5 New Year’s Resolutions For Millenials

If you are reading this, you are most likely one of them – a millennial. And yes, millennials need New Year’s resolutions too. It is after all almost the end of another year. Consider this a refresh or better yet, a reboot of sorts. Before the start of another year, one should take stock and assess what one has done and achieved. And then consider the following resolutions as suggestions to start your year right.

1. Don’t be afraid to purge your social media network.

Millennials, just because they are creatures of social media, are sure to have tons of friends in their preferred social media platform. And with tons of friends comes tons of information, opinions and views about almost anything under the sun. Since they live with social media everyday, it is likely that they have encountered more than once a friend or someone they know who shares views that they do not agree with. If you have such “friends” in any social media platform, it is your right to purge them from your list. It is your news feed after all, so why choose to read about things that you do not care about.

2. Fact check things you share.

With the prevalence of fake and hoax news sites, one should be wary about the information that they share online. If a headline is too good to be true or so unbelievable, take some time to check out the source of the news. One way to determine the site’s legitimacy is to find out when it was created. One can do this by going to ICANN WHOIS and look up the domain name of the site. Usually, if the site is newly created (e.g. a few days old), it’s legitimacy is a bit shaky.

3. Shake things up – be revolutionary.

One characteristic that millennials are supposedly known for is their ability to think out of the box. Thus the prevalence of good ideas when fueled appropriately become startups. Familiarity with the technology terrain is a huge asset for millennials and oftentimes, it is this unique perspective about how technology can solve a problem distinguishes millennial thinking. This coming year, begin to brainstorm and bus your ideas with others, and see how you can use your tech-savvy for something more relevant than an online shopping app.

4. Take risks – but calculated ones.

Those in the 18 to 35 age bracket these days have more opportunities presented to them and this is also because of access to information technology. Millennials must realize that as they grow older, these opportunities do not multiply, but rather become less. A Bustle article calls it “smart risks,” or risks that will reap great rewards later, after considering all the factors in one’s life. Smart risks also must come with safety nets, or a Plan B.

Risks may involve anything from taking on a new job that one is passionate about and leaving a steady paying job, or taking some time out from work to improve oneself.

5. Take a break from the virtual world once in a while.

For non-millennials, this can be equated to the saying: “Stop and smell the roses.” With technology so ubiquitous these days, one cannot stop oneself from taking photos of the food they eat, the places they have been, the concerts and events they go to. Oftentimes, this over concern for posterity prevents you from enjoying and savoring the food or closing your eyes to listen to that favorite song in a concert. In times like this, it is best to be one with the moment. You will have plenty of time to take photos later.

This also means going offline even for just a little while. Do you really need to check that email while you are hiking in the woods? Or do you really need to update your Facebook status every waking moment?