Each year, most people create unrealistic resolutions that they’ve already trashed by the second week in January (I’m guilty of it), but this year I’m determined to check all of mine off my list. Rather than the typical goals to “lose weight” or “get out of debt”, I’ve chosen 12 resolutions for 2012 (that just happened, I didn’t mean to choose 12!) that I can actually carry out if I put my mind to it.

And the first way to get them in my head: to see them…every…single…day…

I framed my 2012 resolutions!

I purchased a pretty frame to match my bedroom at Homegoods for $6.99 (this one is by Valerie Bertinelli), drew up my resolutions in Word and printed them on 4×6 photo paper to put into the frame. And not only did I frame them, but I put them on the bureau across from my bed, so that I’ll be reminded of my resolutions every day when I wake up.

My 2012 Resolutions are simple:

1. Learn how to play guitar – I’ve owned a guitar since 7th grade and learned to play a little in middle school, but not enough to count for anything…now I have to relearn everything again, but learning to play will taking my performing ability to the next level.

2. Start taking tap dance lessons – And while we’re talking about taking performing to the next level, my tap skills–or lack thereof–may be holding me back from my Broadway aspirations. Learning tap will give me the ability to audition for 75 % of the shows I can’t currently audition for. 

3. Resume ballroom dance lessons – I took ballroom lessons for a year and a half during my freshman and sophomore years of college. I loved it, but the cost of classes was putting a dent in my wallet. I’d like to start going to group lessons or find a partner to dance with to offset the cost. Ballroom was the dance I enjoyed taking the most and was the best at! (I’d also love to become a certified teacher, but maybe we’ll save that resolution for next year!)

4. Resume voice lessons – I took voice lessons for over 8 years through middle school and high school to help develop my voice. With all the auditioning I’ve been doing, I’m running out of songs that are relevant for me to audition with, and I need some structure to help keep my voice in shape.

5. Acquire a legit agent to represent me - A “legit” agent is a talent agent who represents talent for live theatre, television and film. Finding one would make my life a lot easier and would probably lead to me booking more jobs.

6. Cut Starbucks habit to 2-3 days a week - Not only am I addicted to Starbucks “coffee beverages” that are full of calories and other crap (even though I take most sugar-free and skim), but drinking coffee at Sbux is costly in NYC, and apparently they’re raising prices 1% in the next few weeks. Cutting my habit from 7 days a week, and sometimes 2 times a day, to 2-3 times a week will save me over $1000 a year…and countless calories.

7. Exercise more - In high school, I played a sport every season and stayed in better shape than I’m in now; not having a “team” to practice with hasn’t done me any favors over the last 5 years. I resolve to make a team of one (and maybe grab some friends) to start jogging, hit those dance classes, and use the many workout tapes I own. 

8. Eat healthier (less take out!) – Because I’m a pescatarian (I eat fish, vegetables, and animal by-products, but no actual meat) you might assume I’m “super-healthy”, but my restricting diet has become more of an inconvenience than something beneficial to me. I have no time to cook and have resorted to quick breakfasts (bagels and cream cheese, fried egg and cheese..etc) and frozen dinners (pizza and mac ‘n cheese) and way too much takeout…which equals lots of carbs. I resolve to start cooking, stop getting so much take out (and save money!) and seriously stop with the frozen pizzas.

9. Write more (blog and book) - In 2011, I pledged to write every day and broke my resolution after 3 weeks because I felt like I was creating content just to post it, and not because I had anything to say. This year I want to write every time I have something great to share–even if it’s a short post. I’ve also been working on a book for the past 2 1/2 years, that I’ve started, and restarted, thrown away, stopped writing, and restarted again 15 times. This year, I resolve to write the book…and finish it.

10. Stay positive, even when times are tough - Like I said in my Happy New Year post: 2011 wasn’t exactly the best year I’ve had. With social media to rant to 24/7, I had an outlet that let me pour my negativity into the world all the time and people at my beck-and-call to rant with me. This year, even when things get tough, I’m going to try to find a positive angle in every situation…and I’ve even started vlogging, turning my negative thoughts into humor…which is helping me to work on my comedic chops! And instead of the sparkling clean language that you normally get here…other than the title of this blog…you get to see a whole other side of my personality…the side a lot of my friends know.

11. Stop caring what other people think - I’m constantly worried about what people think about what I’m doing, how I look and how I’m acting. In 2012, I want to stop worrying about being an incessant people-pleaser. My friends don’t think I should date that guy because he’s a jerk? I’m going to go out with him, at least once and decide for myself.  Everyone wants my hair darker? Well, I like my hair blonde, so it’s staying blonde. …etc.

12. Take a vacation - Last year I never took a single vacation…not even a weekend at the beach. Even though my actual “employment” was a little spotty because I changed jobs and then stopped working for the off-Broadway show I was in: I’m pretty sure I never had a day off in all of 2011. I haven’t been anywhere since I traveled to Paris and Madrid in March 2010, and this year I want to go somewhere else in the world I haven’t been yet…I’ve only hit about 15 spots on my list of hundreds, so I think the possibilities are pretty endless…and if nothing else…I’m taking three days at the beach with my iPhone off: non-negotiable.

What are your 2012 resolutions? How do you plan to keep them?