50 New Year’s Resolutions Actually Worth Making

Start Your Day with a Really Good Stretch

It’ll help your balance, relieve stiff muscles and reduce stress. Oh, and it feels ah-mazing.

Eat One Green Thing at Every Meal

Starting every day with a homemade veggie smoothie is seriously ambitious. But adding a few leaves/cucumber slices/sprigs of parsley to every dish? Totally doable.

Start Using Reusable Coffee Mugs

Ditch the disposable cups and invest in a super-cool travel mug. It’s better for the environment and your wallet.

Learn a Really Good Joke

Having one hilarious gag that you can always fall back on is a must-have life skill. (Just make sure that it’s work and grandparent-appropriate.)

Drink More Water

You know you should. And here are seven tricks to help you do it.

Buy a Stack of Cards

Stock up on birthday cards, thank-you cards and generic, multipurpose cards to whip out whenever you to send a note. (And buy some forever stamps, while you’re at it.)

Start Meditating

Even if it’s just for a few minutes every week. Can’t seem to quiet your mind? That’s part of the practice—just bring your thoughts back to the breath and try again.

Keep $10 in Your Wallet at All Times

Because those ATM fees are killer.

Call Your Grandma More Often

Sick of hearing questions about your love life? Send her a nice, handwritten letter instead.

Only Buy Magazines That You’ll Actually Read

Hey, there’s no shame in grabbing a celebrity gossip magazine instead of The New Yorker.

Clean Out Your Phone

Next time you’re stuck in a long line, give your phone a good clear out—delete apps you don’t use and go through your photo library to get rid of duplicates.

Leave Work on Time

And make it official by telling your coworkers you leave at 5:30 every day. No ifs, ands or buts.

Reach Out to an Old Friend

And reminisce about the good old days.

Stop Doing One Thing

Sick of making plans with your friend who always flakes? Book club stopped being fun six months ago? Time to say goodbye and move on.  

Take Your Makeup Off Before Bed Every Night

Keep a pack of cleansing wipes on your nightstand for when you’re too tired to make it to the bathroom.

Get at Least 7 Hours of Sleep Each Night

Doctor’s orders. Set a bedtime and stick to it.

Stop Looking at Your Phone 30 Minutes Before Bed

Better yet, invest in a real alarm clock (oh hey, remember those?) and charge your phone in another room overnight.

Find a Mentor

Landing your dream job takes time, hard work and knowing the right people. Start by expanding your professional network and find someone who can help you get there.

Forgive Someone That You’re Holding a Grudge Against

All that resentment is energy better spent.

Go on a Trip This Year That’s Just for You

Not to visit your parents or because it’s your friend’s wedding.

Spend 10 Minutes a Day Clearing Clutter

A pretty low-lift way to stay on top of those piles of toys and stacks of unpaid bills.

Take a Specific Step Toward Improving Your Finances

Maybe you negotiate the cost of your cable bill or raise your credit score or finally ask for that pay rise. Whatever it is, make this the year to increase your wealth.

Buy Flowers

Not every day (you’re trying to get your finances in check, remember?) but every now and then, perk up your home or office with some fresh blooms.

Go Out for a Meal and (Gasp) Leave Your Phone at Home

Remember when you could eat out without taking a photo of your food/texting your friends/scrolling through Instagram? Yeah, us neither.

Make a Pact to Never Watch Crappy TV

With so many amazing shows and movies to stream, there’s really no reason to watch anything less than amazing. (Looking at you, Real Mob Wives of Tulsa.)

Get an Annual Checkup

And here’s a handy cheat sheet for what to ask while you’re there.

Get Your Heart Pumping for at Least 10 Minutes Every Day

It doesn’t matter how you do it, just do it. (We recommend dancing around the living room or doing a walking meeting instead of a sitting one.)

Ban the Silent Treatment from Your Relationship

Squabbles with loved ones are inevitable but there’s a good way to argue and a bad way. Spoiler: Going silent doesn’t solve anything.

Pick a Mantra

Find an empowering statement that resonates with you and repeat it throughout the week whenever you need a motivational boost. We like: “You have the same amount of hours in a day as Beyoncé.”

Give Up Smoking

Yes, even when you’re tipsy.

Purge Your Closet

Are you ever really going to wear that plaid miniskirt from college again or that shirt with the grease stain? No. Toss or donate.  

Unsubscribe

Opt out from any subscriptions that you don’t want anymore (or never even signed up for in the first place). Try an app like Truebill to help you out.

Try One New Recipe per Month

Put those dusty cookbooks on the bookshelf to good use. Or get inspired by some of these tasty (and not at all difficult) recipes.

Challenge Yourself to Try Meatless Mondays

Better for the environment, your health and your bank account.

Stop Drinking Bad Wine

Because you’re too old for hangovers and there are way too many amazing budget-friendly options available.

Draft a Will

It’s not fun to think about, but sorting out a will, power of attorney and letter of instruction will give you peace of mind. Here are three surprising things you’re probably forgetting to put in your will.

Shake Up Your Usual Route

Doing the same old, same old is boring. Try a new way to get to work or the grocery store and explore a different part of the neighborhood.  

Volunteer Once a Month

You’ll help someone in need and feel great in the process. It’s a win-win.

Be Five Times Nicer

According to researchers, the difference between happy and unhappy relationships comes down to the ratio of positive to negative interactions, namely five to one.

Use Sunscreen

But, like, really.

Swap Milk Chocolate for Dark Chocolate

It’s full of antioxidants, proven to boost your mood and tastes delicious.

Call a Friend

Pick up the phone and have an actual conversation, instead of texting back and forth for 50 minutes.

Stop Keeping Score

So what if you always give your brother a way a more expensive gift? And who cares whose turn it is to host dinner? Bottom line: Everyone’s doing the best they can. Stop keeping track.

Get a Massage

It feels so good plus has been proven to reduce stress. Don’t want to spend the money? Massage yourself with household objects.

Set a Specific “Speak Up at Work” Goal

Share an idea you’ve had for ages with a colleague, ask one question during the monthly presentation or send your boss a follow-up note to a meeting. Make it a point to make your voice heard.

Floss Every Day

Boring, yes. But just imagine how happy your dentist will be.

Try Out a New Look

Why not get bangs, work embroidered pieces into your wardrobe or try metallic makeup? Just have fun.

Build 10 Extra Minutes into Getting Places

Think of how much more relaxed you’ll feel if you rock up to your work meeting or dinner with the in-laws five minutes early. (And um, how much less annoyed others will feel.)

Read One New Book Every Month

Load up your Kindle so you've got something to do instead of Candy Crush.

Cut Yourself Some Slack

The most important New Year’s resolution of all—be kind to yourself (and others).