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A few years ago, my New Year's resolutions were to drink more champagne and go on more adventures. That year turned out pretty awesome, so I decided to do an annual "resolutions that don't suck" post. This is one of my favorite posts to do every year. If you want to check out 2015 or 2016 for even more ideas, there's something there for everyone!
You won't find any " floss more" or "eat less cheese" on this list. While flossing more is probably a good idea for most of us, it's not what this list is all about, and I certainly can't recommend eating less cheese! Whithout futher ado, here are 17 New Year's resolutions for a 2017 that doesn't suck! 1. Say no more
A lot of resolutions posts will tell you to say yes more. "Say yes to life, to taking chances...!" Saying yes is nice in theory, but saying no is also nice. So often we commit to doing things we don't want to do out of obligation or just because we don't know how to say no. Say it with me now, "No!" If you don't have to do something, and don't want to do it, strongly consider saying "no". You are essentially giving up time of your life that you're never ever going to get back. Is this task something that is worth that much to you? If you weren't doing that task, would you be doing something else that would make you happier? Then, you know what you need to do.
2. Find something you're passionate about
This could be anything. It could be saving whales, making the perfect taco, mastering crow pose...it does't matter what it is as long as you're passionate about it and make time for it. "Life is either a dairing adventure or nothing at all"-Helen Keller. Go out, find your passion, and live life. Anything less would be a waste.
3. Pay attention to your body
This isn't necessarily "work out more", but more of a "give your body what it needs". If you want to be out there adventuring and living life to fullest, you need to be healthy. Stretch more, drink more water, eat more fruit, go on walks on the beach, take more naps...I don't know what you need, but chances are, you do. Make yourself a priority, and take care of yourself.
4. Eat good food
When it comes to food, I'm a big believer in quality over quantity, and I'm not just talking about healthy vs unhealthy. I would rather eat one super delicous cookie, than 12 kind of ok cookies. Food is such a central part of our daily lives, why not put an emphasis on delicious, quality ingredients, and cut out the cheep, overly processed ones? It doesn't have to be every day, but strive for a least once a week, making yourself a meal/dessert/snack out of something truely delicous and mouthwatering. Spring for that fancy cheese, the local handmade pasta, high end chocolate, or the nicer cut of meat. Your tastbuds will thank you. If I'm going to splurge on calories, I want them to be extra amazing!
5. Join a group/club
Have you moved to a new town, or found that a lot of your old friends have moved away? It can be really hard to make friends as an adult. Everyone's paired off, has kids, or have an established network of friends. It's not like when we were kids, and we had a scheduled recess to go out and make new friends. But, that's no reason you can't make meeting new cool people a part of your life. Join a running club, dodgeball league, hiking group, book club, or just ask people you know that have similar intrests, if they'd like to hang out and go (fill in your awesome hobby here) this weekend.
6. Unfollow pages and people that stress you out
2016 has been a pretty crazy year. With all of that, comes a lot of strong opinions that make it onto our feeds. If someone is constately posting things that you're rolling your eyes at and gets you frustrated, unfollow them! You don't need to unfriend them if you don't wan to, but cut out that daily reminder of the chaos in the world that just doesn't make sense. No one needs to subject themselves to racism/hatred/drama for no reason. Cut it out of your life, and leave social media to the things that bring you joy and happiness. We've already go the news to bum us out.
7. Use your vacation days
I referenced in a post about time keeping us from traveling, that Americans leave 175 million days of vacation unused every year! That's crazy, considering that we get less than many other nations. Use your vacation days, and don't spend the whole time on your phone answering emails. The office can survive without you for a few days, and you'll feel a whole lot better!
8. Unplug more often
While we're at it, you should try and unplug more often in general. Evenings, weekends, turn your ringer off, and go for a walk, talk to your family during dinner, actually watch a movie without also being on your phone thoughout the whole thing. You'll be shocked how much better you feel when you're not staring at a screen all day.
9. Learn something new
It can be anything. It could be learning a new language, how to make macaroons (on my list), or it could be something silly, like how to solve a rubix cube, which I did this year. I always thought it was one of those things that only geniuses could figure out. Nope. If I can do it, so can you. You could learn karate, or ballet, or how to make your favorite cocktail. Pick something fun and a little challenging, and amaze yourself with the possibilities.
10. Take a leap
This can be in your personal life, or your professional one. If there's been something you've been wanting to do, but you've been a bit afraid to do it. Now's the year to consider it. Sometimes we have something that just naws at us. We can't stop thinking about "what if I did..." if there's something like that for you. Stop worrying about if things go wrong, and go for it. It's cliched, but we do always regret the things we didn't do more than the things we do. And so what if things don't work out 100% like we plan. What ever really does?
