Every January it’s the same — you have your New Year’s resolutions set in place and are all fired up and ready to tackle the year ahead. New year, new you, am I right? And then every year you last a week or two before life happens, causing your New Year’s resolutions to fall lower and lower on the priority list. Before you know it, you forget you’ve even made resolutions at all.
First off, some tips to help you keep ANY resolution you have this year:
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Set your intention. Decide what you want to focus on and WHY — if you don’t have a good “why,” you won’t be successful.
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Tell someone about your intention. Accountability is key. And maybe you find someone else with the same resolution so you can do the journey side by side and check in with each other.
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Keep a reminder in your line of sight. I have a real problem with object permanence, meaning if something isn’t right in front of my eyes, I forget about it. So if you want to start journaling, leave the journal and your favorite pen on your nightstand. If you want to start working out, lay out your workout clothes and leave your yoga mat or other supplies laid out where you can’t miss them. Want to start eating better? Leave a big bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter as a visual reminder.
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Set yourself up for success by working harder on the front end to build better habits!
Whew! That’s a lot, but it will help make sure that 2022 is actually going to be your year. We’re calling it right now. Here are all our tips that will help you keep every kind of New Year’s resolution out there.
How to keep your space organized
So you’re still working from home, the home office is an absolute train wreck, and you’re determined to make 2022 the year you get organized. Go you!
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Put it back! Put everything back in its place right when you’re done using it. Don’t set it down and intend to do it later. Put it back right away.
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When organizing your space initially, put what you use the most closest to you. You’re more likely to keep your space tidy if your most-used items are within arm’s reach.
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Put lots of time and care into your initial organization. If you make your space aesthetically pleasing and put a lot of effort into setting it up initially, you’ll be more motivated to keep it organized!
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How to eat healthier
This is always a popular resolution! And honestly, it’s not surprising that few people keep it up — switching up your eating habits can be a big life change!
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Plan ahead! Make grocery lists so you aren’t grabbing items at random from the shelves.
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Meal prep. Meal prepping will make healthy eating a million times easier. Use your day off to prep a couple healthy meals that you can grab and go — easy, healthy, and simple!
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Have fun with it. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring! Take some time to compile a list of recipes that look yummy, try them, and keep them in rotation if you like them. If you don’t like any, switch them out for new ones!
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How to step up your self-care routine
Need to relax and de-stress a little? Yeah, most of us do. Let’s get a great self-care routine going.
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Schedule it! Schedule self-care time into your day. Seriously. Make an appointment with yourself that you can’t miss. Planning a regular time to indulge in some self-care will help you stick to it and keep other things from getting in the way.
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Don’t be guilted out of it! Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for taking some me time. You deserve it.
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Try a few things and find out what refreshes you. Whether it’s a bubble bath, a Netflix binge, or some takeout and a glass of wine on the porch, self-care will look different for all of us! Take time to find out what works for you.
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How to stick to that workout routine
Let’s get healthy this year, ladies. This is always the hardest one for me to stick to. The good news is that finances shouldn’t be an obstacle, and you don’t need a fancy gym membership to start working out. YouTube, Amazon Prime, and Hulu are gold mines for free workout videos, and you can work out for free by just running outside! Here are some other things that have helped me.
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Make it fun! Really find what gets you excited to work out. I tried to force myself to get into running and weight training but I honestly just hated it. But I’ve found that I absolutely love doing yoga and going on hikes! Find what physical activity you love and make it part of your routine.
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Invest in good equipment if you can afford to. When we make investments in things, we’re more motivated to get our money’s worth out of them. Investing in good equipment, like a Peloton or a DB Method Squat Machine, is a great way to work up the motivation to work out.
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Make it social! If you can safely work out with friends (thanks, Omicron), do it! You could do Zoom yoga with your friends or run together outside. Once it’s safe, you could get a gym membership with friends or do home workouts together too!
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How to save money
Finances are really rough for a lot of people who were affected by shutdowns, quarantine, and other COVID-related restraints. So it’s time to get your finances in gear this year.
