Make 2014 Your Bitch

This weird, awkward period shoved between Christmas and the New Year always puts everyone in a reflective mood, and suddenly the year becomes one in review. Another one in the books. But with the end of one year comes the beginning of another. There’s nothing quite like the idea of starting fresh: ‘new year, new you’. Here are some goals/resolutions for making 2014 the best and baddest year yet:

1. Respect yourself! We are all different and we are all beautiful in our own ways. Learn to be okay with who you are and grateful for what you’ve been given. No one in the history of the universe will ever be exactly the same as you, and that’s pretty fucking special.

2. Master the art of power naps: Sometimes a small nap is all you need to be re-energized for the rest of the day.

3. Don’t procrastinate: whether it’s a school assignment, a work project or a self-made goal, don’t waste any time getting to the finish line. Do yourself a favor and keep the stress level to a minimum!

4. Stay in touch with family and friends. A simple phone call is sometimes all you need to turn your day around.

5. Keep a journal. Write your raw thoughts, ideas, personal and worldly events, overheard conversations, favorite book quotes and movie lines. Capture and preserve all the little memories; this is life and history in the making, and you’ll want to remember every bit of it later on.

6. Quit being passive aggressive, especially via social media. If you have beef with someone, hash it out in person or at least 1-on-1; the world does not need to be involved in your private matters.

7. Don’t hold grudges. It’s just not healthy. There is no reason to dwell in something that already happened, so move on. The past is the past and should stay in the past.

8. Recognize that shit does happen. That’s life. What matters is not how you fall but how you pick yourself back up.

9. There are times when life can’t seem to give you a break, but you owe it to yourself to catch a breather every now and then. Allowance for “me-time” is essential.

10. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, but at the same time, don’t be afraid of indulgences. Go ahead. Have a slice of pie!

11. Come up with a workout routine you like and stick with it. It’s completely okay if you have to miss a day, but don’t make up excuses to skip, either.

12. Embrace your emotions instead of brushing them aside or bottling them up. It’s okay to cry, it’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to be happy. Emotions are real and a part of who you are, so let yourself feel.

Cheers, everyone!