"This year, I'm going to get promoted at my workplace, volunteer more, and eat healthier".

Around this time of year, we're all hearing ambitious, well-intentioned statements like this.  Even though every year thousands of Americans set goals for the New Year, we don't always end up meeting them.

Why?

We can get so excited about the big things we want to accomplish(and will!), that sometimes we forget to think about all the tiny steps that go into accomplishing something.

Accomplishing our goals starts with one important thing -- intentionally setting ourselves up for success. Setting ourselves up to accomplish our goals in the future means taking care of ourselves now.

Without your own internal wellness, it can be difficult to get things done that contribute to our goals.

That's why I've gathered three self-care reminders for 2018 so that we can put ourselves in the best position to accomplish our goals. 

1.  Drink More Responsibly.

Alcohol is an important part of American life -- we use it to relax, to celebrate, and to socialize. However, 2017 studies are showing that rates of less healthy alcohol habits like binge drinking and "extreme" binge drinking by women are increasing.  Women who binge drink -- a popular activity even beyond college -- may do worse professionally and academically, and are more susceptible to alcohol-related disease. 

Many alcohol products that are popular today encourage us to drink harder instead of smarter. Vodka shots, for example, are a staple in every bar and club. Among millennials, their popularity has increased from 13% to 30%.  However, drinking methods like shots can encourage people to drink in unhealthy ways. These consumption methods can lead to lower academic and professional performance and health issues. 

That’s why one of our self-care goals in 2018 is to drink more responsibly. We owe it to ourselves to unwind, but also be the balanced successful women we are meant to be. You can drink smarter by choosing a drink that meets your needs without having an unhealthily high ABV content.  Drinks that have a low ABV content, like the 4% ABV in all of our canned wines, can help you drink smarter. 

2. Find more ways to unwind.

Let me guess - the person reading this has a lot to do today.  Maybe you're working a full-time job, pursuing a side project, and dealing with family obligations.  Or maybe you're a multi-tasking college student working two jobs. Whatever your situation, it's no secret that many of us are blessed with exciting opportunities that sometimes can leave us stressed. 

Many love to unwind with a drink (that’s why SOCIAL was created!), but it doesn’t hurt to have some additional relaxing strategies in this hectic world. Some ways to relax after a stressful day include lighting soy candles, treating yourself to a luxurious bubble bath, or just being creative.  Some ideas include baking cookies, creating a drawing, or writing a short story. 

Everyone needs a night in sometimes!

3: Put yourself in the way of good.

At SOCIAL, we consider environments an important factor in happiness and productivity. 

When we think about what makes us happy, we can intentionally create an environment in which we are primed to succeed in. 

Environmental factors are easy to overlook but can have a huge effect on our everyday moods, and ultimately, our progress toward our goals.  Scientific studies have shown that wall colors, for example, can greatly enhance our abilities, creative work, and even moods.  One color psychology business found that gray walls sometimes incited negative feelings of sadness and a lack of confidence. With these studies in mind,  one of the things we're choosing to do to take care of ourselves is to make sure our environment sets us up for happiness and success.

Whether you’re candle-obsessed like we are, or feel relaxed by a certain wall color, make that intentional change so that you can feel even more capable. Maybe your New Year's Resolution is to find yourself, finally decide on the right exercise regimen, or something totally different.  Regardless of what you're aiming for this year, these three tactics will help you achieve those goals.

Go get 'em! Cheers to the new year!

Which way to take care of yourself was your favorite? We'd love to hear about it in the comments!