By Sydney Portilla-Diggs

Campus Correspondent

The new year is a time for new beginnings and changes. Take these 10 resolutions to heart because they can make you feel good, because they’re so attainable.

1. Set realistic goals for yourself. Look at New Year’s resolutions of the past, if you have something on your list every year but fail to achieve it, you may need to reevaluate. You may need to tackle this goal differently.
2. Forgive.  Forgiveness does not necessarily mean forgetting, but you can make a decision about how you want to expend your energy. Forgiveness is a gift you can give yourself.  Choose to look forward instead of behind you at what caused you pain.
3. Make a healthy lifestyle change. Do you want to lose weight? Focus on the quality of the food you eat instead of trying new fad diets. Do you want to start exercising? Take a walk with a friend. Add exercise to your daily routine gradually.
4. Get organized.  Can’t seem to get organized? Sometimes organizing a large room can be overwhelming but if you focus on a corner or one drawer, the job becomes less intimidating—one drawer at a time until you are finished.
5. Spend time with yourself. Does life stress you out?  Find time for just me—even if it is five minutes. Meditate, breathe deeply or if you have time—read. Turn off the television and de-stress. 
6. Reconnect with someone. Feeling lonely? Make a phone call to a friend. Send a handwritten note or card to an older relative or friend. The person receiving the note will realize you took special care to do it. Plus you will have to slow down a bit to do it. 
7. Give something back to the community. Donate some of the old clothes to the Salvation Army. Volunteer at the boys and girls club.  Find a volunteer organization through Collin’s Service learning programs.  
8. Learn something new.  Try Salsa dancing. Go to screening of one of Collin’s College Auteur Film Series. Take a culinary art class at Collin with a friend.
9. Find something to believe in wholeheartedly.
10. Dream. You may become inspired when you achieve these goals and come up with ten more. Whatever you do…dream!