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Use apps! There are some great apps that help you budget and save money automatically. I use Acorns and Mint. Acorns automatically puts money away and invests it for me, and Mint tracks my budget and spending.
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Limit the takeout. Do you get a $5 latte every morning? Eat out most nights of the week? Limit that! Invest in some quality coffee and an easy-to-use coffee machine (like a Keurig or Nespresso), and try to make most of your meals at home.
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Shop your closet/sell old clothes. Learning how to refresh the pieces you already own can help you feel like you have a whole new wardrobe, and you can sell clothes you’re through with on apps like Poshmark and ThredUp.
How to land that dream job
Is 2022 the year to make professional strides? Well, we love that for you! Let’s land that dream job and be on the way to a more productive and fulfilling future.
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Work on networking. Networking is a super powerful professional tool, and personal contacts can make or break your new job search. Utilize LinkedIn — have a professional LinkedIn profile and remain active on your LinkedIn account!
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ASK for what you want. This is the ultimate power move for all job-related New Year’s resolutions. Don’t be afraid to reach out to companies that you admire and would love to work for. Tell them what you want to do, but make it clear you’re willing to start wherever you’re needed and work your way up. And reach out to people you know, even marginally, and let them all know that you’re job hunting and what your dream position would be. This includes friends of your parents, old colleagues, friends of friends, etc. Most people I know got their current jobs not from a job posting, but by a connection they had.
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Scrub your social media! Seriously, make sure there’s nothing embarrassing, illegal, or otherwise unprofessional on your social media. Employers do check social media, and you’d hate to not get hired because you posted that picture taking shots with your girlfriends last New Year’s Eve. And while you’re at it, make sure your voicemail message and email address/footers are also professional!
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Business cards! Vistaprint and MOO are our top choices for high-quality, professional business cards. You should have business cards with you at all times — you never know when you’ll run into someone, and you don’t want to be unprepared!
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Spruce up your resume! There are several companies out there that will help you build a solid resume, or you could ask an experienced friend/family member to sit down with you and look over your resume. If using a printed resume, print it on high-quality paper; if digital, use a good online template. Make it career-specific and include a cover letter. If you have no experience in the field, focus on listing relevant skills, strengths, volunteer work, and any other achievements.
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Alumni associations. Even if you don’t think you have any personal connections, you probably do! Check with your college or university’s alumni associations and see if you can find anyone in your desired field. Educational connections go a seriously long way in the job hunt.
How to drink less
Oof. This is a big one, and is likely to be one of 2022’s more popular New Year’s resolutions. Consumption of alcohol went way up the past year, and this may be the year to detox from those drinking habits a bit. You might just need to cut back — but if you feel your drinking has gotten out of control, you may want to consult an addiction specialist to get more personalized help with this one.
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Order mocktails! Sometimes we’re out with friends and order alcohol because we don’t know what to get. Keep a few “mocktail” (non-alcoholic cocktail) orders up your sleeve — like a Shirley Temple, Roy Rodgers, or Mint Soda — for the next time you’re out and don’t want to drink.
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Stock the home bar with non-alcoholic options. Companies like Seedlip and Töst offer some great non-alcoholic alternatives!
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Make it social. This is another tip that will be easier if you do it with friends. Maybe you and some friends want to choose to be sober on certain days or for an extended period of time. Doing this with friends will help with accountability and solidarity — you’ll know you’re not doing it alone!
How to spend more time outside
Let’s make sure to get some extra outdoor time this year! This is one of my favorite New Year’s resolutions, but I also live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, which makes it a pretty easy one for me 😉
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Go to beautiful places. Put some energy into finding parks, nature trails, rivers, or other beautiful places in your neighborhood. If you find a place you love going to, you’ll look forward to getting outside!
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Check out the apps! There are some super cool apps to encourage you to get outside and explore your hometown.
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Put it in your schedule. Schedule time for it, get yourself worked up for it, and seriously plan ahead! That way when the time comes to get out, you’ll be ready to go (this tip has seriously helped me, a definite homebody, get out and about!).
What are your New Year’s resolutions this year? Will you be using any of these tips to stick to them? Let us know in the comments!
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