10 New Year resolutions you can actually achieve.

There is nothing more embarrassing than keeping your New Years’ resolutions for approximately three weeks.

I once pledged to replace breakfast with green smoothies. I had toast in my mouth by day three and kale rotting in the fridge from day five to… well, a small part of me hopes it’s not still there.

Most resolutions link into long-term lifestyle goals like: spending more time with your family, losing weight, spending less and staying healthy.

But if you have ever joined a gym only to quit two months later or spent less until something really good came along, you know most resolutions are a brief and unsustainable dip into self-restriction.

So let’s give an almighty “NOPE” to those goals and set some much more achievable targets.

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1. Drink more water.

It sounds a bit overdone but drinking a good amount of water boasts multiple benefits for your body. Water increases energy and relieves fatigue, improves the complexion of your skin, promotes weight loss and maintains regularity.

The Victorian Government recommends women drink eight glasses a day while men should aim for a total of 10.

Individuals who have high protein or high fibre diets are encouraged to exceed those guidelines, as are those who are physically active and those who are pregnant.

2. Make your bed in the morning.

There is something truly satisfying about slipping into a made bed after a long day at work. You don’t have to strip the sheets but merely pull everything back into place. If you’re lucky enough to share a bed with somebody special, you could even take turns.

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3. Pat more dogs (and cats too, I guess). 

Nope. I’m not joking. The simple act of showing affection to a small animal is proven to relieve stress levels. It costs nothing. It’s enjoyable for everyone involved and you’ll feel better for it. #patgoals2017

4. Read more.

We’re in dangerous “classic New Years’ resolution” territory with this bad boy but reading more is definitely achievable. Plus we’re in 2017 so if reading isn’t your thing, just listen to an audiobook or a podcast.

5. Volunteer.

If you have ever thought “it would be nice” to do some charity work, kick your butt into gear and give it a go. The employment mega giant SEEK even has a whole search engine dedicated to finding volunteering gigs in your local area. Give it a try here.

6. Take your makeup off before bed (every time). 

If you have ever woken up with a face full of powdery regret then you know how important it is to spend five minutes over the sink before bedtime. It can be tough rule to follow after a few too many wines but it is still very much achievable. I believe in you and your party goblin.

7. Explore your city.

We can’t all afford a holiday home in Bonnie Doon but we can catch the train line a few more stops. No matter which city you call home, there is guaranteed to be somewhere you’ve never been with people you’ve never met.

A fun way to try something new is to visit a restaurant rating website such as Zomato and type in a random suburb. Pick a top restaurant or cafe in that area and start your trip with a bite to eat. If it’s great – success! If it’s terrible, moan about it forever and swear to never return. Win-win.

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8. Give an old friend a call.

We all have at least one friend we should have caught up with ages ago. You care about them and you still like their social media posts but it’s been radio silence between the two of you for too long. If calling is not your thing then a quick text exchange or message should do the trick.

9. Challenge yourself to cook something new. 

I recently went bread crazy after baking one loaf. It’s incredible how satisfying it can be to cook something from scratch that you previously wrote-off as “too difficult”.

If you’re a burns-toast kind of cook then start with a simple vegetable soup. If you’re a night-time Nigella then attempt a turducken or a perfectly puffed souffle.

It’s the simple things.

10. Walk more. 

They say we should aim for around 10,000 steps every day but office workers know how tough it can be to even break 5,000.

It’s much easier to try and boost your average amount by getting off a stop early (if you catch public transport) or working a night-time stroll into your daily routine.

Exercise is brilliant for your overall health and if you can chuck a killer playlist into the mix then you’ll be breaking your daily step average in no time.

So get going, 2017 is waiting for you.