10 New Year’s Resolutions for the Realistic: Small Wins, Big Gains

The idea of New Year's resolutions usually conjures up images of us setting grand, sky-high goals that, let's be honest, most of us forget by February. But what if we made resolutions that were realistic, meaningful, and—dare I say—actually doable? This year, I’m here to advocate for the small wins. Little changes can have a bigger impact than we realize, and they’re way more sustainable than deciding to “become a morning person” overnight. Here are my top resolutions for realistic improvements that won’t require you to reinvent yourself in 2025!

Most of us view self-care as an add-on rather than a staple. This year, aim to make self-care something regular, not something reserved for when you’re already running on empty. A good starting point? Carve out 15 minutes each day just for yourself. Whether it’s a walk, reading a chapter of a book (ACOTAR fans please rise!), or just sitting quietly with a cup of tea, this small routine can become a grounding moment in your day-to-day.

Instead of cutting out screens altogether (a bit impractical these days), just aim to reduce mindless screen time. Set aside 30 minutes a day without screens—no doom-scrolling, no random app-hopping. Use this time to connect with people in person, work on a hobby, or even just sit and think. It’s amazing how freeing a bit of intentional disconnecting can be.

It’s tempting to think productivity is the goal, but burnout is the fastest route to feeling unfulfilled. This year, aim to prioritize rest just as much as work. If your to-do list is getting overwhelming, make a “not-to-do” list, too. A small step towards work-life balance can make a huge difference for you in 2025.

Fitness resolutions are great, but they don’t have to be daunting or extreme. Just aim to move more—whether that’s a short daily walk, dancing in your living room, or a quick yoga stretch between meetings. Moving regularly without the pressure of intense fitness goals helps us keep the joy in exercise.

Resolutions don’t all have to be action-based; some are more about mindset. Take a moment each day to focus on one thing you’re grateful for, no matter how small. Maybe it’s your dog’s happy face, a cozy blanket, or a quick text from a friend. This shift can help bring a little more positivity into your routine.

Financial goals are on everyone’s radar in January, but instead of a total budget overhaul, try starting with one small habit. Skip one unnecessary purchase a week and put that money aside. It’s not about being miserly; it’s about slowly rethinking how we spend. You might be surprised by how these small savings add up. As a shopaholic, trust me, it makes a difference!

Decluttering doesn’t mean you need to toss everything and live out of a suitcase, but it’s nice to start fresh. Begin by clearing one small area each week—a drawer, a corner of your desk, or a section of your closet. By the end of the year, you’ll have tackled a lot without feeling overwhelmed by a major overhaul.

Whether it’s journaling, sketching, baking, or crafting, creative expression is a powerful way to unwind. Aim to work on something creative just for the fun of it, once a week. And don’t worry about the end product being perfect—this one’s about the process, not the result.

I am the friend who loves cancelled plans, but it’s easy to feel isolated during the holidays, especially when everything’s “go, go, go!” This year, try setting realistic social goals, like reaching out to one friend a week for a catch-up or planning one outing a month. Small, regular interactions can go a long way in keeping connections alive.

This one’s essential. Self-improvement is a journey, not a sprint. There’s no need to achieve everything at once. Treat yourself with patience as you move towards your goals. This means no beating yourself up if you don’t nail every resolution perfectly—just get back on track as best you can and keep moving forward.

Grand gestures are great, but a year of small, consistent wins? Even better. These 2025 resolutions are designed to make life better without overwhelming us with big demands, so here’s to a new year where progress is steady, achievable, and fulfilling. Let’s toast to being the best versions of ourselves by taking it one step at a time.

Things change so rapidly these days, that it's easy to become unfamiliar with the trendy slang words that all the kids are saying. So, if you're looking for the hottest slang words to make you sound cool, you're going to need a crash course in slang for today from experts. Mind you, just because a slang word is popular, that doesn't mean you have to adapt it into your vocabulary. But, if you're curious what hot slang words are being used right now, here's a tally.

So, where does slang originate? Many times, these pop culture slang terms are first coined on a popular TV show, movie, video game or in popular music. For example, Beyoncé forever made popping the question extra cool with her 2008 single, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," which got men and women talking about if they should "put a ring on it," which sounds so much cooler than "get engaged." Also, today, social media can birth slang words. Experts also note that many young people check out what slang words influencers on TikTok and Instagram are using in videos and photo posts. So, many trendy phrases and words originate on social media these days.

It's also worth noting that while the Millennials were often known for the hottest slang words back in the day, today, it's all about Gen Z and Gen Alpha. They're the ones who are really setting the trends for slang words. It's wild to think that Gen Alpha is already coining slang words. Generation Alpha are those born from 2010-2024, so they are super young right now. Can babies really coin slang terms? Not really, but the oldest kids in this generation are just now becoming teenagers, so it makes sense that they can start to have a real impact on pop culture and slang words and phrases. In fact, a recent viral TikTok post is super funny that shows a millennial mom, Jennifer Maxwell, enlisting her 10-year-old daughter to teach her some new slang terms. Things went not so well, and Maxwell said she really has "no idea" what her daughter is "saying half the time anymore."

But, not all slang has to be so "extra." There are some simple slang words and phrases that you can use now to sound hip, or as hip as possible. Now, let's get into the hottest slang words to make you sound cool, from slang experts.

I don't like this slang term. It just sounds silly to me. But, "extra" means "overly dramatic" or "too much." So, if someone says you're extra, don't say, "extra what?" Just tell them that they're being "extra" for using the term.

This is kind of a cute one. If you're crushing on someone, you might say, "Hey, they are living rent-free in my head." It means you have someone on your mind.

This is an interesting slang term, because it really means the same thing as its traditional definition. If someone says, "That's so cringe," they mean something is embarrassing or uncomfortable. Just typing this is kind of cringe for me.

This one isn't new, but dope is still, well, a dope slang term. It means "awesome." So, if someone says something you did is dope, it's a good thing.

This one might be getting old. But, the phrase "Let's go" is super popular these days. I see almost every musician I follow use it when they announce a new release. I'm guilty of this, as you can see in the post below. It's also popular at sporting events.

A "Betty" is an attractive girl or a babe. Someone recently called me a Betty, and I admit that I had to search for the term online to see what the heck they meant. At first, I thought it was an insult.

This one is kind of funny. "OK Boomer" is really popular right now, and it's basically when someone from an older generation is complaining or being condescending towards the younger generation. If someone hates the new music out there, you might say, "OK Boomer," to them and shrug.