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Realistic Resolutions and Other Suggestions For Making The Most Out of 2020

It’s the January of a new year. And not just a new year — a new decade. We’ve got suggestions to help you make it through the next year with your resolutions intact and made into successful habits that last.

By Bethany Ivie

January 7, 2020

Last Updated: January 8, 2020

Gold Paper numbers lay on a dark wooden surface
Image by Jaime Street via Unsplash

It’s the January of a new year. And not just a new year — a new decade.  Resolution-making time. If you’re anything like me, the thought of trotting out a set of unrealistic but well-meant goals for the next 12 months is daunting. Don’t panic. We’ve got suggestions to help you make it through the next year with your resolutions intact and made into successful habits that last. 

 

A close up shot of assorted beans
Image by Syncop8ted via Creative Commons

Your Resolution: Eat Healthier

Our Suggestion: Make 2020 The Year of Beans

From being dubbed “the musical fruit” to being christened “the poor-man’s food” beans get a bad rap. They shouldn’t! Beans (technically called “pulses”) are cheap, nutritional powerhouses that enrich the soil they are grown in and naturally sequester carbon. They also come in about a million different varieties so as to keep your taste buds entertained. Browse through this recipe catalog and quickly find all of  the chickpea, pinto, or lima bean dishes your heart desires.

If a bean aversion prevents you from adoption this suggestion (or you’re looking for more ways to eat well without going broke) try these easy tips to help you eat healthy on a budget.

 

A woman stands on a beach holding a water bottle up to her lips. She is letting water spill out of her mouth as if she's never consumed water from a bottle before, but really it's just for fashion.
Image by Christopher Campbell via Unsplash

Your Resolution: Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day

Our Suggestion: Maybe don’t?  

Before you order a new hydro-flask ask yourself: “Do I really need to drink more water?” The answer, according to the New York Times, might surprise you.

Bonus: According to dieticians, beverages we once thought of as dehydrating like coffee and tea actually do hydrate our bodies as we drink them. Bottom’s up!

 

Laundry hanging on a clothesline strung between two buildings.
Image by Erik Witsoe via Unsplash

Your Resolution: Help the Earth

Our Suggestion: Do what you can

A record number of Americans cite climate change as a top priority in the upcoming year. It makes sense. From 2010 - 2019, the United States alone endured 248 weather and climate disasters where the overall damage costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. Even today we're witnessing a climate-change fueled catastrophe in Australia that has wiped out an estimated 1 billion animals, killed 26 people and damaged thousands of homes. There are simple things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint and be a more conscious consumer including: 

  • Using a clothesline
  • Buying local when you can
  • Buy or make reusable shopping bags
  • Remember to use your reusable shopping bags

If you’ve already got these suggestions covered, it’s also a great time to plan ahead for eco-friendly projects that require warmer weather. Start brainstorming your spring bee garden or learn how you can swap out your grass lawn for a money and Earth-saving alternative like mint or chamomile!

 

Profile view of a laptop with two pairs of hands. One is pointing at the screen as if it's seen something interesting. The other is using the trackpad.
Image by John Schnobrich via Unsplash

Your Resolution: Reduce Internet Rage

Our Suggestion: Minimize the Spread of Misinformation

 Get into the habit of checking (and double-checking) the articles, memes, and graphics you share on your social media feeds. Mother Jones offers this quick, easy litany that can help you quickly review content to make sure it’s true before you share it.

A man stands with his back to the camera near the crosswalk of a busy, city street. There are cars in the background of the picture and he is wearing headphones, a puff jacket and a backpack.
Image by Henry Be via Unsplash

Your Resolution: To Stick To 2020 Resolutions

Our Suggestion: Listen to Podcasts

Worried your resolutions won’t stick? NPR’s Lifekit has you covered: here are 9 podcasts that can help your goals take hold and become life-long habits.

 

 

 

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