11. Use less plastic
In a report I recently read, it said that by 2050, there will be more pieces of plastic in the ocean than fish. I've been taking little baby steps at this this year. Instead of buying plastic tupperware I buy glass, using reusable water bottles like hydro flasks instead of bottled water, not using as many produce bags at the grocerry store, and always using tote bags or paper bags at the store. I definitely haven't elimenated all the plastic in my life, but between these steps and recycling what I can, it's a step in the right direction.
Maybe using less plastic seems daunting, pick something else like walking or biking short distances instead of driving, composting, or buying products with more environmentally friendly packaging. There are lots of ways we can help keep this beautiful planet beautiful and lots of those steps also help declutter and help us live healthier lives too...it's a win-win! 12. Explore more
So often we wait until we're on vacation to go and explore something new. Commit to finding time to explore more every week. Chances are there are TONS of things within a couple hours drive of you to explore. It could be a new trail to hike, restraraunts to eat, concert venue, neighborhoods to explore. You never know what you'll discover. It could just be going out for a drive until you find a cute ice cream place to stop at. Sometimes it totally doesn't go as planned. I once jumped in the car, drove over two hours south to California with the plan to enjoy the view, get ice cream, and turn around. Would you believe it that I got all the way there and there wasn't an ice cream shop in the whole town! I did enjoy the view though, and I felt refreshed when I got back, even without ice cream. No matter what you find, it will be worth it!
13. Improve your surroundings
This will look a lot different for each person. It could mean cleaning out all the junk in your house so it's not so cluttered. It could be finally putting up some pictures and art from your travels on the walls so your space feels more like you, it could be getting some house plants, or planting a mini herb garden. Take a look around your space (any space that you spend a lot of time in) and think about what would make it feel better. Sometimes it's helpful to take a picture of the space, because things stand out more that way. Your attention will be drawn to the pile of mail, or that glaringly blank wall. Sprusing up your space, even in tiny ways, will make every day a little sunnier.
14. Burn the nice candles
So, this is also one of those, "use it as it applies to you" recommendations. For years I had really nice candles that we never used because they were our "fancy candles". I can't tell you how many times we moved those candles from place to place, and kept them cooped up in a closet. I only realized how crazy I was, because Pat finally brought it up. The point is, burn the nice candles, use the nice linens, wear the fancy perfume, (all things I never did). Every day can be a special day, we're alive afterall! So, stop waiting your whole life to break out the fancy stuff. Make everyday an occaison to feel special.
15. Dance More
Simple as that. It's good for you and makes you feel good. Dance in your kitchen, dance in the grocery store, dance in the car. Just dance!
16. Go outside more
Sit in the sun and drink your morning coffee, read a book on a lazy afternoon, dine alfresco. Feel the wind on your face, sun on your skin, breath in the trees and the flowers, and listen to nature all around you. If you sit at a desk all day, and then go home and sit inside all night, you could use some outside time. I would even encourage you to try it without headphones on. Get all of your senses experiencing the beautiful outside world. Hear the crunch of leaves under your feet, birds singing, kids playing. Trust me, you'll feel good.
17. Be fearless
And last but not least, be fearless! Don't let another year just pass you by. Start doing the things you want, even if, no, especially if, they scare you. Make this the year you want it to be, and commit to making it so. While I believe that good things come to those who wait, you actually have to put in the work while you're waiting. Grab 2017 head on and dance the whole year through because of your awesomness!
OK! I want to know, what are your 2017 resolutions?! Let us know in the comments. Make 2017 the best year ever! XO, Skeeter
Comments
A quick glance through travel posts and you'll find an endless list of suggestions on how to make travel more affordable. Take advantage of air miles, only pack a carry-on, couch surf....etc. There really are amazing ways to make travel very affordable and to work it into your budget if that's what you're passionate about.
What I find is more difficult than budgeting money for a trip is budgeting time for it. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. This article on America's War on Vacation shows the startling difference between the vacation time that American workers get compared to other developed nations in the world. The average American has 8.1 vacation days per year after their first year on the job. Compare this to France (the global leader in vacation days) who has 30 required vacation days a year. What is even more startling is that despite the very few days we get as Americans, there are 175 million unused vacation days in a typical year! That's 479,452 YEARS worth of vacation days.
Why do we not take the little time that we do get? The reasons are probably endless, from busy family schedules, to the fear of taking time off impacting your ability to get that big promotion/project/raise, to just being so busy that you haven't taken the time to actually plan a vacation.
