It’s the same old story every year. As January approaches, you tell yourself that this year is going to be your year and you make all sorts of new year’s resolutions. You’ll get fit, go vegetarian, organize your life and start a side hustle. The result? By February, all of those good intentions have gone out the window and you figure you might as well wait until next year to get your life together. 

The problem is that when it comes to new year’s resolutions, we have a tendency to go overboard. After the overindulgence of the holiday season, we’re fully ready to forego wine and hit the gym every day… for a few weeks. If you want to keep your resolutions this year, you need to think about the future and focus on cultivating habits you can actually sustain all year round. 

If you truly want to make 2021 your year, then I recommend starting small. Change doesn’t happen overnight. Set a few achievable goals and once you’ve hit them, consider taking things up a notch. I’ve put together a list of ten new year’s resolutions you’ll actually be able to keep this January. However, I don’t recommend taking on all of them at once. Pick 1-3 and come back this time next year to let me know how you got on! 

1) Meat Free Mondays 

By now, we all know that eating less meat – red meat in particular – is one of the best things we can do for the planet, but that doesn’t make it easy. Whether you’d like to go fully vegetarian one day or just want to consume less meat than you do now, I recommend starting with one day per week. It doesn’t have to be Monday, but the alliteration makes it easy to remember. Set yourself up for success by planning your meat-free meals in advance so that you’re not tempted! 

2) Publish One Blog Post Per Week 

Blogging is time consuming, but Google (and many affiliate sites) reward consistency. Setting yourself an achievable posting target is better than overreaching and running yourself into the ground. Putting out a single blog post each week is a fairly achievable target, but you could even reduce that to once per fortnight if necessary. It’s better to post little and often than not at all. 

3) Join a New Workout Class 

If you’re new to fitness, trying to hit the gym six days per week is going to leave you exhausted and devoid of all motivation. The best way to build a solid fitness foundation is to find a type of exercise you enjoy and commit to doing it each week. Fitness classes are a great way to get started. Research shows that you’re 3x more likely to complete your workout if it’s scheduled in; it’s a much more powerful incentive than relying on motivation alone. 

Of course, attending in-person classes might not be an option for you right now, but the good news is that there are lots of amazing fitness apps that can help. 

4) Read One Book Per Fortnight 

I think we’d probably all like to read more, wouldn’t we? Setting myself a target of one book every two weeks (or 26 per year) helped me become more of a bookworm. I love to read, but without a target in place I often get out of the habit. Write each book down in your journal or on your notes app to keep yourself accountable. 

5) Drink Less Alcohol 

Famous last words. I’m sure each and every one of us has passionately committed to a dry January and then found ourselves sipping cocktails a week later. Going cold turkey for a month won’t do much for your long term health. Aiming to drink less overall is much more beneficial. Depending on your current lifestyle, you could try limiting yourself to just once or twice per week so that you don’t feel deprived. 

6) Go Cruelty-Free 

There are so many amazing cruelty-free makeup and skin care brands out there that it’s easier than ever to buy ethically. You don’t have to throw out your current products, but when they’ve run out, why not swap them for a more animal-friendly alternative? 

For more on buying cruelty-free cosmetics, check out this in-depth article here. 

7) Up Your Stories Game 

Trust me on this one – social media is a full-time job. If you’re not in a position to completely overhaul your account, just choose one aspect to focus on. Personally, I think stories are an ideal place to start. They don’t require as much careful curation as traditional grid posts and they’re an amazing way to engage with your audience. For more on how to create interesting and eye-catching Instagram Stories, check out this post. 

8) Intermittent Fasting 

Healthy eating is one of the most popular new year’s resolutions but it’s famously difficult to stick to. This year, rather than committing to a diet of green tea and lettuce leaves, why not try following an eating pattern rather than a diet?

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that you can adapt to fit your lifestyle. Not only does this style of eating encourage you to effortlessly eat fewer calories, it can also help to increase your energy levels, sharpen your mind and balance your hormones. For more on how to get started, check out this article. 

9) Travel More 

I firmly believe that seeing the world is good for the soul, and it’s something we should all try and do more of in 2021. There are heavy travel restrictions in place for US citizens right now, so why not take this opportunity to explore your own backyard? I’ve written a list of the best US cities for a staycation, so be sure to check it out for some inspiration. If you’re desperate to go abroad, these are the best destinations for Americans right now. 

10) Go Natural 

Did you know that natural deodorant is better for both your health and the planet? This almost-effortless swap could do you the power of good in 2021. 

For more ideas on how to kick off the new year in style, why not check out this list of the best wellness destinations around the world?