Mindfulness

Research has shown that people tend to keep resolutions when they’re SMART, an acronym made up by the time management gurus at FranklinCovey that stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Resolutions fail when they’re too vague or based on other people’s perceptions and ideas rather than your own. This year make positive resolutions that you’ll actually achieve. Here are some ideas for unconventional but awesome New Year’s resolutions.

As we find ourselves busier and busier, it’s easy to get caught up in the enjoyment, pleasure, and satisfaction that comes from being continually occupied. Our smartphones are with us every second of the day, and there’s always something new to check out on Instagram or Facebook, which only serves to heighten our experience of daily life passing us by faster than we can experience it. One of the ways that people have started to push back against the constant encroachment of technology and social media into our lives is through the practice of mindfulness.

If you’ve ever been inside a natural food store or a yoga studio, you’re probably familiar with crystals. They’re often found for sale in stores like these, or in dedicated crystal shops which are chock-full of every crystal under the sun, as well as books and other tools that will help you harness their power. Crystal healing is practiced by many people and is thought to be particularly effective because of the crystal’s naturally repeating chemical structure, which is believed to help our intentions repeat and intensify.