It's not even Christmas yet, but I'm already thinking about what my New Year's resolution should be. This has been a tough year, full of mistakes and lessons learned the hard way. Needless to say, I am ready for this year to be over already! The New Year motivates you to be better in some area of your life than you were in the previous year. Here are some New Year's resolutions that might actually make you a better person in 2015. More than one of these will be on my own resolutions list!

1. Stop showing up late.

People don't realize how bad of a message being late sends. Whether it's for work, a date, or an interview it shows that you don't care about that other person's time or that you think your time is more important. By being on time you show others that you respect them and appreciate that they took time out of their day for you.

2. Read your local news.

There are so many benefits of this one! Your city's newspaper can keep you informed on fun events to attend and what's going on your community. Reading the news can keep you up to date on local politics, health issues, sports, and more.  Keeping up with your local news will make you a more informed citizen and may inspire you to find new ways to participate in your community, such as voting in local elections.

3. Volunteer.

A lot of us were required to volunteer in high school in order to graduate. Some of us may have volunteered in college with clubs or groups. Once you graduate it's harder to find ways to volunteer, but there are many ways to volunteer as an adult. Schools, churches, and the officials of your community are always reaching out for volunteers. Maybe you will see some opportunities in the newspaper. Volunteering helps those in need, and it gives you a rewarding feeling of compassion too!

4. Learn to ask for help when you need it.

Independence is a wonderful thing. Pride is not. Sometimes we get too prideful of our independence and are embarrassed to ask for help when we need it. This can be especially true when it comes to finances or health, or even little things like asking for directions. Learn to recognize when you need help and practice asking for it. Most likely, if you ask someone for help they will feel good about having the opportunity to help.

5. Work on your posture.

I have always admired people who have great posture. They stand up tall and ooze confidence! If you're like me and occasionally slouch or hunch your shoulders, think about working on your posture in the New Year. Having good posture requires confidence, so if you work on your posture then the confidence will follow.

What other resolutions have you guys thought of? Feel free to share them in a comment!
Happy New Year!

-Bell


photo credits in order of appearance:
joel duggan via photopin cc
TheRealMichaelMoore via photopin cc