New Year's Resolutions for 2015

I've never been one for New Year's resolutions. I remember having to write them every year when I was in elementary school and I always thought it was incredibly stupid to be forced to do something that hardly anyone sticks to. Yet, as I've grown up, I've started realizing that at the end of each year, I start thinking about my goals for the new year, things I want to change in my life, etc. I've recognized that I make resolutions, but I just don't write them down. Somehow, by not writing them down, if I fail at accomplishing them, I don't feel guilty. That does make me think though, that failed resolutions shouldn't make us feel guilty, and if they do, maybe we didn't set them properly.

Thus, this year I wanted to write out my resolutions, but in the format that I saw them in my head at the beginning of this past year. I made quite a few resolutions, I kept them broad, and now, looking back, I feel like I accomplished many of them. I think that when you keep things broad, create room for mistakes and failure, you're less hard on yourself, and you can spend more time being proud of yourself (which is super important).

So here are my resolutions for 2015:

1. Stick to a blogging schedule. I've been on and off with blogging for the past few years, mostly because I was in school, but now that I'm not, I've been really enjoying getting back into blogging, and I want to continue sticking to a blogging schedule. My aim is to upload every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, leaving the other days open for bonus blog posts. I think blogging is a great way to document my life, and ever since I redid my blog layout, it's one of my happy places on the internet.

2. Continue to create YouTube content that makes me happy and proud. I'm very proud of myself for my YouTube channel this year, and I want to continue improving my content, trying new methods of filming/editing, and growing my channel. I also want to meet a lot more YouTubers who make videos similar to me because the people that I have become friends with over the past years are some of the most wonderful people, and their friendships mean so much to me.

3. Be healthy. My family eats really healthy, so this resolution isn't some #eatclean thing, but it's more about exploring new healthy foods, like my smoothie bowl and green juice adoration this past year. It's so much fun to find new healthy foods that give you energy and keep you going all day. I also want to keep incorporating exercise into my life. I have a bunch of little workouts that I like to do while I watch YouTube, TV shows or movies, and it's great for keeping you feeling great.

4. Don't invest in the problems of other people. This one needs some explanation, but it's sort of linked to the above one because in order to be healthy, it's not just about your body, but your mental health as well. I think it's so easy to invest in other people's problems because when you care about someone, whether it's a family member, friend, significant other, etc., it's easy to feel like you have to bare their problems as well, but you don't have to. It's one thing to be a shoulder to cry on, but it's another to give them your shoulder and feel like their problems are negatively impacting your life.

This is something I'm guilty of, and I know plenty of others in my life who do this as well. So for the new year, as selfish as it may sound, I want to be there for people I care about, without feeling like I'm carrying their weight, so if that means distancing a bit from their problems, I'll do it. Always remember that you don't have to feel guilty for putting yourself first because before you can be happy and there for others, you have to be happy and there for yourself.

5. Journal more and write more letters. Since I now have a pen pal I know I'll be writing a lot more handwritten letters, but in the new year I really want to spend some time writing letters to my grandparents, or cards to my friends. I just think that snail mail is such a lost art, and I want to embrace it as much as I can.
I found that writing in my journal is such a great way to relax, and I almost always have a better day when I do write in my journal. It's nice to get my thoughts and ramblings down on paper. Sure, I can share them with other people, but when I write, I legitimately say anything I want, and I don't have to worry that my burst of emotions may offend the person I'm talking to.

6. Be happy. Happiness isn't luck, it's a state of mind that you can put yourself into, and this past year my goal has been to be happy. I want to continue doing things that make me happy, no matter how hard they are. I think people give up on being happy because sometimes the things you want most in life take more work than something you hate. But like anything in my life, I do things for the love and happiness, not the hate and easiness. I just want to embrace being happy this next year.

Those are my new year's resolutions. All very broad and have room for mistakes, but that's how I like them. What are you resolutions?

Ps. Today is my blog's 6th birthday. Crazeh!!!