7 Super Easy New Year’s Resolutions That’ll Make You Feel Like You Actually Did Something

Picking the right New Year's resolution can be tricky.

If your goals are too ambitious, you might only make it a couple of weeks in before you give up entirely. If they're too vague, you'll find a loophole and consider the resolution met, even if you haven't done anything.

That's why we've put together this quick list of the easiest resolutions out there. They won't take a lot of time or effort, but they will make you feel like you've accomplished something.

Drink More Water

Sticking to most health-related resolutions isn't realistic for everyone. As much as you might want to eat healthier foods, you don't always get to pick what's on the table, and not everyone has the luxury of a gym pass, or even a place they feel comfortable jogging or doing yoga. But one easy way to make a healthy change regardless of all of that is by drinking more water. It's good for your mind and body, boosting your immune system, giving you better skin and just making you feel better. By carrying a bottle with you wherever you go, you'll always have access to hydration when you're feeling thirsty. You might even start feeling less hungry all the time and lose the desire to drink as much soda, juice or other sugary drinks.

(SpongeBob SquarePants via Nickelodeon)

 

Be Kinder

Just being a little bit kinder in your everyday life can make a huge difference. When you're in a bad mood, look at the way you act around other people and do what you can not to pass that negativity on to others, exuding kindness instead. If you notice that someone is a little frustrated or distracted, ask if they're alright and if they want to talk about it. If there's someone you're always butting heads with, attempt to see things from their perspective and surprise them with a little kindness instead of being confrontational. Small acts of kindness can make a world of difference, and they'll make you feel amazing.

 

Learn New Words

Be a smarter you in 2019 simply by learning a few new words. As you stumble across any words you don't know in your everyday life, add them to a note in your phone, and when you get the chance, look them up to find out what they actually mean. Not only will you add some helpful vocabulary to your repertoire, but at the end of the year, you'll have an easy-to-access list of all of the fancy words you've learned along the way.

 

Read Every Day

Not sure where you're going to encounter these fancy new words? The best place to start is by reading books for pleasure. Even if you only manage to get in five pages every day, you'll finish a 300-page book in a couple of months. But if you can find books that you love, you'll want to read a lot more than that and will wind up devouring them much faster. Don't be afraid to go to the library and check out a bunch of books to find the right one for you. Reading before bed will also help you get away from electronics and put you in the right mindset to fall asleep more quickly.

(Tangled via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

 

Tidy Up More Often

Cleaning up your room may sound like a chore, but done in bits and pieces, it's easy work that'll declutter your space and make you happier and more clear-minded. Even if that's only spending a minute or two organizing your desk a bit before you do homework, and putting everything where it belongs when you're done, it can make a huge difference. Ensuring that everything has its place, even if it still looks like a mess to the average person, will put you in the right mindset to get things done without the distraction of disarray around you.

 

Stick to Your Nighttime Beauty Routine

Small adjustments to your routine can make huge differences to your hygiene. If you find that you barely have the energy to brush your teeth and take your makeup off at night, try to do your routine 30 minutes to an hour before bed, instead of right before it, so that you're not immediately exhausted and ready to go to sleep. If laziness has gotten you into the habit of skipping flossing or not moisturizing before bed, a conscious effort will make them part of your nightly ritual. It won't be long before you feel so good about it that you won't think twice about flossing on the reg.

 

Be More Communicative

In the new year, make your life better by just trying to communicate better with people. The most important thing is to never assume that other people know what you want or how you're feeling, especially if you want them to react in a certain way. As much as you might want someone to intuitively understand why you're upset, things actually aren't going to get better unless you gently let them know what happened and how that made you feel. Don't make them guess and then get more frustrated when they're off-base. And when you feel bad about something, apologize before being asked. Just being able to communicate your feelings with other people will get you closer to your goals and increase your happiness, too.

(Sierra Burgess Is a Loser via Netflix)

 

Wondering which resolutions to avoid this year? Click HERE for our definitive ranking of the dumbest resolutions.