Realistic New Year’s Resolutions

Just because the new year is underway doesn’t mean it’s too late to make some resolutions. That said, it can be too tempting to set unrealistic expectations; you tell yourself you’ve got an entire year, so set your sights high. Despite this, new year’s resolutions are so seldom achieved, as so many people make it too hard for themselves. When it comes to personal development, it’s important to recognize that you’re not superhuman – you need to take small and manageable steps. As a result, detailed below are some of the top new year’s resolutions that you can actually make happen.

Drink Eight Glasses of Water Daily

First up is upping your water intake. In fact, only 22% of Americans drink the recommended eight to 10 glasses daily. Unfortunately, so many of us fail to recognize that access to clean drinking water is a privilege, with so many water projects dedicated to providing developing countries with clean drinking water. That said, increasing your water intake is easier than you may think. Say you get the recommended eight hours of sleep; this means you’re awake for 16 hours of the day. Therefore, you can set a timer every two hours, reminding you to have a glass of water.

Cook a Meal from Scratch Once a Week

After long days at work, it can be so tempting to order takeout or throw a frozen dinner in the microwave. Despite this, this isn’t only bad for your health; it’s bad for your wallet, too. If you cook from scratch at least once a week, you’ll know exactly what’s in this dish, allowing you to make healthier choices. Not only will your body thank you for a homecooked meal, but your morale will, too. Learning to make a new meal and doing so successfully feels like a real accomplishment, and you’ll feel as though you’ve achieved something.

Sleep an Extra Hour Each Night

On average, Americans sleep less than seven hours per night, when eight hours each night is the sweet spot. Just one more hour of sleep each night can provide you with an endless list of benefits, including improving your brain function, boosting your heart health, and bolstering your mood. It may take a little while to get into the swing of things, as your body will be in a routine. That said, after a while of going to bed one hour earlier each night, you’ll find yourself having eight hours of sleep nightly.

Get a New Pillow

Did you know that you’re supposed to replace your pillows every two years? Keeping a pillow for longer than this means you’re exposed to built-up bacteria and fungi. Therefore, every two years, one of your new year’s resolutions should be to buy a new pillow. Not only will this aid you from a hygienic perspective, but it will also do wonders for your neck and back. As far as return on investment is concerned, a new pillow is very high on the list.

Finish a Dozen Books

How many times have you started a book and failed to finish it? It’s likely that you start 12 books every year, but just how many of these do you finish? This year, make it your mission to complete at least 12 books. Reading fiction provides you with many benefits, including the improvement of your overall cognitive function, the strengthening of your memory, and the increase of your empathy. You don’t have to love every single book you read, but completing one gives you an immense sense of accomplishment.

Have you set yourself any new year’s resolutions?