go from here. Use your past to learn from it and the future to better plan your present to get there. But never unpack your suitcase at either one of those stops. Here are simple ways to start being more present.
4 Ways to be More Present in 2019
Be more active
Mixing exercise into your comfortably lazy life is no easy feat, but it's worth it. The gym and your dream body may seem far away and impossible to reach but all you have to do it start moving and you'll eventually start seeing and feeling progress. Keep your goals realistic, like walking 3 times a week or joining a gym and slowly easing into workout routines with a gym buddy. Just avoid making ridiculous resolutions like getting Jen Selter's body.
Save $50 a month
Saving money is difficult, I know, especially in an economy as stagnant as ours, but there are ways. Start out small by saving as little as $50 a month, that's $600 at the end of the year, almost enough to buy a new phone, enough to take a trip to Europe, or just some extra cash for spoiling yourself. Here's the trick: the minute you get your salary, set aside $50, or more if you're able, and guard it as if your life depended on it. You'll thank me in 12 months when you're posing by the Colosseum in Italy.
Read at least 6 books
Not to make you feel bad about yourself but there are some people that read 50+ books a year. Mark Manson challenged himself to read a book a day. Now that's a little extreme, but you have nothing to lose but time when you read more, and worlds of knowledge and a vocabulary wider than Kim Kardashian's hips to gain. Six books should be easy to tackle in a year. That's half a book a month, an eighth of a book per week. Which is what, like 16 pages a day?
Eat more home-cooked meals
Sorry Toters, we've been introduced to clean eating, macros, and meal prep. Cue excuses about getting home late from work, living alone, and not having time to prepare food. Did you know in as little as an hour, the average person unacquainted with the kitchen could clean, cook, and perfectly season enough chicken and vegetables to last several days?
Smoke/drink less
Often times when we set New Year's resolutions, we adopt an all or nothing mindset. Meaning, if your goal was to quit smoking cold turkey, and on January 5th you craved a cigarette so bad that you'd be willing to cross the Mediterranean for it, and took two puffs before feeling extremely guilty, you'd convince yourself you ruined the resolution. Oh well, better luck in 2020, right? Wrong! Give yourself enough room for error by making it a goal to "cut down" "drink less" or simply "go easy on your lungs and liver."
Minimize
Dedicate some time to toss out the materialistic parts of your life that are consuming most of your energy. That goes for unmatched socks, toxic friends, last year's boarding pass to the flight you missed, and post its with a bunch of non-legible scribbled notes. Try our 21-day minimal living challenge and watch how a load is released off your shoulders.
21-day minimal living challenge
Step out of your comfort zone
Take a chance every once in a while. They say nothing good ever came from a comfort zone so why not leave yours behind? Every day, try to do something that scares you. Here are some simple examples to kick start the process: text him/her first, spark a conversation with a stranger at a gathering, raise your hand in class, or share your opinion during a meeting.
Build stronger relationships
Off of the Internet, that is. Loneliness plays a major role in our mental health and one of the easiest ways to combat that is by building lasting relationships. That's usually done when you let your guard down and get to know someone face to face. Initiating a conversation with someone on Instagram doesn't count. Sorry creeps that have 7+ DMs simultaneously blowing up their phone.
Do a social media detox
This is essential for sanity! How long can you go on living your lives comparing yourselves to others, trying to impress your followers, or stalking strangers. I regularly take breaks from all platforms in order to take a step back, look at the big picture and decide what it is I'm really trying to do when I post pictures from months ago, or status updates that no one but me will understand. I encourage you to disconnect every now and then, but try to keep track of the latest events and news on @beiruting because well, no FOMO.
Procrastinate less
Easier said than done right? It took a nap, 2 days, and 3 snacks before I typed the first word of this post and I genuinely enjoy writing. Procrastination happens to the best of us but it doesn't have to control you. I stumbled upon two methods that have done the trick for me (most of the time):
The 2-minute rule: If a task takes less than 2 minutes to complete, such as a quick response to an email, washing the bowl in the sink, or making a quick phone call, do it right away. Getting these little things out of the way will help you avoid having an inbox full of unanswered emails, and a sink full of dirty dishes. You're welcome.
Log everything into an agenda. And I mean EVERYTHING. You'll laugh at my to-do list that includes everything from waking up to eating lunch. Give every task a time frame. If it doesn't finish in the allotted time, pencil it in later, and move on to the next task. This has worked wonders for me since I can't focus on a single task for too long. Thank you, female brain.
Eat more cake
We're trying to enjoy life not be stupid. Besides, who doesn't like cake? Go ahead and indulge a little. Life's short and broccoli just won't satisfy those sweet tooth cravings.
