The countdown to the New Year is up and I’m brimming with complete and utter joy inside. Why, you ask? Because it’s the beginning of a new year! And like so many others, they’re thrilled at the prospect of being able to start things anew for themselves and possibly for others.
New Year’s may seem like another simple holiday celebrated like Valentine’s Day or St. Patrick’s Day and not a major celebration like Christmas, Halloween or even Easter, but to me it is. You ever heard the saying “Out with the old, in with the new”? That’s what New Year’s is all about. Sure you can keep yourself the same for another year or change your lifestyle at any time, but it’s what the New Year helps us celebrate: Change and moving forward.
Change simply means to make something different whether it be clothes, diet, job or even lifestyle in general. Many kids and teenagers go through some form of change at least once in their childhood and teenage years. I know I sure did and so will each and every one of you. Of course, I always had fun setting my change goals because of the New Year. And if you have goals you want to make to start fresh in the upcoming 2016 New Year, then make sure you have that list of resolutions ready to go!
If you have no idea what resolutions are, they’re goals or changes you jot down that you wish to overcome within the next year. And the best part is, they can be anything you want! Whether big or small, if you feel that you can accomplish them, then do it! Making goals or changes can help you move forward and feel great once you are set on achieving it!
Unfortunately, I know some who don’t know what to look forward to next year. Some aren’t completely sure what they wish to accomplish, what to change or how to start. To help get started, the easiest thing to do is at the moment is THINK. Think about what you enjoy, about what you are currently doing, how something can be done better. You can even talk to others if that helps.
There’s just so much out there you might want to change or begin doing that you are confused about where you need to start. Sometimes, when I can’t think of anything specific for resolutions in my New Year, I think about a lot of common goals set by many and figure out how to change it a bit to suit my needs if I want to try it. And that’s what I would love to help you guys out with!
Go ahead and check out some common New Year resolutions that might fit into your goals or changes:
- Health: Make health a great goal of change for this year! Eating more healthy, get in some great exercise, running or walking. If you usually ride in a car somewhere, why not ride a bike or be a bit adventurous and use a skateboard, rollerblades or scooter? Maybe even join a gym! Fun, right?
- School: If you have not-so-great grades, make a change in your study and homework habits. Or if you’re aiming for a good college, make it your goal to work hard to achieve your dream school! Some students I know actually made it a goal to become an exchange student overseas. Sounds neat, huh?
- Job: If you’re at the age where you can find yourself a part-time job, go for it! Make a goal to find an afterschool/summer job that you enjoy! Save a few dollars and buy yourself something as a reward for all the hard work!
- Vacation: Always have that one place you’ve been wanting to go but you didn’t have the time or money to spare for it? Try to make it happen this year! Make an outline of plans to achieve your dream vacation! You’ll be surprised what a bit of planning can help you do!
- Organization: Have a seriously messy room in the house somewhere but keep putting it off? Make it one of your goals this year to change that messy space into an organized one! Organizing can help you prioritize things you have by filing it away, storing it in totes or boxes, perhaps even putting in the right place where it should have been. (I’ve been known to do this…a lot!) Sometimes when you can sort things out, you find a lot of stuff you don’t need anymore so you can either throw it away, recycle it or even donate it if in great condition.
- Fashion: Clothes not fitting right? That look just not you anymore? Then get yourself a new wardrobe or a few new outfits that show off your beautiful self! Of course, this doesn’t have to be done right away. What’s best to do is take your time. Go through your closets or drawers and see what you don’t want anymore. If good condition, hand it down to a younger sibling or better yet, donate it. But if you want to just lower your wardrobe count, here’s a great life hack for you: any clothes in a closet, turn all the hangers around. By mid-year, whatever you don’t wear, give it away. For drawers, keep a couple empty drawers handy or even a bin. Each clothing you wear, place it in the empty drawer. Same as the closet clothes, whatever clothes are left not worn, donate them!
- Social Life: Got the anti-social bug recently? Make some time in the new year to hang out a bit more with friends and family. Go to sleepovers, a party, a school dance. Not only will you have a great time, but you can easily make some awesome new friends while you’re at it!
- Something New: Something new is exactly what it means: something new! If you feel bored with the original things you normally do, why not find something new and interesting. You can learn a new language, read a new book, hang out with a friend you barely talk to. Also, try your hand at writing, drawing or perhaps a new game. You never know how much you’ll love something until you give it a shot!
- Volunteer: Got some spare time on your hands, then why not volunteer for a local charity? Communities always have local events or centers where they are short-handed in volunteers. If you got a certificate for a lifeguard, volunteer to teach kids to swim at the local YMCA. Love reading? Volunteer to read to some kids at the local library. Got a knowledgeable head on your shoulders? Become a tutor to help out someone. Your load of free time can easily help someone else.
So, what do you think? You got your resolutions ready? I hope so cause I got mine! As soon as that clock hits midnight, get ready for a change!
From everybody here at BSCKids, we would like to wish you and every one of your friends and family a very Happy New Year!