The Ultimate Realistic List of Resolutions for Every Millennial

Disclosure: This post may be sponsored and/or contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

#NewYearNewMe

Yes, this phrase is way overused (I tried to restrain from saying it, just couldn’t help myself lol) but it’s so true especially as it aligns with everyone’s goals for 2021:

A new year free from all of the gunk from lame a** 2020 and overall, just not a sequel of viruses, bad decisions, and trigger-happy police officers not being prosecuted for their crimes (this was definitely the theme of this year but I believe we’re all ready for some ACTUAL changes to be made, am I right?)

We may not have control of a lot but we do have control of what we choose to do with our time and how we choose to approach a fresh, new year. Let this year be about leaving all the drama and negative energy in 2020! Let all of the positivity flow into your life and embrace you by being positive and working towards your goals.

You can’t complain and continue to be unhappy with your life or certain situations because this upcoming year you’re putting the work in and working on yourself! When you work on being a better you than you were yesterday, you’re always going to reap the benefits.

Make this year about loving yourself, loving others, and loving life MORE!! Here’s my new year’s resolution ideas if you’re stumped on where to start (I got you, sis!):

Side note: The resolutions that are starred (*) are resolutions that I personally plan on achieving this year! 🙂

Self-Love is the Best Love

Physical

• Drink more water. 

(Aht aht, no excuses anymore)

• Eat healthy 4-5 times out of the week and “semi-unhealthy” on the other days*.

(DON’T COMPLETELY RESTRICT YOUR CRAVINGS! Cave in every once in awhile or you’ll end up on a binging spree for a few days…or weeks #BeenThereBingedThat)

• Drop a bad habit, such as smoking, drinking (alcohol and caffeine), overthinking… 

(*Cough*cough* I’m talking to you. Yes, you. Worrying never got you to where you needed to be so live and let go of the things you can’t control)

• Make time to exercise at least 3-4x a week.

(It can even be 15 minutes! You don’t have to exercise for an hour everyday to be healthy, to lose weight, or just to feel good but hey, I’m no doctor) 

Emotional

• Laugh at yourself more often*. 

(Life is already serious, have a little fun along the way)

• Practice pampering yourself at least once a week.

(Self-care Sundays is my go-to for those Sunday scaries)

• Practice telling yourself you’re beautiful when you look at yourself first thing in the morning and every other time of day. 

(Stop comparing yourself to people you see on insta and TV…THEY don’t even look like that outside of insta and TV let’s be real)

• Talk to a therapist about issues you may or may not feel comfortable talking to your close circle about.

(I went to therapy and it’s nice to hear that you’re not actually crazy from someone who doesn’t necessarily know you personally lol)

Mental

• Express your emotions in the moment*. 

(No need to bottle them up, everyone else expresses themselves so why not you? Your thoughts and emotions hold just as much weight as anyone else’s and you have the right to be heard)

• Find a creative way to release built up emotions such as bullet journaling or journaling in general, drawing (or coloring), or crocheting.

(Crocheting is not as hard as knitting and it’s a relaxing hobby you can easily pass the time doing)

• Release yourself of others’ expectations of you.

(You do not need to prove yourself to ANYONE BUT YOU! Who cares what other people expect you to do? Do what feels good for you and makes you proud of yourself!)

• Do mind exercising games. 

(They keep you sharp and are a great alternative to video games)

• Learn to say no without any explanations.

(If you don’t want to do something just say no! Plain and simple, it’ll be better for you because you don’t have to lie or make up an excuse. Everyone doesn’t need a song and a dance when you can’t make it somewhere so just be honest and tell ‘em no. We’ve all been there and we get it.)

• Let go of the things you cannot change and push forward to make changes where you can.* 

(No one is perfect and you weren’t made to be but if you keep harping on your past, your flaws, or the what-could-have-beens, then you won’t be living life at all. You’re just stuck in that moment…Let it go and live.)

• Accept help when offered. 

(We know you’re strong, girl but even the strongest need a little help to get by. Stop being stubborn and overworking yourself if you have people around who will gladly lend a hand.)

Financial

• Try out a new side hustle with something you’re passionate about.

(You only have today to live out your wildest dreams and you’re only going to be this young for so long to actually be able to have the freedom to try something different so why wait?)

• Save up for a special trip, a new house, a new car, or a cute, new bracelet for yourself. 

(Gotta always remember to treat yourself once in a while, girl)

• Ask for a raise. 

(If you think you deserve it then ask for what you’re worth! No one is just going to throw money at you and most times you’ll get the raise if you’ve actually been putting in the work!)

• Finally start your own business. 

(Take that leap and invest in yourself, you never know what could happen 🙂 )

• Make an extra payment to your loan(s) every month. 

(This works amazingly for bringing down your overall term of the loan as well as lowering the amount you would’ve ended up paying in the end as you always pay more than what you were loaned. You pay off your debt faster, your credit score rises, and it’s more money in your pocket in 10 years.)

• Learn how to invest and make 1 investment.* 

(Investing is a sure-fire way to make your money work for you! It can easily become passive income where you don’t even look at it and your money grows. Try out an investment app like Acorns which is great for beginners and you don’t need to invest a crazy amount to get started.)

• Deposit your money in a savings account with a high yield aka more growth on the money you deposit. 

(Ideally, a savings account with a 0.50% annual percentage yield or higher is what you’re looking for to really make an impact)

Love People More, Too

Significant other

• Be more present when with your partner aka off your phone. 

