New Years Resolutions... That Don't Suck

It’s the end of the year, folks- just a few days left in 2017. Now is the time to sit and reflect on your year. Or if you’re like us, it’s the time to just sit in your pajamas and slippers on the couch, using up the last of your vacation days.

It’s also the time to think about the new year, and with that comes the obligatory New Years Resolutions. [Note: Katie 2 does not make New Years Resolutions. Instead, she makes birthday resolutions, because she feels as though birthdays are a much better way to track progress or lack thereof in her life. Elizabeth’s New Year’s Resolution always is to write the correct year on her checks. Small victories, people.] We wanted to talk to you about how to make better resolutions and increase your chances for success in 2018.

Before we get into our own advice, we want to make sure that whatever you decide to work on in the new year (or any other time you make a goal), make sure it is SMART (Specific; Measurable; Attainable; Relevant; Time-bound). And that you: 1) are motivated; 2) write them down; and 3) share them.

So, what are some resolutions that don’t suck and how do you achieve them? Here are some of our goals for the new years and plans to #geterdone

1. Resolution that sucks: Get fit. Resolution that doesn't suck: Work out more days than not. Choose a frequency. IT's a lot easier to accomplish this on a longer time frame (for example, per month is easier than per week). But then again, it's harder to stay accountable when the deadline is far away. Choose what works for you, but be reasonable. Then, regularly schedule a few of those workout sessions and leave a few spontaneous. (If you're on a per week schedule, commit to your Monday after-work class, Wednesday morning yoga, and Thursday night run club. That leaves only one day to be spontaneous.) Be sure to track it, too. Pencil in the workouts on the calendar so you know the plan, and once the workout is complete, mark it in pen/highlighter/sticker. At the end of the week and at the end of the month, revel in your success. 
2. Resolution that sucks: Drink more water. Resolution that doesn't suck: Drink half my body weight in ounces of water each day. We all know that drinking water is good for you, but some of us find it more difficult than others. This is a good resolution because not only is it a good choice for your waistline (or hips and butt if you're Katie 2), it's good for your wallet and skin and everything in between. The first way to get more water into your body would be to get a cup/bottle you like. Yes this sounds weird, but for some reason, drinking out of a cute cup makes whatever I'm drinking go down so much easier. At home, stemless wineglasses make a great choice- they make you feel fancy. At the office, what about a glass bottle in a silicone sleeve or stainless steel. (Katie 2 has a think for polka dots and she's not sorry), or this adorable option that Katie 2 got as an engagement present from a coworker; everyone loves glitter. The next thing to do is track what you drink. If you're old school, use pen and paper. Addicted to your phone? Try an app like Waterlogged. The Health app on your iPhone will help you track water, too. (You may even be able to connect Waterlogged to health, but don't ask us how- go find a teenager to figure that shit out.) Always remember when drinking water that the urgent needing to pee all the time only lasts a few days while your body gets used to the new normal. Eventually, your body reaches equilibrium and you will just go to the bathroom a normal amount of times during the day (unless you're Katie 1 and just generally have to pee all the time anyway).
3. Resolution that sucks: Spend less money. Resolution that doesn't suck: Add $X.00 to my "emergency savings" (or any other account). This one is a favorite because it can be accomplished in two ways 1) save money; and/or 2) earn money. In the seven months since we've started this blog, we have given you a bunch of ways to save money from great sales going on at the moment to cheap manicures, to our favorite cheap beauty finds, introducing you to unexpected workwear brands... the list goes on. We commit to bringing you the same kind of ideas in 2018 and beyond. Another way to save money is to find the things you already buy at a cheaper price. Folks, let us take this moment to get you on the Aldi train. Katie 1 (the resident chef among us) has taken to doing more of her grocery shopping at Aldi, getting things she was already going to buy at deeply discounted prices. To earn money- sure, you could go out and get a part-time job, but real working women have demanding jobs and lives- who has the time? What we mean here is to think outside the box. There are all sorts of blogs and websites that tell you how to make a little extra money. You could be a freelance writer, a blogger (we earn jack shit from this blog, but apparently there are bloggers who do earn money), or an Instagram influencer (normal people, not celebrities, can make up to $5,000 PER POST Y'ALL). Another great way to get a few extra bucks in your pocket is to sell things you own but don't need anymore. Redecorating your home? Sell your old bookshelves on Craigslist. Did you follow up on resolutions 1 and 2 and now you're so fit that none of your clothes fit (or more realistically, are you still holding on to clothes that fit 5 years ago, but because of your demanding desk job you have no time to workout or eat right and you've gained 5 (OK fine, 15) pounds? Don't just donate your stuff. Turn those gently worn items into extra cash using eBay or Poshmark. (Spoiler alert: we are planning a post to tell you how to do just that.)
4. Resolution that sucks: Lose weight. Resolution that doesn't suck: Bring lunch to work three days a week. Ok, so they're not really saying the exact same thing, but bringing food to wokr makes sure you know exactly what you're eating and helps with portion control. It can absolutely help with resolution #3. And eating at the office means you're more likely to carry your great water bottle with you to the lunch room and drink water instead of getting a pop (screw you- it's not "soda"). 

What's your New Year's resolution?