What makes these numbers even more depressing is the number of people who work while they are on vacation. 77 percent of people in a recent poll said that they worked while on vacation. I'll admit it, I'm terrible about this. I work on vacation, on weekends, in the middle of the night. I can't tell you how many times Pat said "are you working?" while we were in Aruba...what's wrong with me?!
To add on to this, many vacation policies stop accruing days or wipe out to zero at the end of the year or when you reach your max. Which means, you're essentially losing out on a huge benefit.
So, I want to issue a challenge. Take a look at how many unused vacation days you have and start planning. If you only earn a few days a year, and are thinking to yourself "I don't actually earn enough days to take a real vacation", there are plenty of strategies to make the most of it.
Time is a luxury, don't waste it, and no matter where you go, don't forget to travel happy!
XO, Skeeter Hey there happy travelers! It's that time of year again, and I don't just mean "how many sugar cookies can I eat before I feel sick" time of year. It's the time of year to reflect and to look forward. A few years ago I decided I was done with the same old "I'm going to floss more, lose weight, eat less candy" type of New Year's resolutions. Those are not fun, and to be honest are unlikely to stick long term. So, that year I decided my resolutions were going to be to 1. Drink more champagne 2. Go on more adventures. Those were both things that I felt I could make some serious sacrifices to make happen and that at the end of the year, I'd look back and realize I had a pretty great year...and I did. So, I've never looked back. Last year I wanted to spread the joy, so I shared 15 ideas for you to make 2015 the best year ever. How'd it go for you? Are you a new reader and didn't get a chance to kick 2015 in the face with your awesomeness? Well, fear not, because I've 16 more ideas to make 2016 even better! 16 Resolutions for the best 20161. Buy experiences not things This isn't new or revolutionary advice, but it's still good. The memories you'll create will long outlive that new sweater or gizmo that you don't need. Go hot air ballooning, take a surf lesson, a cooking class, samba lessons, sky diving, really you're only limited by your imagination here. Live more buy less 2. Give more Give more and I'm not only talking about gifts here. Give more of your time, your passion, give more compliments, hugs, smiles. Just give more. Give more because you're going to make someone's day and it feels damn good. I used to not compliment strangers, because I'm kind of reserved around people I don't know. But I've started complimenting strangers every now and then, and it feels really nice, and I hope it's a small bright spot in their day. So, the next time you notice someone and they've got a cute bag or you love their haircut, just say so. You'll both feel nice. 3. Relax I know I'm not the only one with a crazy hectic life. I've been working so much lately, that some days, all I want to do when I get home is face plant into my bed and not move. It was when I was having these reoccurring thoughts that I realized that I need to find time to relax more. So, I started doing Yoga as a way to do just that. Now I feel more relaxed on the days I do yoga and I'm actually already a bit more flexible, which is a win win. I really like Yoga with Adriene. She's funny and has a really approachable teaching style for newbies to yoga like me. She has lots of short videos, so if you only have 15 minutes to spare, you can get in a little relax session in. If yoga isn't for you, just find 15 minutes a day, just for you to unwind, you deserve it. The dishes can wait. 4. Learn something new My brain feels sharper when I'm stretching it to learn something new. Doing the same things day in and day out isn't good for our brains. Pick something you've always wanted to learn and learn it. It could be a new language, and new recipe, astrophysics, the guitar. It doesn't matter, pick something, learn it and marvel in your new found knowledge. 5. Have your cake and eat it too A common New Year's resolution is to eat better. It's a good goal and one I'm always working on. This year though, I want you to know that it's ok to celebrate now and then. You're not a bad person if you want to have a glass of champagne for no reason, or indulge in a piece of cheesecake after a long hard week. It's not an indulgence if you do it all the time, so don't use this as an excuse to not take care of yourself. And a rule I've made for myself is, If I decide to indulge in a dessert and I take a bite and don't LOVE it, then I don't finish it. I'm prone to feeling guilty for eating things I shouldn't, and to avoid that, I only eat things I'm truly enjoying. That keeps me from eating unnecessary calories and I don't feel guilty because it's a little indulgence that made me happy. 6. Schedule more fun in your life Pat and I started a Sunday Funday tradition. It was in partial response the fact that we'd work all week and then work on the house all weekend and we wanted to have more fun. So, start scheduling in fun. Even if it's just renting a movie, going for a walk, or baking cookies. Schedule it in. That way you'll have the time and you'll have something to look forward to. 7. Make more time for old family and friends If you haven't seen this video, only watch it if you're somewhere where you can ball your eyes out. Ok, I'm sorry, but that was necessary to make my point. There are people out there that you love and haven't called in a while. Make time for them. There is nothing more important in this world than the people we love. Make sure they know that. This is something I need to be better at, and I'm sure we all could. 