margot lee.

There’s a certain stigma associated with resolutions that makes them seem temporary, almost fleeting. I’d like to challenge you to think of resolutions less as a short term goal that can be accomplished by checking off a few boxes, and more as an opportunity to reflect on the previous year and pinpoint what you may want to improve on or work towards not for the next 12 months but the rest of your life.

I think the thing that turns me off about New Years Resolutions is that you can, in fact, start working towards goals any day of the year, but take this time to publicize what you are working on and start making strides to get there. The good news is you can pick up unfinished projects whenever you please, so never feel limited in things you want to improve on or pick up.

I’ve listed a few of my resolutions this year below. Feel free to adopt them or adapt them to fit into your life, but I’m excited to start focusing my efforts to make these happen and checking back every so months to remind myself of what still needs to be done.

 

1. Disconnect from my phone completely when people are talking to me.

   This is something I (embarrassingly) need to work on. The past few months, I’ve noticed myself scrolling through my phone while people are in conversation with me which isn’t only completely rude on my part but also just sad. There is so much in this word we could all be experiencing but instead have our noses nuzzled in our phones. This will be my time to become less reliant on my phone and more present.

2. Keep my desk clean and organized.

   Although my room or dorm can get a little messy sometimes, I have taught myself to clean completely every few days when I have the time. Something I want to forego, however, is using my desk as a resting place for random junk that piles up in my room. I’m very lucky to have a desk in my room at school and at home, and I want to start utilizing it in a more efficient way. Even if I don’t use it to do work (I prefer doing work in a study room or café), whenever my desk is clean I feel a lot more relaxed and internally organized.

3. Learn what my style is.

   I’m pretty happy with the way I dress but wouldn’t say I have a distinct style or go-to “look”. I really admire Aimee Song in the way that she always looks put together, regardless of the setting she is put in. I want to learn more about fashion through reading and observing, and one thing I have loved doing this past year is saving photos on Instagram and Pinterest and making a collection of outfit inspirations, but I’m getting to the age where I would love to be more comfortable owning my own look and feeling more comfortable playing with fashion.

4. READ!

   OK, this is my cliche resolution. But seriously, I feel like I’m missing out on a lot by not reading more regularly. I think this also goes hand in hand with Resolution #1… less dependency on my phone and more on the outside world. If you have book suggestions, comment them on this post! I’m thinking of getting a Kindle too… thoughts?

5. Blog more.

   I made this blog for a reason- I love sharing with you and I love writing. Even though I’m not the best at the latter, this platform serves as a practice space for me to evolve and develop my own writing style. This year, I want to aim for around 3 blog posts a month (I have to stay realistic with school) so if you guys have any requests, comment them here or tweet them to me!

6. Leave chapped lips in 2017.

   Because chapped lips are gross. And easy to fix. For cheap. 

7. Let the people you love know you love them.

   I had a mini freakout about a month ago because I felt that I wasn’t transparent enough about how much I care about certain people in my life. Immediate family, extended family, close friends, friends you don’t get to see enough, partners, YOU NAME IT, there are so many ways to show affection to these people. Phone calls and texts are always nice, but nothing can replace hand written notes!! Seriously!! It’s so easy to do and will certainly put me more at ease about my relationships with others.

8. Continue to journal & schedule.

   This has certainly been a lifesaver in my busy 2017 and I know it will continue to be a huge help going forward. If you want some tips, watch this video I made about my experiences journaling!

   SOME MORE RESOLUTIONS LISTED OFF:

   –Cook more

   – Print out pictures

   -Talk more about issues I actually really care about on youtube. (ie: health, fitness, climate change, veganism, self care, mental health…)

 

Thats all for now! Again, although you can start new goals at any time, take this time of year as an opportunity to foresee what you might want to change and work on. YOU GOT THIS, GANG!