New Year’s Resolutions have a bad reputation. The meaning behind it is a virtuous one though –– the idea that a new year can serve as a marker, a refresh button, or a time for positive changes. We’re glad that it excites people and motivates them to do something different, but sometimes resolutions can lead to unrealistic goals and unfinished ideas. Our perspective: make goals that you would have made anyway, new year or not. We don’t like to think of it as “new year, new me,” but about building on what we already started.

While we don’t make “New Year’s Resolutions” ourselves, we do try to continue to implement conscious intentions in our lives every year. Below are a few things we like to keep in mind:

• Be honest and realistic. Implement changes that are possible to accomplish because “big” ones can make you feel discouraged. You know what you’re capable of; start small and use the first few steps as building blocks to reach the big picture.
• Have patience. Life happens in stages; goals don’t change overnight and neither do you.
• Be flexible and open to change. What you think right now may be different tomorrow, a few weeks from now, or even a few months from now. Sometimes plans need to be adjusted, know this and adapt to it.
• Recognize how far you’ve come. Don’t undermine your accomplishments –– whether big or small we think each step towards positive changes deserves a pat on the back. We can be our toughest critics, but we also need to be our biggest supporters too.

Lastly… try, fail, and try again.

What We Plan to Focus On This Year

JENNIFER
“I’ve been trying to be more conscious about living mindfully and I hope to continue the effort this coming year. It’ll help that I will be moving up to San Francisco, a city known to be progressive in the green movement. I’m looking to join organizations and communities (if you know any in the bay area, please send a DM), and the city will help me learn more about composting, thrifting, and reducing my waste. For me, resolutions are not goals to check-off my to-do list. I try to make active choices that are productive to my long-term growth and lifestyle. When we realize the impact of positive changes, we’ll continue to foster them –– and that progress will live past the new year. I hope to share that with the Tinycaravan community, starting with our Zero Hour Story series.”

VIVIAN
“Last year was a rough year for environmental politics. The good thing is, it has further motivated me to be more active in the environmental space, more mindful of my actions, and more outspoken about issues I care about. I want to continue to grow, challenge, and foster these ideals by getting involved with my community and environmental non-profits –– not just this year, but many years to come. Even though I don’t practice New Year’s Resolutions, it is a way to motivate people to make changes in their lives –– but it’s just as important to learn how to execute them effectively and efficiently. I’m excited to learn more about living a sustainable lifestyle, implementing that into my own, and educating others so that they may do the same.”

What do you think about New Year’s Resolutions? Do you have tips to help keep them?

Cheers,
Jennifer and Vivian