New Year’s resolutions are begrudged by cynics, “no one ever sticks to them past January” they say with a condescending eye-roll.
And they’re right in some cases. If you choose an insanely unrealistic resolution, chances are you’ll go at it full-throttle for the first couple of weeks and then burn yourself out – slipping straight back into old habits.
And the most commonly abandoned resolution? Losing weight.
While there’s nothing wrong with aspiring to lose weight if that’s what you want to do, some of us have had ‘lose five kilos’ on our to-do list forever and we for one, have had enough.
Weight and self-worth are closely tied for a lot of women when it needn’t be. Your weight has nothing to do with how bright, loved, capable and worthy you are.
For that reason, we decided to put together 10 realistic New Year’s resolutions that will improve your life, while having nothing to do with weight loss.
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Actually start cleaning your makeup brushes
Cleaning your makeup brushes is one of those tasks that falls so far down the to-do list it eventually falls off. While it doesn’t seem time-sensitive, trust me – it is. Just because you can’t see all that gross, acne-causing bacteria doesn’t mean it’s not there. Taking the time to give your brushes a good, deep clean every couple of weeks (ok, who are we kidding – once a month) will make all the difference to your complexion.
bh loves: Eco Tools Makeup Brush Shampoo, DB Cosmetics Keep ‘Em Klean Brush Cleaner, jane iredale Botanical Brush Cleaner, Manicare Cosmetic Brush Cleaner, Models Prefer Brush Cleaner, Mary Kay® Brush Cleaner
Image credit: @realtechniques
Read a bit more
Reading every day has been proven to have a tonne of benefits; mental stimulation, a flex-worthy vocabulary and the ability to say “Oh, the book was better” every time you seen an on-screen adaptation.
On top of these it’s also a fantastic way to unwind, making it the ideal before-bed activity.
If you struggle to find the time to read, try an audiobook. That way you can be ‘reading’ when you’re doing chores, commuting or on the go.
Image credit: @bookishmadeleine
Drink more water
Water is your skin’s BFF. Hydration mostly comes from the inside, so all those pricey night creams aren’t going to have a chance if you’re not drinking enough.
Keeping a water bottle in your handbag is a good idea, as well as keeping one of those huge 2L water bottles at your desk so you can track how much you’re drinking through the day.
If you’re a person who can’t stand the taste of plain water, add in some lemon, orange or cucumber to help it taste a bit zestier.
Image credit: @emilyoberg for @evianwater
Make time to meditate
Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Jackman and Jennifer Anistion. What do they all have in common? Huge success. Another thing? Meditation.
Some scientifically proven benefits of meditation are:
- Recudes stress
- Fights anxiety
- Lengthens attention span
- Improves sleep
- Controls overthinking
If you spent 2019 going from one stress to another, meditiation is a fantastic tool to help keep you calm and ready to take on anything.
Oh and if you think meditiaion is all mumbo jumbo, the worlds most beloved cynic, Jerry Seinfeld, swears by it.
*Finally* learn how to do winged eyeliner properly
If you’ve decided to just give up on eyeliner because you could never get it right, make 2020 the year of the wing.
Practice makes perfect, so our #1 tip is to practice your liner A LOT in the lead up to a big event so it doesn’t lead to panic while you’re getting ready.
We all have to start somewhere so start bingeing some YouTube tutorials and you’ll have it down pat in no time.
bh loves: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner, Rimmel London Scandal’Eyes Waterproof Gel Eyeliner, Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner.
Image credit: @chloemorello
Figure out a budget (and stick to it)
As women, we have enough against us in the personal equity game without sabotaging ourselves.
Make a promise to yourself that 2020 will be the year you finally figure out your budget and really stick to it.
If you find thinking about money overwhelming and you don’t know where to begin, it could be worth it to book in some time with a financial planner who can help you figure it all out.
Image credit: @iamnotanartist_
Set some career goals
In the mundanity of day-to-day life, it’s dangerously easy to lose sight of your long-term career goals.
A job that you started as a quick stepping stone might have accidentally lasted a few years, or you’re realising you’re ready to start something new.
The good news is, it’s never too late to start again. As the saying goes, it’s better to be at the bottom of a ladder you want to climb than mid-way up one you don’t.
Taking the time at the beginning of the year to figure out where you want to be at the end of it can help you put some steps in place to get there.
If there’s someone you really admire in your career, consider reaching out to them for their input and advice – they’ll probably have a lot more insight that your usual sounding boards.
Main image credit: @kimkardashian
Start journaling
Similar to meditation, journalling is a fantastic way to unwind.
If you’re usually the type that overthinks, or struggles to turn their brain off after a hectic day, writing it all down can feel like ‘you’re getting it all out’, so to speak.
Espescially great if you’re grappling with a big decision, or aren’t sure how you feel about a situation, putting it onto paper can help you see things more clearly.
If you’re new to journalling and don’t know where to start, you can find journal prompts online that will give you topics to get you started.
Down your screen time
If your jaw dropped when you last saw your daily screen time, this is the resolution for you.
We all know we need to spend less time on our devices, but the problem is how , especially when it’s so second nature.
To start off with, set yourself little challenges like ‘I won’t check my phone on the train to work’ or ‘ I won’t check my phone during dinner’. You will probably find this screen time a relief, and once you’re used to it you’ll find yourself reaching for it less and less.
Also, before you put your phone away in the evening, make a habit of sanitising the thing. Phones are reportedly 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat (EW) so make sure you’re cleaning it every day. Your skin and immune system will thank you.
Re-evaluate your relationships
We’re leaving toxic relationships in 2019, thank you very much.
If you have a volatile and drama-filled relationship (not just romantic, toxic relationships can be platonic too) make a promise to yourself you won’t bring that negativity into 2020.
This time of year is espescially hard to stick with your break ups, but trying to breath life into a dead relationship is just going to leave you exhausted.
If you’re someone who struggles to put themselves first, make this year delightfully selfish and do your thing.
I don't usually make NY resolutions, but I hope to get around to a lot of things I've let slide around the house.