By Kelly Brown

Staff Writer

    That gym membership you bought last January has proved itself to be a waste of your money, as well as those workout clothes sitting in your closet, the ones that you told yourself you would use. Spending is not a necessity when trying to make New Year’s resolutions. It’s easy to forget the end goal when you have needless spending to distract you from what you need: a routine. Finding the motivation to do the things you say you will start doing is often harder than the task itself.

     Resolutions look different for everyone, whether it’s taking five minutes for yourself in the morning or simply trying a new hobby. It doesn’t have to mean extra pressure on yourself and your wallet; instead, it is an opportunity and privilege to give yourself the time to work towards a better version of yourself. Creating a list of resolutions that focuses on forming new habits will do more for you than spending any amount of money will.

Over the lengthy but much-needed winter break, I found myself reflecting on my year, and while it was easy for me to find things to regret, I did not take the time to acknowledge just how much I accomplished.

     Starting off with the simple things, such as a short workout routine at home or choosing the healthier option during meals, will improve your mindset and self-discipline in daily life. It’s easy to believe that an abrupt, high-stakes resolution taking time and money out of your life is the route necessary for improving your lifestyle. For some, investing money alongside time can be helpful, but it does not mean it is right for you. Expecting progress to show up immediately is a false hope, but giving yourself grace and time to adapt to your goals will build patience and allow you to celebrate the small accomplishments.

    In my experience, setting small resolutions that I can meet and build upon has helped me not to downplay my accomplishments. Small wins might not seem like they have a large impact on your mindset and life, but they allow you to be your own good example. You can begin to add on to your resolutions, and large tasks will start to seem doable because you can healthily pace yourself.

    Creating goals to invest your time in will inevitably pay off throughout the year. Just because you haven’t started yet doesn’t mean you can’t set yourself up for success. It can be helpful to find a friend with similar goals to keep each other on track. The best way to set a new, achievable goal for yourself is to implement small, buildable goals with a reasonable deadline. For example, working out for an hour three times a week for six months straight. Your New Year’s resolutions should look something like this, so that you can build up throughout your year.  Guaranteed success doesn’t mean holes in your pockets; it means being smart about your lifestyle.