5 Life-Changing Intentions for 2019

Welp... We are now 487 days into January and if you're like most of us, all those New Year's resolutions we made when we were drunk on "New Year, New Me" juice have gone to die in a fire somewhere. Maybe the problem with resolutions is that they just feel too finite. Like there isn't any room to fail and pick yourself back up.

Intentions; however, are where it's at. Deliberate, incremental, lifestyle changes that add up to a life you're truly excited to be living, without all the pressure of doing it perfectly every time.

Here's our list of the Top 5 life changing intentions for 2019. We hope that at least a few speak to you.

1) INCORPORATE THE FIVE SECOND RULE INTO YOUR ROUTINE

No, I'm not advocating that you start eating food off the floor in 2019. The 'five second rule' is simply the notion that if a task takes 5 seconds or less to complete you just go ahead and do it. If that sounds painfully easy to the point of being a little stupid- it totally is. Speaking from personal experience; though, it's a principle that changed my entire life.

It's weird how when you break it down to only 5 seconds of discipline, suddenly normal adult tasks that once overwhelmed feel manageable. I no longer have an Everest sized pile of assorted jackets and coat growing on my couch because now I just hang up the one I'm wearing right away. There isn't a leaning tower of dishes in the sink because I can actually handle rising off ONE dish and immediately putting it directly into the dishwasher. Gone are the little piles of papers and receipts I'll throw away 'later', and the almost clean bathroom counter I have to manically scrub before anyone sets foot in my apartment. I almost never have to do an exhausting BIG clean, because all my 5 second fixes add up to a life that's clean and clutter free without me being stressed out or neurotic about it. Give it a try. You may love it as much as I do.

2) CULTIVATE A MORE CULTURAL YOU

Think about the most interesting person you know. They're likely a dazzling conversationalist that's never short on things to say because they've seen a thing or two. Imagine BEING that person. Whether it's a walk thru your nearest street art district, reading a few new books this year, actually going to that orchestra in the park thing, or taking in one day a month at your local museum (most cities have at least one or two days a month you can get in if not for free, then at a deeply discounted rate BTW ) taking your full grown self on a few field trips can actually feel really great and give you the new perspectives and creative reference points you never knew you needed.

3) REGULARLY TRY SOMETHING NEW

I don't know about you guys, but I have this (irrational) fear of looking up one day- several years down the line- and realizing, too late, that all of my days looked the same. I mean we all have our routines, but I am NOT trying to go out like that. Fortune favors the bold and all that. If you want a little everyday magic you've gotta be willing to go off script from time to time. Take yourself on a walk thru a different part of your city, actually stop and check out that coffee shop you always see on your way home, go to a new restaurant and try a cuisine you've never had before. It might not seem like a big deal, but if instead of doing what we always do, we even some of the time challenged ourselves to try something new- just for the novelty of doing it- what fully badass, much more interesting, lives we'd all be living!!

4) MAKE ROOM FOR MINI ADVENTURES

Life is way too effing short not to get out there and explore a little. Too many people (myself very much included) spend their week running themselves so ragged that by the time the blessed weekend arrives, going to one of the three bars you and your friends actually like and generous helping of Netflix and Chill sound like an actual survival strategy. And while I'm not saying that watching Friends in your underwear isn't occasionally epic, I am saying that you won't look back in 20 years and remember doing it. GET OUT THERE, HONEY! It doesn't have to be expensive or extravagant, but grab a friend and get outta dodge for the weekend. Most citites in the U.S. have something cool, that you have never personally seen, that you can get to in under four hours. So have yourself a Google and GO! Even if you're really not into travel, there are plenty of ways to experience your city like a tourist. The point is to do some living, not just existing. Think of it this way- if you invested in a mini adventure every OTHER weekend (while preserving your right to behave like an utter sloth on the other two weekends a month) you'd STILL have racked up 24 new tales of adventure for the ol' history books by the end of the year.

5) ROCK SOME RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

A truly great life not only looks good, but it FEELS good too. It never fails to amaze me how deeply I feel a positive and lasting impact when I go out of my way to be kind to someone else. It could be leaving an encouraging note on the desk of a co-worker who's having a tough week, saying the nice thing you were just thinking about the haircut of the girl in line in front of you, or asking the homeless person you're about to buy lunch for what their NAME is. Brightening the day of someone else invariably makes YOUR life feel more sparkly. And who doesn't want a sparkly life? I mean, honestly.

Here's to the journey, guys! May it be an epic one toward the happiest version of yourself!