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“A New Years resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other…”
— Anonymous
A lot of the time New Year’s resolutions are a bit too ambitious. If you want to read 50 books or travel the world in the new year, go for it. But life is extremely chaotic, so this year I’ve decided to set far more realistic goals. Instead of setting out to do one huge thing in the new year, not getting around to it, and feeling like you’ve failed yourself, try making some extremely simple resolutions that’ll still make you feel great.
If you’re searching for the perfect resolution, here are 20 totally doable ones to consider. Most of our suggestions can even be completed in a single day, so you could probably go full-on overachiever and tackle all 20 with ease.
Drink more water
It is — and I can’t stress this enough — super important to hydrate! Unfortunately, drinking enough water is easy to forget. Trust me. Occasionally I make it to 2:00 p.m. and realize I haven’t had a single sip. But if you make an honest effort to drink more water, as I recently did, it becomes easier and easier. If you haven’t already, try investing in a reusable water bottle. Filling those things up throughout the day is a blast. Feels great.
Use your phone less
Setting limits on how many hours you use your phone is tricky, because the need to text, tweet, or be plugged in varies each day. If you want to use your phone less, try cutting down on scrolling social media right before bed or checking it right when you wake up.
Read one book a month
Reading more is a common resolution, but you don’t have to go HAM and set a 50-book minimum. Set out to read at least one non-online article every month. It can be a novel, a comic book, a full magazine, whatever! If you want to read more, that’s great. Anything else will be a bonus.
Listen to songs and artists you’ve never heard before
At some point during the past few years I started listening to my favorite songs, albums, and artists on a loop, and just kind of tuning everything else out. It’s good to listen to things you know you like, but there’s a whole world of great music out there, so be sure to set aside some time to give artists and songs you’ve never heard a chance. Same goes for new podcasts.
Sit up straight
Ah, good posture, one of the things I forget about more than drinking water. It’s so easy to slouch, but it’s also easy to check in with yourself every day and re-adjust how you’re sitting or standing. If you really want to commit to this one, you can even set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to straighten up.
Stretch more
While we’re here talking about taking better care of our bodies, consider stretching more frequently in the new year. Take a break at work and do some nice neck rolls every once in a while. When watching TV at night sit on the floor and reach for those toes. You can do it!
Try to live more sustainably
You don’t have to go full zero waste all at once, but adopting a more sustainable lifestyle can be as easy as cutting out plastic bags and straws, or reusing bottles.
Go for inbox zero
To some people I’m sure inbox zero seems like a sheer impossibility, but I promise, if you take a few minutes (or hours depending on how drastic the email count is) and set your mind to clearing that inbox, it can be done.
Moisturize
Moisturizing your skin? Another super forgettable thing you should be doing on a regular basis. Lotion up, apply that lip balm, and get a humidifier if you have to. Your skin will thank you.
Take more walks
Go outside and take more leisurely strolls next year! Take walks on your lunch break, after dinner, with friends, up stairs, or around shopping centers. This one’s super simple.
Make your bed in the mornings
Allow Mashable Culture Reporter Morgan Sung to make the case for making your bed every morning. It’s a good one.
Cook one new thing
And culture reporter Chloe Bryan will convince you to cook a single new thing in the new year. We have faith in you. But first…
Change the batteries in your smoke alarm
Replacing the batteries in your smoke alarm only takes minutes, but it’s easier to forget than both checking your posture and hydrating. Check. Those. Batteries.
Spend 1 day a week offline
One day. You can do it. No Twitter, no Instagram, no Slack, no reading articles. Live your best offline life… but after you read this article.