8. De-clutter your life Get rid of whatever isn't adding joy to your life. If you don't need it, get rid of it. Got a pile of junk in your house? Toss it (or donate it if someone might be able to use it). Have toxic people making your life miserable? End those relationships. Only keep what you need or what makes you happy. 9. MORE MORE MORE So, I just told you to de-clutter, but I want you to add more to your life. More laughter, more dancing, more smiles, more appreciation for beauty. MORE MORE MORE! If there's something you want more of in your life, make that a priority this year. More reading your favorite novels, more signing, painting, movies.MORE! 10. Forget how old you are I'm not old, but I have said " I think I'm too old to pull that off" multiple times in the last couple of years. If you're not breaking the law and you're keeping yourself safe, forget about how old you are and just go out and do what you want. Pat and I always say that we hope we both die at the same time when we're 90 in a skydiving accident. It's a little morbid typing it out, but when we say that it's like saying "we always want to be together, and we always want to keep having adventures no matter how old we are." which sounds a lot less morbid. So, rock that leather jacket, and don't stop yourself from trying something just because you're not as young as you once were, none of us are. 11. Broaden your cultural horizons This world is a diverse and beautiful place. Learn more about it, learn more about your neighbors, discover traditions that are different than your own. There's so many ways you can do this. Attend a cultural festival, attend a church of a different religion than your own, read books by authors from different cultures, try a different type of cuisine. There's so many ways to learn about this beautiful world of ours! 12. Put yourself first every once in a while Whether it's our jobs, kids, family, friends, etc., we often end up putting ourselves last a lot. Put yourself first more often. Say no to things you don't want to do. It's ok, really. You can't take care of others, if you never take care of you. 13. Spruce up the space around you If you're not feeling the joy, sometimes it can be due to our surroundings. Put up some pretty art, paint your walls a bright color, dress in brighter colors. Sometimes even a bright nail polish or lipstick can perk up your mood. This is particularly true in the winter. Inject more color in your life this year and watch everything else brighten up too! 14. Learn a good party trick Everyone should have a good one in their repertoire. The other day I thought it would be fun to try and learn how to do a Chewbacca impression. Mostly I've been walking around the house sounding like a dying cat and scaring the dogs. I'm sure you'll have more luck than I have, and this will also inspire you to go to more parties. Win-win 15. Get into a savings routine It is so often the case that we only start saving money when we have something in mind that we want to spend it on: vacations, a new dirt bike for Pat, and lasik are on the top of my list right now. What we really should be doing is saving money every single day. That way when we have an emergency, like Pat needing knee surgery this month, or you have something exciting coming up, (a trip to Australia) you'll have some money in the bank to make that dream a reality sooner. If you need a few ideas check out our post on 10 Money Saving Travel Tips, and How to Save Even More Money on Travel. One thing I do that makes me feel really good about saving is, every time I resist buying something I can afford, but don't need, I put that amount of money into savings. If I could afford to spend it on something I didn't need, then I can afford to stick it into savings and spend it on something awesome like surf lessons, or plane tickets to Iceland. 16. Be Awesome This one might sound easy. You're saying to yourself "Boom, I am awesome, consider this one done." While I have no doubt that you are indeed awesome, I mean, you read my blog and in my book that makes you super awesome. I want to encourage you though to be your full awesome self everyday, whatever that looks like to you. Never apologize for being your own brand of awesome either. So, if your brand of awesome is laying in the sun and reading books while getting day drunk, dressing up for Comic-Con, hitchhiking through Patagonia, or cooking your way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking, do more of it. Be more awesome everyday. Don't have 2016 be another year where you put off your awesome because of this or that. Make this the year that kicks off a lifetime of awesome adventures.
No matter how you decide to tackle 2016, don't forget to travel happy! Oh! And let us know what you're 2016 resolutions are going to be in the comments below! XO, Skeeter |
Skeeter
Hi there! I'm Skeeter. I grew up moving a lot and that makes me a bit restless for travel and exploration. I started this blog with my husband Pat when we decided to backpack New Zealand for a year. We are always looking for the next adventure and are loving life. We're just your average couple with two sassy dogs and a love for travel. We're sharing our travels and the tips we pick up along the way. LIZHello! I'm Liz. Blogging is very new to me, but I'm so excited to finally write as much as I talk! Archives
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