Doing Better

I have always gotten caught up in the process of making New Year’s resolutions, but mostly just for the fun of it. I never actually stuck to them, because why would I? Nobody’s life would change whether I stuck to my resolutions or not. Not even mine.

But in reality, my life would have changed. Had I stuck to all of the resolutions I have made in the past, I’d be 20 pounds thinner and able to run a marathon. I might even be a vegetarian, and I certainly wouldn’t be drinking any alcohol. Overall, I’d be healthier and feeling great. This year, instead of making “resolutions,” I’m aiming for just “doing better.” Doing better with what I eat, what I do with my time, what I do with my brain, how I spend money, and how I dress, to name a few. All of these will undoubtedly improve my life and contribute to my overall level of happiness.

Doing better means eating healthy as much as I can without overcomplicating my life. I don’t want to cook elaborate meals or go on a strict diet; I really just want to eat more simply which, to me, means eating foods that are closer to their natural state (less preservatives, etc.) and to stick to a regimen of eating mostly the same things each day. That way, if I don’t have to think about it, I stand a better chance of sticking to it and hopefully losing some weight.

Doing better with my time means decluttering and getting rid of the useless stuff in my house.

Doing better with my brain is divorcing myself from all of those stupid reality TV shows and mindless movies (I’m talking to you Anchorman 2). I want to watch things that actually make me THINK.

Doing better with spending money means keeping track of my spending, thinking carefully about every purchase, and saving more.

Doing better with how I dress will start on Jan. 6 when I begin Project 333.

And since I need to get exercise, doing better means doing something, which is more than I do now.

Hopefully by the end of 2014, I'll have done better.