2020 isn’t just a new year, it’s also a new decade, which means it’s the perfect time to ditch any bad habits and start with a fresh slate. New Year’s resolutions get a bad rep for being cliched, but ignore the cynics because there’s nothing wrong with heading into a new year with the mindset that it’s going to be your best yet. Like most people who work in the PR industry, I’m overly ambitious, so naturally I have a laundry list of resolutions for this year. TBD on how many I can stick to, but wish me luck J
- Read one book a week. I’m a big reader, so while this might seem like an overly ambitious goal, it’s realistic for me as long as I prioritize reading each night (AKA as long as I don’t fall into the Netflix trap and waste 8 hours of my weekend free time rewatching The Office for the 100th time).
- No phone after 9 pm. The blue light on our phones is terrible for sleep, so I’m aiming to cut back on this bad habit and spend my nights relaxing and unwinding instead of scrolling aimlessly for 5 hours.
- Keep a journal. If you’re looking to start journaling like me, here’s a link to the one I got on Amazon that has great prompts to combat writer’s block.
- Buy less plastic. Speaking of Amazon, I just placed an order for reusable straws. Every little bit counts.
- Donate clothes you never wear. Marie Kondo the crap out of your closet and drop off anything you haven’t worn in the past 6 months to your local Salvation Army.
- Wear sunscreen. I’m turning 30 this year, so I guess it’s time I start thinking about taking care of my skin instead of tanning it.
- Cook at home. I have a feeling that if I knew how much money I spent on Uber Eats and Postmates in 2019, I’d faint. This year I’ve made a promise to myself to start cooking at home (my new air fryer has made it much easier to stick to so far).
- Drink less alcohol. As much as it pains me to admit this, I know I don’t need my nightly glass (or two) of wine.
- Take the stairs. A study in the journal Physiology & Behavior found that tired women who climbed stairs for 10 minutes got a bigger energy boost than those who had the caffeine equivalent of a can of soda or half a cup of coffee (and burned calories too!).
- Sanitize my phone weekly. e check our phones a gazillion times a day, and if you’ve taken yours into the ladies’ room, you’re not the only one. But that means phones carry about 10 times as much bacteria as most toilet seats, says Charles Gerba, Ph.D., a microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona, Tucson. (British researchers even found that one in six devices was contaminated with E. coli — blech!). The GH Cleaning Lab likes Lysol Disinfectant Wipes (around $5 for a three-pack), which kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. They don’t contain bleach, so they’re safe to use on smartphones and tablets (but double-check your phone manufacturer’s recs).