(Hey, all of us millennials are probably guilty of this but at least we’re trying)

• Plan more thoughtful dates, either weekly or monthly. 

(What does your partner like to do? What’s something you’ve been wanting to do together? Try new foods? Travel somewhere new? Whatever it is, plan for it then go do it and make some pretty great memories while you’re at it!) 

• Acknowledge when your person needs their me-time and when they need some extra lovin’ AND VICE VERSA. *

(You have to acknowledge your own needs too and make them known to your partner so you both get the needed support, love, and understanding)

• Listen more, talk less. 

(And I don’t mean holding in your thoughts or emotions, just listen and then respond to what your partner is actually saying to you. Most of us listen to respond or defend ourselves, not listen to actually hear the other person’s worries or concerns. We make it about us when it isn’t and that’s human but just try listening more and you’ll probably get much further in communication with your partner)

Family

• Make an effort to make weekly or monthly calls to your loved ones.*

(Whether it’s parents, grandparents, siblings, or whoever you are close to, making time to call them will be beneficial for both you and them to keep that bond strong)

• Stop biting your tongue and be honest with your family members about how they make you feel, good or bad. 

(Our generation is all about letting go and healing from past traumas and that includes not silencing ourselves for the sake of the family. If your family’s words or actions hurt you then SPEAK UP! You deserve to feel respected and just because you’re family doesn’t mean that you deserve less than that.)

• Create holiday traditions that align with your values.

(You don’t have to continue doing things you hate! Create some new traditions and new memories with your family that makes your heart happy)

Friends

• Text your friends first. 

(If you think your friends don’t care, ask yourself if YOU care. Don’t let your friends always be the ones reaching out to ask how life’s going, you’ve gotta share the love, too!)

• Make plans to see your friends at least once a month. 

(Life gets in the way so let’s be realistic, shall we? Between your friends moving to different states and taking on different careers it can be hard to make time BUT you make some time for those you want to make time for 😉 )

• Stop gossiping about people you don’t care about. 

(You don’t care about them so why do you care to talk about them? It honestly says more about you than it does about them and you don’t need that bad energy. Bring more positivity into your life by letting go of things that don’t matter, including unnecessary trash talk)

• Make sure your friends’ lives are made a priority just as much as yours. 

(No one wants a friend that constantly takes and never gives in the relationship. Be the shoulder to cry on sometimes, be thoughtful, and be present. Don’t make it all about you all of the time)

Strangers

(Minimal wear and tear, so leave the ones with holes for the trash).

• Pay the next person’s bill in line when you can.

(Drive-thrus are where I’ve encountered these pay-it-forward moments the most but can be done when you go inside, too!)

• Give someone a compliment.

(I don’t know why but this makes me feel so good because compliments always make you feel a little giddy when you’re receiving it. Like “Oh wow, hey you noticed? Thanks!” Give that feeling to someone else, you won’t regret it!)

• Be nice when you can. 

(Sometimes people are just having a rough day and that has absolutely nothing to do with you. Be a light and just put a hold on being snappy with them…unless they jump you in line or don’t say thank you when you hold the door for them then it’s fair game lol)

Live Life

Explore

• Plan a vacation where you do at least 2 nature activities.

(Such as hiking, local food/beverage tour, or horseback riding because although you can walk around a resort, that’s not nearly enough sightseeing)

• Take a walk everyday. 

(Fresh air does some amazing things for the soul)

• Do things that are out of your comfort zone. 

(Be open to life and everything in it. A person scared to try new things will only be mediocre at best, time and time again. There is no place for fear or mediocrity around here, sis 🙂 )

• Visit a new state. 

(I love to travel and one of my goals is to visit every state and just see all the sights they’re known for. We have so many places to see in the U.S. and you don’t even need a passport so book that ticket or make it more memorable and take a road trip!)

• Travel to a new country and immerse yourself in everything they have to offer.

(It’s one thing to travel but it’s another thing to actual experience the culture, try foods you never would’ve looked at, and go on adventures that you can only do in another country. Talk to locals and get the vibe of the area as well as what people like to do there! This tip has always made my experience 10x better because the locals may introduce you to activities that aren’t mainstream but hella fun and you get to potentially make friends in other countries, which is always a plus!)

• Learn something new.

(Constantly seek out new information, constantly feed your mind. Find something new to stimulate your brain and to nurture your growth. Learn a new language, a new dance style, a new recipe, or a new skill! Just keep learning and evolving into a better version of you.)

Take Risks

• Try a new type of food.* 

(I’ve honestly found out some of my favorite food are things I’ve just tried on a whim and surprisingly LOVED, like poké! Indian and Thai food is next on my list of things to try)

• Do an activity that scares the s*** out of you! 

(Whether it be skydiving or riding the tallest rollercoaster, conquering your fears is a huge accomplishment and you feel like you can take on the world after!)

• Say yes more often. *

(Say yes to new opportunities, new experiences, and new people! This past year Mike and I have become close to our neighbors and they have honestly shown us different ways of living, including taking us out on boats and exploring the islands in our backyard! It was one of the best experiences and if we never introduced ourselves or said yes to the boat invite then we would’ve never built that relationship or had that experience! Step out of your comfort bubble because you never know where it may lead you)

Whether you have one resolution (or three), just try to stick with it! Be committed and go all out this year. We’ve had plenty of time to rest, plan, and kick a** with this pandemic so now it’s time to go in and conquer everything else! What do you plan to conquer this year?