What I'm Choosing to Do Instead of Making New Year's Resolutions

Let's face it, almost everyone's New Year's resolutions fly out the window a few months in. What diet? Be more organized? Yeah, OK. It's difficult to maintain your goals once excitement for the new year winds down. So instead of setting myself up for disappointment, I'm not choosing any resolutions — I'm choosing a New Year's theme, one overarching objective to pursue instead of smaller tasks. It's more attainable and realistic, and you don't have to stress yourself out over a limiting list. Rather than telling myself to work out every day or to read four books a month, for example, I'm making my theme for 2017 self-care.

Throughout the entire year, there are various ways I can work toward my goal of prioritizing my mental health and wellness. I'll make choices based on this central theme, and have the flexibility to adjust as I see fit.

Look at it this way:

Resolution: Drink more water.
Action: Today, I'll remember to drink eight glasses of water.

vs.

Theme: Take care of myself.
Action: I feel stressed out today, so I'm going to take a yoga class.

Any decision you make still counts toward your overall goal — you just have the freedom to choose what you think is best for your needs. The takeaway here is to turn your theme into a lifestyle, not a list. Try it out for yourself!