For the past 11 to 12 years, I’ve fallen into the universal pattern of creating a New Year’s resolution, then quickly crashing and burning.

Like many of my friends and family, those resolutions most commonly relate to becoming a millionaire overnight, achieving physical perfection and falling in love with a man who actually has his sh*t together.

The New Year often presents itself to us as a calendar full of infinite possibility. What is it about the New Year that brings out so much courage in all of us?

What reignites those passions that we’ve momentarily thrown aside? What exactly is it that makes everything seem a bit more… doable?

Whatever it is, it feels incredible. So while you have the itching inspiration, here are five suggestions for New Year’s resolutions for 2016:

Get rid of at least one form of social media.

Being 22, I’m well aware of the excessive need for social media. Trust me. Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Tumblr—you name it, I have it all.

This year, I’m analyzing which app has been devouring the most (okay, maybe the second most) amount of my time and energy. By cutting it out of my life, I hope to give myself a few spare minutes to invest in my tangible happiness.

Eat and exercise in relation to the way I hope to age.

Time goes fast. I’ve noticed that I rarely think of my future in terms of my health and wellness. By making a conscious effort to understand that the body that I’m using now is the same body that I’ll be using in 40 years, I hope to make better decisions when it comes to my diet and exercise.

Stop (or dramatically minimize) talking sh*t about people.

How much time do you spend dissing someone else for their hair or makeup, their outfit or even their personal life decisions? I have three sisters, so a lot of sh*t-talking goes down in our group messages (not cool). By making an effort to see the beauty in all things living, I hope to carry positivity into all areas of my life.

Give my passion serious thought and action at least twice every week.

In this day and age, I understand how difficult it can be to make money doing what you truly love. Because of this, a stable job is needed to survive the financial burdens that adults (somehow) manage. Many of us tend to forget about what we genuinely love. Myself included. By challenging myself to invest in my passion every single week, I hope to see it bleed into every aspect of my life, and maybe someday become what solely supports me.

Love without fear.

As ridiculous and corny as this might sound, I believe love transcends all obstacles. Love sheds light on those incredibly human moments in our lives where hope and faith feel inaccessible. Love your friends. Love your family. Love your significant other. Love your pets. Love everything wholeheartedly and without inhibition. By loving without fear, I hope to open my heart and my world to the beauty that only love can reveal to us.

When looking at an entirely new year ahead, we tend to focus on what we’d like to gain. We often find comfort in the false belief that “more” equals happiness.

The truth is, there is absolutely no way you can build on happiness if there is no solid foundation. For the first time in my life, my resolution is not something ridiculous that will be forgotten in a month. I’m making different promises to myself.

Instead of always looking for more, I promise to never stop trying to find the magic in what is already mine.

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Relephant re-read:

A List of New Year’s Non-Resolutions for us All.

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Author: Kelisha Gardeen

Apprentice Editor: Ann Marie Matthews / Editor: Toby Israel

Image: Elvert Barnes/Flickr // Pixoto

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