Defined – (New Years Resolution): a tradition, most common in the Western Hemisphere but also found in the Eastern Hemisphere, in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice, such as opening doors for people beginning from New Year's Day. As we approach the New Year, I cant help but think about the previous promises that I have made myself and utterly failed while attempting to keep those resolutions alive. Why is it that year after year, we make these promises and as the year before, we fail to keep them? I will never know. After talking to my closest friends and significant other, we’ve come to a conclusion as to WHY exactly these resolutions seem to slip through the cracks in our busy schedules. They are simple too hard! We set our goals too high and we fail while trying. To avoid falling on my face, figuratively and literally, (this winter ice isn’t safe!), I've come to a life altering conclusion that I'm going to start simple this year.  Who said simple was bad in the first place! Instead of setting our bar too high and not feeling accomplished as we finish off the year, I think that starting simple and small and making just one small change in our everyday lives will make more of a difference than we could ever imagine. Below I'm going to list off some small and simple New Year's resolutions that I hope I will not only help me, but everyone else as well!
  1. Listen to your favorite music more
  2. Drink an extra glass of water
  3. Take the stairs instead of the elevator
  4. Dress in your favorite clothes more
  5. Eat more fruits and veggies
  6. Say “Thank You” more
  7. Let people know how much you love them
  8. Take more photos
  9. Read a new book (or 5)
  10. Set time aside for yourself
  11. Start a savings account (maybe just one dollar a month!)
  12. Reconnect with an old friend
  13. Adventure more
  14. Visit a new town
  15. Find a new hobby
  16. Worry less
  17. Meet someone new every day
  18. Spend less time on social media
  19. Stop worrying
  20. Enjoy the little things
Setting your New Year's resolution to one of these small tasks will set you up for a wonderful new year and an overall happier and healthier lifestyle! Happy 2016! Madison, Purdue University Student and VLWL Visitor Information Specialist, shares this blog.