New Year, New Me: 10 Editors Share Their New Year's Resolutions
The New Year is officially on the horizon (see ya, 2019!). And while last year was a good one—well, for the most part—there’s no time like just before the beginning of a new decade to make way for a “new year, new me” attitude of self-improvement.
The PureWow editorial team is getting serious about their goals for 2020. Whether they’re building off a previous success or looking to enhance something they’re already doing (e.g., working out, but on the cheap), each resolution is directly related to a tangible part of their lives. Check out the list below for encouragement and inspiration.
1. Letting the Little Things Go
“I’m a new mom and I have to admit that adjusting to the ‘new normal’ has been tough,” says senior SEO editor Alexia Dellner. “For example, it basically takes me three times as long to get out the door these days than it used to. (‘Should I bring the diaper bags? Where’s the burp cloth? Is he wearing enough layers?’) This means I’m constantly running late—something I hate! It puts me in a terrible, stressed-out mood before I even leave my house. Next year, I’d like to deal with these moments with a deep breath and a sense of perspective or humor. Being ten minutes late isn’t the end of the world.”
The Fix: Make a list each night—in order of importance—of all the things you need to do before you walk out the door the next morning. Cross the bottom item off the list and save yourself a few minutes on something insignificant.
2. Saying Yes to More Experiences
“My New Year’s resolution in 2019 was to edit—to ruthlessly consider every little thing that I allowed into my life and decide why it needed to be there,” says ONE37pm style editor Madison Russell. “For 2020, my new goal will be to execute—to jump on every opportunity and soak up experiences like a sponge.”
The Fix: Enjoying new life experiences is a wonderful resolution, but make sure to keep your editing eye keen so that you don’t overload yourself—or your calendar—with too many obligations.
3. Starting Each Day Off Right
“I want to start meditating on the regular this year,” says assistant commerce editor Kara Cuzzone. “It was my resolution a couple of years ago, and I kept up with it for about a year, but lately I’ve been lazy about it. I want to get back to doing at least five minutes every morning because it really changes my whole day.”
The Fix: Set a goal to wake up 15 minutes earlier every morning and use the Insight Timer meditation app. (Did we mention it’s free?)
4. Getting Fit on a Budget
“Mine is dual focused,” says executive editor Dara Katz. “I want to work out more but spend less money doing it! Last year, I spent a fortune on Pilates memberships, ClassPass and on-demand workouts because I didn’t want to use the $15-per-month gym near me (bring my own lock and towel?!). I’m also generally afraid of machinery. But after a quick 101 with my gym-fiend brother (and the help of a free app called Fitbod that plans my circuits), I’m way more prepared to enter the lion’s den. Plus, it’s so much cheaper!”
The Fix: If you’re a workout class addict who’s trying to save some cash by just joining a gym, look for one that offers a packed class schedule at no extra charge, like Crunch or 24 Hour Fitness.
5. Giving Back
“Next year, I’m going to volunteer more,” says editorial assistant Chelsea Candelario. “I used to do it locally all the time as a kid. It’s much harder to work it into my busy life and schedule now, but I want to commit to giving back to my community in any way I can. Whether it’s volunteering at a soup kitchen or becoming a mentor, I want to start making a positive impact in my area.”
The Fix: To be a more active volunteer, choose a cause that requires you to keep a schedule (like a Big Sister) so you’re less likely to flake.
RELATED: 50 New Year’s Resolutions Actually Worth Making
6. Practicing Gratitude
“I want to start a gratitude journal!” says commerce editor Brianna Lapolla. “I actually started this in the beginning of December to get a jump on my resolution, and it’s really, really nice, so I’m trying to do it for a whole year.”
The Fix: Instead of trying to craft a super-long list of things you’re grateful for, focus more time and energy really homing in on one specific thing at a time that makes your heart swell. This deep dive will help you explore why something makes you happy and will keep you coming back for more.
7. Spending Less Time Scrolling
“My goal for the New Year is to look at my phone less,” confesses associate food editor Katherine Gillen. “It makes me anxious, there’s nothing actually good on Instagram and I could be doing something so much better with my time. (Watching a movie! Reading a book! Cooking!)”
The Fix: Put your phone on airplane mode when you get home from work or while you’re relaxing on the weekend. It’ll fade your constantly buzzing, internet-ready device into the background of your life for a few hours while you tackle something else much more worthwhile.
8. Hitting Snooze
“This year I want to prioritize sleep at all costs,” says editor-at-large Lindsay Champion. “I used to be that person who would regularly pull all-nighters to get stuff done, but since having a baby a few months ago, I haven’t slept longer than four hours at a time. I think it’s safe to say I’m chronically sleep deprived, and I’m going to take every opportunity for a nap for the next 365 days. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go to bed.”
The Fix: A good way to sneak in a few more hours of sleep is to go to bed earlier than usual—easier said than done, we know. Try turning off all the screens around you—phone, TV, computer—an hour before you’d like to go to bed and allow your brain to realize it’s time for sleep.
9. Shopping Smarter—and Less Often
“My New Year’s resolution is to buy fewer things just for the sake of buying things,” says associate editor Abby Hepworth. “I love to shop, and there’s a special thrill I get when I acquire something new, but half the time that thrill wears off in just a few days and I’m left with a whole bunch of junk I barely use and realistically don’t actually want. I plan to shop smarter in 2020 and really, truly, honestly think hard about whether or not I want or need something before I swipe my credit card.”
The Fix: This one’s a doozy, but in order to cut back on impulse shopping, you need to not know about sales—which means you need to unsubscribe from all those store emails flooding your inbox on the daily. Deep breaths!
10. Taking Better Care of the Oceans
“Last year my resolution was to volunteer more, and after watching Blue Planet II (and crying through a few episodes), I ended up joining an ocean nonprofit called Oceanic Global,” says fashion editor Dena Silver. “This year, I’ll be adding onto that with a newfound mission to becoming even more eco-friendly by making changes in my day-to-day life that are better for the environment and, of course, the ocean. Armed with more information—like the fact that glass bottles are no longer accepted by recycling companies (WTF?!)—I know it will be a slow process, but it will make me feel better about the choices I make every day.”
The Fix: One of the biggest threats to our oceans is the massive amount of plastic grocery store bags that end up there. An easy way to cut back on your own contribution to this problem is to buy a large canvas tote (or totes, like this 12-pack from Amazon to gift all your friends) to bring with you every time you shop. Repeat after us: “I don’t need a bag, thanks!” Also, take a look at this story for more ideas.
RELATED: Why You Should Make a New Year's Theme Instead of a Resolution
