5 New Years' Resolutions To Help You Live Your Best Life (And Help Others Do The Same)

Here’s what to do in 2020 -- and how to do it!

By Jackie Menjivar

We’re getting close to the end of 2019, and with the decade wrapping up, it’s time for a little reflection. Lil Nas X gave us the record-breaking hit, “Old Town Road.” We witnessed NASA’s historic all-women spacewalk. Crocs are a thing again, and that’s just something we’re going to have to live with.

You might be thinking about the changes you want to make in 2020, and we’re here to help with some New Years’ resolutions that are good for you AND the people around you (because in 2020, we’re working together to make the world a little better).

1. Volunteer in your community.

Volunteering is a way to make a difference in the world around you and show up for causes you care about (plus, it just feels good!). We’ll break down some specifics for you:

Before you actually get started volunteering, take some time to figure out the why, what, and how of volunteering as a teenager.
Narrow down what kind of volunteer opportunity is right for you.
If you’re working with a unique schedule, explore these volunteering ideas that take anywhere from 5 minutes to a whole week.
If you aren’t able to physically show up somewhere to volunteer, you can always try volunteering online.

Here’s the crucial thing: no matter how you volunteer, you’re making a commitment to lend your time and help out. Establish clear expectations for how often you can volunteer and for how long. You might try to lend a hand at the animal shelter every Thursday after school, sign up to lead storytime at the library once a month, or volunteer at a local soup kitchen ahead of major holidays. Whatever it is, make a goal for how often you want to give your time and plan that time into your schedule. That’s the best way to make sure you stick to it. You got this!

2. Hype up your friends.

Please take a break from roasting each other in the group chat to show some love to your friends. We can all use a little extra motivation sometimes, and this year, make it your mission to gas up your pals when they need it most. We’ve got a few ideas:

Whenever your friends post something, be the first to react. That means liking, commenting, maybe even sharing if you’re feeling THAT extra. It only takes a few taps to drop some 🔥🔥🔥, and the confidence boost is instant.
Commit to attending your friends’ events, and be their biggest fan. Whether it’s their soccer games, or their jazz band concerts, or their debate tournaments, just let them know you’re there for them. Show up each week, month, or semester to cheer on your favorite goalie/saxophone-player/future-lawyer (or all three??).
If doing this kind of stuff regularly isn’t really your thing, make it an annual event. Put everyone’s birthday in your calendar, and when their day comes, use it as an excuse to write a note with all the things you love about them.
Help your friends achieve their dreams. Behind every innovator, creator, and leader are friends, mentors, and supporters who helped them succeed. Through the Give Más, Get Más campaign, share a card with your friends to help them start building a community that’ll make their dreams a reality.

3. Make small changes to help the planet.

We’re not sure if you’ve noticed, but folks are pretty freaking concerned about the future of our planet (you know, just in case you missed the 4 million people striking for climate action a few months ago). The good news is, there are things we can all do help out the environment in 2020. Consider one of these:

Commit to not buying any new clothes this year. The fashion industry is a major contributor to pollution and waste, so cut down the demand for new clothing by only shopping secondhand.
Pick one day each week to eat vegetarian. Meatless Monday has been a movement for a while, and for good reason! You’ll reduce your carbon footprint and water consumption by opting for veggies once a week. (If you already eat an entirely plant-based diet, then you’re way ahead of the game.)
Bring your own shopping bags. Skip the single-use plastic bags at check-out, and use reusable ones instead. Remind yourself to bring your own bags on trips to the grocery store by writing a note at the top of your shopping list.

4. Incorporate kindness into your days.

Maybe more than ever before, the world needs kindness in 2020. It’s not about being a “perfect” person all the time, just practicing empathy and compassion whenever you can. Here are some ideas:

Help teachers get the classroom supplies they need. Through DonorsChoose, you can help students receive everything from crayons and books to telescopes and field trips.
Grab some drinks and snacks for folks who work outdoors. From mail carriers to crossing guards, there are plenty of people who spend time in the heat and cold to get the job done. Show them some love with hot chocolate in the winter or cold drinks in the summer for special moments like this.
Leave some positive messages to make someone’s day. Grab a few sticky notes and post encouraging messages in your school bathroom to give your classmates an anonymous self-esteem boost.

Make kindness a regular part of your year by doing something like this every other week, once a month, or however frequently you think you can manage.

5. Tell people how you really feel.

How many times have you had a nice thought about someone and then just...never told them? Well, it stops in 2020. We’re here for unapologetically telling people how we feel -- especially when it’s positive. Try one of these:

Thank someone every week. There are 52 weeks in a year, so that means 52 opportunities to let someone know you appreciate them. Every Sunday, write a little note thanking someone new (a parent, teacher, custodian, coach, friend, etc).
If you go somewhere and enjoy it, write a positive review. In the internet age, reviews are SO incredibly important for businesses to attract and keep customers (especially small, local ones). Make it a habit to leave a nice review right after you check out. Every. Time. We promise they’ll appreciate it.
Compliment a stranger daily or weekly. It can feel a little scary to approach someone you don’t know, but if you’re coming to them with kind words, they’ll probably respond with the same. So if you think someone’s shoes are cute or their hairstyle’s cool, let them know!