Everyone has been guilty, at one time or another, of making unrealistic New Year’s resolutions. There’s something about a brand new year that feels like a fresh, shiny start, and inspires us to begin professing an interest in starting anew. This year, I will… lose 50 lbs! Go to the gym EVERY. SINGLE. DAY! Learn how to skydive! Win the Pulitzer! Sure, these goals might be attainable… for some. But if you, like me, have little to no willpower, or are just a more realistic, the-grass-isn’t-always-greener type of person, here are some resolutions that seem more plausible:

1)      Take a ridiculous-sounding work-out class. If the idea of sweat dripping down your face while on a treadmill doesn’t sound appealing, maybe that’s because you’ve picked the wrong type of work-out. Some people are better suited to exercise classes, where a hell-bent teacher can whip you, and countless others, into shape. Maybe a sword-wielding class is just the thing for you! Or, expand your horizons by learning an Indian dance like Masala Bhangra. Maybe you’d like to try urban rebounding, in which you spend the duration of the class on a miniature trampoline. It might sound crazy, but maybe an unusual work-out routine will keep you interested enough to come to more than one class. A treadmill will always be just a treadmill… but your swordplay class is bound to be full of interesting characters and ever-changing excitement.

2)      Celebrate the entirety of 2010 just as you celebrated its induction. Did you spend the last evening of 2009 with a camera in your left hand and a bottle of champagne in your right? It’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, why don’t you repeat New Year’s Eve more often? I’m not talking about a Groundhog Day moment-watching the ball drop would probably get old after awhile-but weekends would probably be a lot more exciting if you just act like there is something worth celebrating. Even if your mom calls you seventeen times a day, or your roommate is a total jerk for no reason, or you burnt popcorn and your entire apartment still reeks of it, life is good. So throw on a make-shift tiara, take your prom dress out of storage, and get some yummy frozen appetizers from Trader Joe’s — yeah, the ones that make you seem like a gourmet cook, despite that popcorn incident. Turn up your iPod just a decibel or two too loud, invite some non-annoying friends over, and party like it’s 2010. Again. And again. And again.

3)      Cook something. Besides Ramen noodles. When’s the last time you cooked an ambitious, impressive feast? No, Thanksgiving does not count, because your mom took a dead turkey and turned it into something fabulous, and you tossed the salad. I’m not saying you have to be as gung-ho as Julie Powell – but there is something truly satisfying about cooking something that tastes delicious. So, where to start? Tastespotting, my favorite website, showcases the most scrumptious-looking pictures of food, and posts the recipe alongside it. Type whatever you’re hankering for into their search box: bacon macaroni and cheese? Chocolate mousse? Chicken pesto? The world is your oyster, so shuck ‘em, scrub ‘em, and bake ‘em to your heart’s content.

4)      Join Netflix. I cannot stress the joys of Netflix enough. With thousands of DVDS in their collection (including TV series, made-for-TV movies, documentaries, and basically anything you can think of), a watch-instantly feature, free return shipping, and no rental due dates for movies, Netflix is a movie fanatic’s dream come true. Their cheapest package, which enables you to rent two movies a month, starts at $4.99/month. However, I would recommend the $9.99 package-you rent one movie at a time, but the number of movies you can rent per month is unlimited. Plus, you can watch a huge selection of movies online. Because of Netflix, I have rented tons of Woody Allen movies, watched the entirety of my old TGIF favorite, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and seen countless cheesy romantic comedies. Make the leap. Join Netflix. You seriously won’t regret it.

5)      Read books. First of all, do you have a library card? If you don’t, you’re missing out! For real. Library cards are free. That’s right-free books! Occasionally, however, there are some books that the library just doesn’t seem to have, whether they’re perpetually checked-out or are just too rare or new to be in stock. Before you shell out big bucks at Border’s, check to see if a bookworm friend happens to own the book you want.   You could start a book swap, which could lead to a larger book swap with multiple friends, and before you know it, you’ve read all zillion of Margaret Atwood’s novels! However, if the closest your friends get to reading books is the September issue of Vogue, there are still many other options. Try Amazon-used books are sold much cheaper, and they’re usually in great condition. A quick Google search showed me that there are tons of book swapping sites out there, so maybe you’ll finally be able to trade in your Sweet Valley High collection for something more, er, substantial.

There you have it! Between all the sword-wielding, party-planning, cooking, movie-watching, and reading you’ll be doing, 2010 will speed by on a wave of excitement and sugary goodness. But if you somehow get tired of cooking and champagne swigging, you could always turn to your original new year’s resolutions… But, I don’t think I will either.

Julia Perch is a junior at Drexel University studying English. She is currently the editorial co-op student for the Drexel Publishing Group, the managing editor of DPG Online, and the chief copy editor for Drexel’s independent student newspaper, The Triangle.  She can be reached at pg@drexel.edu.