My 2017 Wellness Resolutions

Every year, I feel like I make a ton of resolutions. Some of them end up being lifelong changes {when I became vegetarian}, but I wind up forgetting about most of them by the time May rolls around.

This year, I wanted to have only a few resolutions that really mean something special to me. I started with a list of around 15, and narrowed it down from there. So, below are my 2017 wellness resolutions. I hope this post inspires you to start your own list this year!

1. Meditate Daily

This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a WHILE. My doctor told me YEARS ago that I should take time to meditate daily to help with my anxiety. Well my friends, this year I’m motivated to do so. I’m happy to say that every day since January 1, I’ve meditated before going to bed! At first, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it, but now it’s the part of my nightly routine that I look forward to most. 

Here’s what I do. I search for “guided meditation” on YouTube, find a video, put in my headphones, close my eyes and follow along. I love the guided ones personally, because otherwise I feel like my mind starts drifting to my to-do list for the next day. If you’re a more seasoned meditator, you probably can just close your eyes and focus on meditating. I’m definitely not there yet, but it’s all about small steps!

2. Yoga at Least Once a Week

I received a new pair of yoga pants and a yoga mat for Christmas, so I’m all ready to dive into yoga for 2017. I’d like to purchase a monthly membership to my local studio, but I’m trying to replenish my saving account since I spent a lot over the holidays. For now, I’ve been trying to go at least once a week to a $5 community class with my friend Bridgett. Going with a friend is awesome, because even when I’m super exhausted and don’t want to go, I remember that I already committed to going with her. 

I’m also planning on cleaning our spare bedroom and using it as a place to practice yoga. I tried doing it in our living room, but my dog is super distracting! Anyone relate?

3. Drink More Tea, Less Coffee

I’m a huge coffee drinker. I have it at least 4 times per week, usually more. I know this because I stop at either Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks on my way into work in the morning. It’s become a part of routine at this point. However, my wallet hates me because of it and I find that I crash right before lunch.

My goal this year is to switch a few of these coffee trips for tea. I’m a huge tea fan, but I never think about drinking it in the mornings. I want to get a clear tea bag organizer for work, and a larger one with more compartments for at home since Bryan and I don’t typically like the same types of tea.  

4. Clean Up My Skincare Routine

I’ve shared my natural skincare and beauty routine a few times {in these posts: Why Witch Hazel is the Bomb, The #1 Lip Balm for Chapped Lips, The $8 Face Mask You’ve Got to Buy, How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes Naturally, 4 Natural Products to Combat Dry Skin, and How I Switched to a Natural Skincare Routine}. Time has passed, and I’ve realized that I slowly started incorporating less and less natural products into my routine. Whenever I would run out of a product, instead of reordering on VitaCost or going over to Whole Foods, I would just get whatever chemical-filled thing I could find at Target. 

This year, I want to continue experimenting with more natural products for my skin and body, and review them for you here on the blog. For instance, I’d love to do a post all about natural face washes, and tell you about what I like and don’t like about each brand. I think it could be fun, no? 

5. Stop Doing Shit I Hate

Whenever my friends or family members tell me they are in a bad mood because of one thing or another, I tell them, “Stop doing shit you hate.” Because, when you think about it, you can’t be unhappy doing things that you love. I don’t always practice what I preach though. So for 2017, I’m making it an effort to only do things that bring me 100% joy, and stop doing shit I hate. It’s as easy as that. 

6. Read at least 24 Books 

This goal probably does seem too much for most people, but I typically struggle to finish books. I’ll start a few at one time, and then stop reading them as I get bored. Another big pitfall of mine is that I tend to only read at night when I’m really tired. This is just setting me up for failure! In order for me to reach my goal, I’m going to start heading to bed at least an hour ahead of time, to give myself ample reading time before dozing off. 

One of my favorite apps for reading is GoodReads {not sponsored!}. It’s a great place to find book recommendations and keep track of the books you’ve finished reading. It’s free to join, so go give it a look!

// That’s it! I want to know your wellness resolutions, so please comment below or send me a tweet!