Silly New Year's Resolutions

Lately, I’ve been annoying those around me by asking them about their New Year’s resolutions. Often their body language tells me they can’t believe I would be into such a silly practice. Surprise! I’m extra and I am extremely committed this silly practice.

New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be something silly, stupid or unnecessary. These goals can help us be healthier, happier and better humans.

I get excited for the end of the year as I take the time to reflect on my personal growth, hardships and accomplishments. Growing up, New Year’s Eve made me extremely anxious. I hated thinking about the future, the unknown and the new problems I would face. Two years ago, I sat down and wrote down the changes that needed to happen in my life to improve my health.

When setting my resolutions, I stay away from unrealistic goals such as losing 40 lbs., becoming a millionaire and meeting Cardi B. Instead, I focus on the goals that get me closer to my long-term visions.

In 2018, I wanted to lose weight, but I had failed so many times at the gym and my eating had not gotten any better. Therefore, I focused on one small aspect of my life. I realized I was drinking too many Starbucks sugar-heavy drinks. Therefore, my New Year’s resolution was to stop drinking Starbucks on a daily basis. After three months without Starbucks, I felt like I could accomplish anything. This motivated me to join a gym and learn about healthy eating. That year, I lost 20 lbs. It wasn’t my intention to lose weight when the year started, but my no coffee resolution lead me to even greater accomplishments. I lasted eight months without coffee because I’m human and I’m weak. However, this practice taught me mindfulness and self-control. Of course, this is still a work in progress because unfortunately, my sweet tooth can be very stubborn.

I have accomplished 50% of the resolutions I’ve set in the last two years and I could not be more proud of myself. My greatest accomplishment so far has been:

• Developing a healthy relationship with food through plant-based meals

• Reading more books in 12 months than the total years I’ve known English

• Organizing my Instagram account

• Becoming a Plant Mami and actually keeping my plants alive

Some of the ones I didn’t accomplished were:

• Learning to play my guitar

• Painting 3 new pieces

• Becoming Vegan/Plant Based

We all have long term visions such as losing weight, earning a new degree, buying a house and starting a family. New Year’s resolutions can get us a step closer to accomplishing those long-term visions. My personal vision is to be healthy in all aspects of my life. I view health as the path to happiness, resilience and strength. Every year, I select one resolution per category:

1. Metal Health

2. Physical Health

3. Financial Health

I haven’t decided exactly what my 2020 resolutions will be, but I’m considering the following:

• Reading 6 books in Spanish (Mental Health)

• Traveling to 3 different cities with my family (Metal Health)

• Putting $200 a month into my savings account (Financial Health)

• Running a 5K alone (Physical Health)

• Assume less, ask more questions (Mental Health)

I’m excited to see what my final list will include and to start working on my personal growth and health. I probably won’t meet all of them, but I am confident by the end of 2020, I will be a step closer to a healthier, happier and stronger self.