Six Ultra Simple, Seemingly Do-Able, New Year’s Resolutions You Might Actually Keep
Because you aren’t really gonna give up ice cream this year, are you?
With graduates getting a job faster than their uni counterparts, choose TAFE NSW, Western Sydney for your study in 2017.
Can you believe it’s the new year already? We’re all still writing 2016 on our cheques, and wondering why we still use an outdated payment method such as cheques!
It’s common to make resolutions for the year ahead, and equally common for those resolutions to be abandoned almost as soon as they’re written down in your overpriced diary. But it’s time we dumped the unachievable goals such as ‘win a triathlon’ or ‘clean out the soggy vegetable drawer in the fridge’ (who has time for that? Plus, gross.) — goals only work if they’re practical and sustainable.
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Cook More
As much as we all want to be as excellent and seductive as Nigella, cooking can be difficult. But making meals at home will save you money and it skims the shame in shouting ‘GUYS, THE FOOD’S HERE!’ when the pizza man arrives to your flat (he totally knows you live alone). If you learn just one new recipe a week, you’ll have quite the repertoire by the end of this year.
Bonus tip: Make cooking fun by pretending to be Matt Preston — don a cravat and sweat heavily over your meal!
Set Time Aside For Life Admin
Allocating a small amount of time per week purely for Life Admin tasks like grocery lists, paying bills and keeping tax receipts will result in less stress over the year. If you’re a nerd, why not invest in colour-coded files for various bills and financial paperwork, you giant nerd? Remember the end of financial year will come really soon — start putting tax receipts aside now, unless one of your resolutions for this year is to burst into tears in your accountant’s office.
Do The Thing
You know what I’m talking about — that thing you’ve always wanted to do. Every single person has an activity or goal they’ve always wanted to do. So what’s your thing? It could be the hobby you’ve always wanted to finally begin, the course you’ve always wanted to study, the language you’ve always wanted to learn. Make this year the year you take the leap. Think about how you’ll feel in 12 months’ time — no regrets! If you’re really scared, enrol in a class with a friend or partner. You might end up re-enacting the pottery scene from Ghost, or at the very least end up with a charming asymmetrical mug.
Purchase a Plant
Honestly, you won’t regret buying a little green friend. Aesthetically pleasing, environmentally friendly and far less maintenance than a pet. If you really want to, you can take your fern for a walk or carry it on your chest like a baby. You do you, friend. If you have a habit of killing things, however, try a succulent or low-maintenance indoor. A plant really does improve the feel of a study area or kitchen, and nobody can call you crazy if you decide to start talking to it.
Tip Toe Outside Your Comfort Zone
We all know things that challenge us can be ultimately good but the process is difficult. Instead of taking a leap out of your comfortable bubble, why not take a tippy-toe? Fifteen minutes of light exercise, for example, instead of five hours at the gym. Or maybe there’s a local drama or comedy group you’ve wanted to join — just sign up and talk to people. We’re not in high school anymore Toto, and most folks worth spending time with won’t be cliquey.
Clean Out The Soggy Vegetable Drawer
Sorry, it has to be done.
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If 2017 is the year you’ll finally take up your thing, you can turn to TAFE Western Sydney, with a range of online and face-to-face options regardless of your area of study. So much choice! Find out more here.
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Lead image: NBCUniversal Television