While some of your friends may have added "save the world" to the top of their New Year's resolutions [1] list, no one said that resolutions have to be that lofty. Change can happen in small ways and turn into habits with enough repetition. And, let's be honest, it's much easier to commit to a resolution that is the length of a single tweet than a paragraph. Whether you try all of these resolutions or commit to just five, you're on your way to a more fulfilling 2017.
Commit to preparing at least one meal at home [2] a week.
Give thoughtful birthday presents [3] instead of trendy ones.
Repeat back important details from a conversation so that you commit them to memory and the person who you’re having a conversation with knows you’re listening.
Take a walk a day without any technology.
Do not multitask when someone is speaking to you.
Answer emails as they come in when possible.
Take weekends off.
Choose healthy food over fast food.
Volunteer once a month.
Plan a trip to a new place.
Sign up for online dating [5].
Set up two of your friends on a real date or a friend date.
Take your significant other out on date nights [6] at least once a month.
Start a newsletter.
Remind yourself daily why you’re worth the fight.
Commit to treating your mental health [7] the way you treat your physical health.
Create a reading list and commit to reading all of those books by end of year. (Even if it’s just one book a season!)
Pay attention to how you treat people at restaurants, banks, etc., and decide to practice kindness.
Practice morning meditation [9].
Commit to speaking up if someone is being treated unfairly.
Prioritize self-care [10], whatever it may look like for you — a long bath, a small shopping spree, or your favorite dessert.
Give yourself an hour every couple of days for a bath and a good book.
Unfriend anyone on social media who does not add to your life.
Make it a point to meet new people.
Make your bed every morning, so that you’re coming home to a more centered space.
Swap your morning playlist for a podcast that’s centered on current events or another topic that challenges you.
Read the front page (or homepage) of a major national newspaper every morning.
Stay politically informed and invested.
Shut down all technology 30 minutes before bed and give yourself time to reset [11], either by reading or meditating.
Pick up yoga, meditation, or an exercise class just because it makes you feel good.
Stop waiting until friends text you first and instead text them to make plans.
Encourage yourself to reach out to at least one new person a week, whether it’s a friend or someone you want to have coffee with.
Keep a journal that you write in daily.
Make it a point to tell people the nice things that you think of them.
Spend more time dancing.
Say “no” more often.
Drink more water in the day.
Set reminders on your phone to prompt better posture.
Switch up your coffee for tea — less caffeine in 2017!
Write handwritten notes to your friends.
Take the stairs.
Switch to decaf.
Pay it forward on the coffee shop line when possible.
Try a DIY project [13] a month.
Start a capsule wardrobe.
For every one item you buy, give one piece of clothing away.
Host brunch fundraisers with friends for your favorite causes.
Switch cat videos for TED Talks at least once a month.
Shop small when possible.
Before buying a new outfit, try to give clothes you already own a new spin.
Focus less on getting the perfect Instagram and more on enjoying moments in real time.
Limit checking into social media to two to three times per day.