7 New Year's Resolutions That Take 5 Seconds Each

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By Max Knoblauch2013-12-31 11:03:21 UTC

Twelve months have passed since we last promised ourselves to lose weight, wake up earlier and read more. How's that going for you? Yeah, not great for us either.

It's no secret that committing to resolutions is, in many ways, setting ourselves up for failure. That tipsy promise to run three miles every day didn't seem realistic 24 hours after we made it, let alone 365 days. If you have trouble with biting off more than you can chew, you might find some use in making simpler resolutions.

See also: 7 Tech New Year's Resolutions to Pledge Right Now

With help from the Internet, most common resolutions can be completed — or at least started — in mere seconds. Look through this list of quick-hit resolutions and see how many you can check off in 2014.

1. Keep in Touch With Your Parents

You know what they say: "Teach a parent to smartphone and they'll take selfies for a lifetime."

School your parent in the art of Snapchat and your daily communication resolution just got a whole lot more realistic. Remember, this isn't a complete replacement, just an aid. Is it really that hard to pick up the phone?

2. Donate to Charity

The web makes it easy to donate to your charities of choice. Most high-profile organizations have straightforward, secure sites that are safe and simple. Before donating, always make sure you have the URL correctly entered to ensure you're giving to the right cause.

Popular charities include the Red Cross and Aid for Africa.

3. Learn Something New Every Day

Twitter is an excellent resource for facts on every subject. Subscribing to lists and following fact-specific accounts will have you spewing random information about everything from Abraham Lincoln's height to the sea otter's hand holding techniques.

4. Support Small Businesses on Etsy

The mom-and-pop shop has moved to your desktop. Buying on Etsy can help support small businesses around the world, while getting you some truly unique gifts for yourself and loved ones.

5. Help Someone Achieve Their Dreams

Image: Kickstarter

Crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo — though catching some flak earlier this year for becoming the primary funding source for Zach Braff's indie film — maintain their usefulness to amateur artists, inventors and entrepreneurs. Supporting a campaign only takes a few seconds, and reward tiers ensure you'll get something out of the deal, too.

6. Commit to Stop Smoking

One of the biggest obstacles when quitting smoking — besides the unstoppable cravings and ear-splitting headaches — is finding a support group. Reddit might just be your answer. The subreddit /r/stopsmoking offers a community of encouragement to hopeful quitters.

7. Keep the Weight Off

Reddit is also a gold mine of diet and exercise information. Subreddits such as /r/fitness, /r/loseit and /r/fittitbuddy offer a wealth of resources to help you lose weight, bulk up or maintain your current regimen. Here, the Reddit community offers advice, encouragement and debate in its typical, logical way.

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Image: Flickr, Sally Mahoney

Topics: Apps and Software, Family & Parenting, Health & Fitness, Holidays, Home, How To, Lifestyle, Mobile, New Year's Resolutions, Work & Play