Top 10 New Year's Resolutions

Call us naive, but we can't help but feel hopeful for a fresh start in the coming new year. For some people, that might mean making a New Year's resolution that helps them start the year off on the right foot. Still, traditional New Year's resolutions usually fail. As it turns out, our brains are just not into making swift, abrupt changes to our habits.

So, instead of going for the typical diet, exercise, money-related, or relationship resolutions, why not try something different this year? We tapped experts for their suggestions on goals that you won't easily abandon when the going gets tough. 

Keep scrolling for the top 10 New Year's resolutions that are unexpected yet totally achievable.

Commit to Exercise You Enjoy

In January, gyms are usually packed, and home workout equipment flies off the shelves. Usually, by February, though, things are back to normal. 

"Many people ... went out and bought equipment that they never used because it did not fulfill them or bring them enjoyment," said Elisha Contner Wilkins, MS, LMFT, CEDS-S, Executive Director of Veritas Collaborative.

There are a few reasons this happens. One is ramping up too quickly. However, there's another big factor. 

"When it comes to exercise (or movement or activity as I prefer to call it), it's equally important that we find a way to move our bodies that we not only look forward to, but that brings us joy," Wilkins said. "Many associate movement with going to a gym and sweating versus choosing something that brings a smile to their face." 

So, this year, consider focusing on whatever type of movement feels fun.

Hide Your "Self" View on Zoom

Post-quarantine, plastic surgeons observed a spike in requests for their services. That likely has to do with the fact that we're all getting intimately familiar with how our faces look on-screen thanks to hours and hours of video calls.

There's nothing wrong with getting cosmetic treatments if you want them. However, if seeing your face on a screen eight hours a day has left you feeling self-conscious or hyper-aware of how you look, and you feel uncomfortable about it, adjust your video conferencing settings so that you no longer see yourself during video calls. (If you're not sure how, Google to the rescue!) 

"This more closely mimics in-person interactions, reduces critical self-focus, and allows you to be more present," noted Jessica Borelli, an associate professor of Psychological Science at the University of California, Irvine School of Social Ecology.