Five New Year's resolutions you can actually keep

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With a new year comes the idea of starting fresh. Here are five ideas for New Year's resolutions that you can actually keep.

With a new year comes the idea of starting fresh. It’s the cycle of New Year’s Resolutions; the ones we set that normally last a week or at most a month, and then vow to try again next year. Setting the bar too high can make achieving goals a grueling process, leading us to give up. But there are goals you can set that are within your reach! Here are five ideas for New Year’s resolutions that you can actually keep:

1. Start saying ‘yes’ more often

It’s often easier to say no. Allow yourself to say yes, even when you may not want to. Say yes to going out with friends even if you feel a little tired. Try to see the positives in each opportunity, and don’t get too caught up on the ‘what-ifs’. This doesn’t mean you need to say yes all the time, but frequently saying no means you may miss out on great memories and new possibilities.

2. Bring your lunch

Although this one may seem like a no-brainer, it’s all too easy to forgo a little extra work at home and opt to buy a burger or chicken strips. Bringing your lunch to school or work can be a great way to shift to healthier options. It doesn’t have to be a salad that you need to force yourself to eat. Your lunch should be something you look forward to eating, not something to dread. Buy things from the grocery store you enjoy, take a few minutes to prepare and pack it the night before, and grab it the next morning before you head out the door. Not only will it save you money in the long run, but it will help to avoid unhealthy fast food.

3. Make your own coffee

Sure, a coffee is normally under $2 (unless you prefer the Starbucks variety), but that little bit of pocket change can add up quickly if you buy coffee daily. If you can manage to purchase a good insulated travel mug, making your coffee at home will be saving you money in no time. Plus, you won’t need to wait in line at the Tim Horton’s in the Junction and will be able to make it to class on time.

4. Set screen time on your cell phone

Most smartphones have a feature to limit daily ‘screen time’. This can entail setting limits on particular apps (it’s all too easy to get caught up on Instagram), or setting downtime where most features of your phone are disabled for an hour or so (aside from phone calls). All you need to do is set the parameters once, and the limits will be set until you change or disable them. Most smartphones give notifications when the daily limits are close to being reached. It’s a passive but effective way to reduce your screen time.

5. Be kind to yourself

Above all else, respect yourself. Sometimes we are our own worst critics! Setting New Year’s resolutions is a fantastic way to start the year, but recognize nobody is perfect and there will be bumps on the road to achieving your goals. If you happen to fall off the path, accept it as part of the process and focus on getting back on track. Giving up completely won’t honour your hard work, so remember to be kind to yourself and acknowledge you are doing the best you can. ’