The following is a guest post by Cass, a full-time wellness blogger, social media consultant, and brand strategist. You can find Cass' website here.

Holy smokes…it’s 2019!

As you read that line, the previous 12 months probably flashed before your eyes as you try and grasp the concept that 2018 is over and done with. Time can fly by SO fast!

But, the New Year can bring a lot of different emotions; a renewed sense of energy, a fresh perspective on life, and usually the infamous New Year’s Resolutions such as:
"Don't eat anymore junk food"
"Workout every day"
"Cut out sugar"
"Meditate every night"
"Read 12 books in 12 months"
“Call your mom every week”
The list goes on and on...

Versions of these resolutions seem to cross everyone's minds in hopes of starting fresh. But, let's face it... what normal person has the time, not to mention the will power, to workout every single day and not eat a piece of candy every once in a while?

Some people say you shouldn't make New Year's resolutions. And I'm here to tell you the same thing.

After the past several years of coming up with every goal imaginable and failing at most, I've learned that when I set unrealistic expectations, I almost always set myself up for failure. “Perfection” is one of the hardest things to obtain, so why put yourself in a situation that you can't win?

When it comes to the New Year's Resolutions, I have one simple rule you should follow: "Don't make New Years Resolutions, make a resolution." Vow to yourself to find a solution to what's really bothering you and stick with it.

Here are my 5 steps to making a resolution:

1. Identify your problems
What is it that bothers you? Find what really causes your problems, name it, and think of ways you can avoid it, fix it or learn from it. 

2. Recognize the things that make you tick
What makes you jump for joy, smile when nobody is watching or want to leap out of bed in the morning? Start finding ways to do more of what makes you truly happy. Make it a part of your weekly routine, then daily. Stick to it and it won’t feel daunting- I promise!

3. Make it realistic
Don't set crazy goals and try to do accomplish it all in January. You want your resolution to be more of a mantra that you can sustain and make a part of your lifestyle. For example: don’t take life too seriously or practice self-compassion.

4. Keep it simple
Don't complicate or over-saturate it. This only makes things confusing and puts more pressure on you. The less details the better. After all, life shouldn't be any more complicated than it already is. ;-)

5. Take baby steps.
Your resolution is your long-term goal. The best way to attain this is to make mini-goals that help you get closer to your end result. By accomplishing these mini-goals it allows you to see your progress and gives you even more motivation to continue throughout the year.

Follow these steps to make your own resolution - one that you will stick with, one that resonates with you each and every day, and one that can become a part of your lifestyle.

My resolution for the upcoming year is simply this: come from a place of abundance, rather than a place of scarcity.

Happy New Year, friends!

About Cass:

After losing a parent in 2013, Cass began blogging as a way to express her stress and emotions. Little did she know, this online outlet would open up a whole new world of opportunities as well as an exciting and meaningful career path in the digital space.

Cass is now a full-time wellness blogger, social media consultant, and brand strategist who specializes in developing authentic communities, both online and off. When she’s not trail running down a mountain or grabbing a drink with a friend, you can find Cass tucked away in her Bozeman home, sipping her Cayenne Cleanse, and writing about all things real, relatable, and well.

Instagram: @thewellnessrookie_

Pinterest: /thewellnessrookie

Facebook: /thewellnessrookie

Website: wellnessrookie.com

Today's blog is written by our very own Daina Trout, MS, MPH

Daina is not just our Co-Founder, she is also a nutritionist that has spent her adult life dedicated to finding and sharing health and wellness through food. With 2 masters' degrees in nutritional biochemistry and public health, Daina has called upon her education often while leading the way at Health-Ade - from how we make every batch of kombucha, to how we talk about gut health to consumers, to even how healthy our employee workplace is! She even writes a few blogs here and there. Happy reading! :)