Twenty 2016 New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s Eve is often seen as a time of rebirth, the chance to start anew. We all come up with the regular resolutions for the upcoming year (losing weight, seeing family more often and/or falling in love), but often our ideas of what should change are too broad. This New Year’s Eve, we should all vow to take a closer look into our lives. These are the 20 New Year’s resolutions you should consider in 2016:

1. Leave the country. If you don’t have money, look into doing charity work abroad. Some programs will sponsor you. Look at helpx.net, for programs you can get involved with.

2. If you hate your job, get a new job. Money is not worth sacrificing your happiness. Food and shelter are important though, so make sure you have another job lined up before moving on.

3. Stop beating yourself up for skipping the gym on days you truly didn’t have time. But also, stop skipping the gym on days you had plenty of time to go.

4. Rid yourself of enemies. Apologize for what you did wrong and forgive those who have wronged you.

5. Rid yourself of “frenemies.” Don’t spend 2016 surrounded by people you secretly despise.

6. If you find someone attractive, be confident enough to say “hi” and introduce yourself. Every relationship you have ever had started with a greeting.

7. Leave your phone number for someone. Worst-case scenario: you won’t get a call and maybe you’ll feel a tiny bit embarrassed. Regardless of the outcome, you put yourself out there and probably made the other person’s day.

8. Stop caring about how many people “like” your social posts. If you like the photo enough to post it, what else matters? Social media anxiety is a waste of time.

9. Cross something off your bucket list this year! Sky dive, bungee jump, scuba dive, etc. Don’t make excuses as to why you can’t accomplish something, and finally do it.

10. Stop hating yourself for eating dessert. Dessert is delicious.

11. If you’ve never done it before, try keeping a journal. It doesn’t have to be something you use 

daily, but documenting your experiences is incredibly important. You’ll appreciate it later.

12. Strengthen relationships with family members. Don’t regret not spending enough time with the ones you love and admire.

13. Help strangers. “Pay it forward,” do good things for the world — and don’t post a Facebook status about it.

14. Conquer a fear. There’s nothing better than triumphing over your old fears. Go for it!

15. Turn off your smartphone at dinner.

16. Don’t check your social media feed when you’re with friends. Enjoy the present, and live in it – not the virtual version.

17. Try a fashion trend you never thought you could pull off. And, do it with confidence. Floppy hats, snap backs, Harem pants; you can do it!

18. Shop locally, eat locally and recognize where your money is going. Consumers control the economy, so visit the mom-and-pop coffee shop down the street instead of Starbucks. 

19. Stop being so shallow. The next time you find yourself judging someone based on his or her appearance, imagine that person standing in front of you saying, “I’m beautiful.” You’ll start to believe it.

20. And finally, if you want someone to commit to you, vocalize it. Purgatory shouldn’t last forever.

This list is meant to give you ideas on how to help yourself and those around you in the year to come. We hope that some of these ideas can give you the inspiration to make 2016 your best year yet! 

Factors to Consider when Buying a Truck

Pickup trucks are one of the most popular choices among vehicle types today. This is because they are ideal vehicles for individuals, families and companies. They can be great for personal use or for business purposes. Pickups are indeed one of the most versatile and dependable vehicles today.

Pickup trucks can also be quite costly though. As such, before buying one, you need to make sure that this is the right type of vehicle for you and it will provide you the best value for your money. Below are some key factors you have to consider when investing in a pickup:

Engine power and size. The size and power of engine you should ultimately choose should depend largely on the main purpose or uses you have for the truck. If you want to buy this type of vehicle for everyday commuting but do not plan on using it to transport large or heavy items, then a 4-cylinder engine can save you money on gas. Four-cylinders are also fine for transporting small payloads; however, if you need to tow something bigger than a small U-Haul trailer, you'll have to choose something bigger. If you plan on using this pickup to tow a boat or bigger trailer, then you will have to go for a V6 or V8 engine. Although trucks with these engines tend to be more expensive, they are more versatile and powerful.

Passenger capacity. Many pickups come standard as two-seaters, with sufficient space for the driver and a single passenger. Trucks with two-person cabs are normally less expensive than trucks with larger cabs. They also come with longer beds. If you will not be transporting many passengers and need more cargo space, the standard cab configuration might be your best choice. But if you need more passenger capacity for friends or family, select one with a larger cab.

4x4 or two-wheel drive. A 4x4 pickup truck is costlier and deciding whether you should choose this option should depend on the regular weather condition where you drive and your driving habits. If you live in a place that doesn't see a lot of rain or snow and simply plan to use your truck for commuting, then a 4x4 truck is unnecessary. This is because going for this option as will considerably reduce your gas mileage. However, if you live in a place where it rains or snows or the weather can be unpredictable and you have plans of driving the pickup off-road for work or pleasure, a 4x4 drive would be better since its improved traction can prevent you from getting stranded in the mud, muck or snow.