Drop The New Years Resolutions (And Do These 5 Things Instead)

2019 is the year of the BOLD. The game changers. The goal crushers. The standouts.

That’s you. 2019 is your year. And getting there starts with small mindset shifts and happy little habits. That’s why we’ve compiled 5 small ways to make your New Year
happier, healthier, and ridiculously rad.

Volunteering your time, money, or talents is a surefire way to help others and send your own happiness skyrocketing. When we’re part of something bigger than ourselves, we feel a sense of connection and camaraderie, which in turn gives us the warm and fuzzies.

Not sure where to start? VolunteerMatch pairs you with opportunities in your community that match your personality, interests, and skills—it’s like a dating site for volunteering—no creepy DMs included.

Try something totally completely 100% new! Grab your gal pals and plan a spontaneous trip somewhere you’ve never been. Sign up for a cycling class even though group fitness makes you feel awko taco. Jump out of a freaking plane (with a parachute of course!) and post the video to social media—instant street cred.

We learn and grow most when we take leaps outside our comfort zones. So whatever that looks like for you—rock climbing, scuba diving, wearing pizza leggings, quitting an awful job—we’re cheering you on. Go get em’ girlfriend.

There are hundreds of ways to stay fit and live a healthy lifestyle; the key is finding one that fits you. If you hate running but love dancing, skip the treadmill and head for a hip-hop fitness class. If weights are your thing and you can’t be bothered with the dang elliptical, don’t force it! Fitness is whatever gets your blood flowing and body moving—make it a point to find a routine you actually enjoy this year—odds are you’ll find it lots easier to stick to.

Pro tip: Don’t go it alone. Grab a friend and vow to be each other’s accountability partners. Send each other encouraging texts throughout the day and check in on each other’s progress each week. Better yet—take a class together or get a sweat sesh in at the same time—friends that sweat together stay together.

Grab a pen and paper and ask yourself this question: what/who in your life isn’t adding joy or light? Your list could include names of friends, co-workers, or family members, or it might be your job, a few bad habits, or even where you live.
With your list in hand, make a plan to tamp them all out, let them all go.

Slowly separate yourself from absolutely anything that draws your energy out and exhausts you of your light. Fill their empty spaces with positive people, energizing places, and meaningful moments. You’d be surprised that goals you can tackle when you release the deadweight from your ankles.

Relationships are what make life worth living. This year, instead of getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and forgetting to connect, make it a point to pick up the phone or plan a coffee date with someone you care about each week.

Send your grandma a handwritten card out of the blue just because. Call your dad and let him tell you all about his golf game and his new favorite Netflix show (dads watch the weirdest things). Plan a date night with the girls and have them all over for wine, movies, and endless gabbing. When you make it a habit to show the ones you care most about just how important they are to you, life gets a little warmer and a whole lot happier.

With these small mindset shifts and healthy habits, you’re sure to make 2019 the
best year yet. Happiness is all about tiny little moments, thoughts, and actions that
come together to create this beautiful thing called life—now go out there and live it!