Do you wanna make some resolutions~

I am someone who makes at least one New Year's resolution every year. Last year, after watching a little too much Netflix, I decided that starting January 1st I wouldn't watch Netflix unless I was with someone. And guess what... I successfully went the whole year without watching it alone!! It was hard to avoid the temptation because I truly thought there was nothing better than laying in bed doing nothing. While I do still love to spend a little time laying in bed, I tried instead to do more productive things like reading articles, making work out plans, designing new recipes, etc. It just made it a lot easier when I found new hobbies to help fill that time.

This year I decided to continue to not watch Netflix alone and also to complete my bucket list as soon as I have the time and funds to do so! (Hence, why I booked flights to NC and Spain!) I look forward to sharing my adventures with you as they happen, so stay tuned.


BUT did ya know that around 50% of people who make New Year's Resolutions don't make it past six months? Here are some tips that I thought of on how to successfully maintain your resolution(s) through 2016:

• Don't quit something cold turkey. If you have been smoking cigarettes for years you can't expect that just because it is the 1st that you can totally be done (in most cases)
• Make them realistic. If you know you hate lettuce then don't say you are going to eat salads for every meal, change the resolution to finding healthy foods you do like
• Share it with your friends and family so they can help hold you accountable 
• Know that starting something new or ending something old takes baby steps. You can't expect to go from not working at all in 2015 to going to the gym more than four times a week right away in 2016
• Don't make 100+ resolutions. If you have a lot you want to do then break it up into months, so like five resolutions for January, two for February, etc.
• You just have to do it, and if you fall off the wagon then get back on and try again. Life does happy so do the best you can do and never give up!
• Should vs want. Just because you should work out more doesn't mean you want to, make sure you have the motivation to actually see it through
• Picking a day to start. You don't have to start a resolution on January 1st, you can make a change in your life on any day, do what is best for you and your schedule

Resolutions should be personalized and unique. Get specific! Here are some starting points to making your resolution(s):

• Do research to find a workout you enjoy and then make a plan on how often you could do it each week
• Start trying new healthy foods or recipes 
• Give more complements and complain less
• Watch less TV (and Netflix) and read ___ number of books about____
• Like animals? Volunteer at an animal shelter. Like kids? Volunteer at a day care or children's hospital. If you don't have a lot of time to give then donate blood or donate to a nonprofit.
• Travel more. Whether it's doing the touristy stuff in your hometown or flying across the world, if you want to go somewhere then just book the flight.
• Clean up your social media: unfriend the people that annoy you on Facebook, unsubscribe from newsletters in your email, etc.
• Speak less and listen more
• Get another degree, certification, minor, etc

Best of luck on making positive changes. Happy 2016!