7 Achievable New Year’s Resolutions and How to Make Them Fun

Trying to go from indulging in whatever you want, whenever you want to a restrictive, highly specific eating plan just isn't realistic. Instead, start small. Challenge yourself to test one new healthy recipe each week — perhaps even one with a trendy ingredient like quinoa, tahini, or dandelion greens. At the very least, you'll gain some chef skills!

It seems like everyone flocks to the gym in January. Trying to work off all the extra calories you consumed over the holidays isn't always the healthiest thing, though. This year, forget about losing weight and instead focus on workouts that make you feel good — like the barre3 January Challenge. This workout challenge combines unlimited barre3 classes with a month of free access to Headspace and a daily mindfulness practice, so you'll be working your mind as much as your muscles. Why not enlist your friends, too? You'll motivate each other and get to spend lots of quality time together.

It seems like everyone from your barre instructor to your coworker is raving about mindfulness meditation these days. Why not give it a shot? It doesn't require any fancy equipment or special training — in fact, apps like Headspace make it incredibly easy to try at home. Just pick a guided meditation, find a quiet place to sit, and hit play.

Resolving to read more isn't always enough — some of us need a bit more of a concrete goal. Find a group of like-minded friends and start a monthly book club. Each of you can take turns picking the month's required reading, and setting a deadline just might make you more likely to finish the book. You can even set a fun theme for each month, like books being made into movies or books by female authors. (We've got some ideas, if you need inspiration.)

There's no need to deep clean the entire house. You might be surprised by just how satisfying it feels to organize one tiny piece of your home, like the coat closet, bathroom cupboard, or junk drawer. Hey, you might even be inspired to take on a larger cleaning project!

Tempting as it is to resolve that you're going to save thousands of dollars every month, that's probably not realistic. Instead of embarking on some grand, unsustainable financial scheme, start by setting up an automated transfer of just $10 into your savings account every week. It's not much, but it will add up to $520 in one year — plus, it might just give you the confidence you need to start saving more and more in the future.

If you find yourself eating, working, exercising, and even sleeping with your smartphone by your side, it might be time to take a break. Let's be honest: Few of us could give up time on our phones entirely, so try limiting your browsing before bed. You might have an easier time falling asleep without the distracting notifications — plus, you'll have to get out of bed to switch off your alarm in the morning.