With the new year rapidly approaching we find ourselves assessing our lives as is. Although I cannot complain about the card 2014 dealt me, I am aware that there are some aspects of my life that I could afford to work on. That being said, this year for my New Years article, I want to outline ways that we can all improve ourselves for the benefit of others. Although the theme is “don’t be THAT girl,” most of these are (clearly) unisex.

1. Don’t be the girl who suggests “coffee sometime?” with no intention to follow through.
2. Don’t be the girl who doesn’t register to vote in 2015.
3. Don’t be the girl whose overly involved with her ex, he doesn’t have to be your BFF. You’ll complicate both of each other’s future relationships.
4. Don’t be the girl who “borrows” clothes and then proceeds to add them to her seasonal wardrobe.
5. Don’t be the girl who doesn’t refill ice trays.
6. Don’t be the girl who stays with the guy who cheated on her, but bitches out the “other woman.” Realistically she was played by him too. If you’re going to forgive, do it for both parties.
7. Don’t be the girl who says she hates people she doesn’t know enough about to truly hate.
8. Don’t be the girl who makes people they meet prove themselves instead of giving them the benefit of the doubt from the beginning.
9. Don’t be the girl who complains about working while at work. Everyone would rather be doing something more leisurely, but your whining isn’t going to make the weekend come faster.
10. Don’t be the girl who borrows someone’s white going-out top. You can’t control when someone spills a Jack & Coke on you, but you can control what you’re wearing.
11. Don’t be the girl who strategically uploads pictures just to make her ex jealous. Everyone knows you just went through a breakup, hence the additional inch of cleavage.
12. Don’t be the girl who “diagnoses” herself with every disease she hears about.
13. Don’t be the girl who openly declares she isn’t a feminist. The only way to argue your point is to say that “women aren’t as valuable as men,” and that is going to piss a lot of people off.
14. Don’t be the girl who hangs out with the people she talks shit about.
15. Don’t be the girl who doesn’t pay their friends back until they are reminded to.
16. Don’t be the girl to ask for a bite of someone’s food before they’ve made a dent in their meal.
17. Don’t be the girl to never offers to order the Uber.
18. Don’t be the girl who texts while driving.
19. Don’t be the girl who goes to a big party and only hangs out with people she talks to daily.
20. Don’t be the girl who assesses other girl’s physical “flaws” with their friends. Imagine walking into a room of people analyzing your appearance.
21. Don’t be the girl who stands behind her friends in photos to make herself look skinnier. Sure you look dope, but your friends look like they ate the other half of your body.
22. Don’t be the girl who dubs herself “basic.” Pumpkin spiced lattes taste good and have nothing to do with your identity.
23. Don’t be the girl who doesn’t let anyone know of her imperfections. It’s okay to strive to be the best you can, but if you don’t acknowledge you occasionally fail people won’t allow themselves to feel vulnerable in front of you.
24. Don’t be the girl everyone considers a liability issue in public. If you’re known as the girl who everyone knows doesn’t know her limits: do/drink less 2015.
25. Don’t be the girl who never goes class and then asks someone to send them their assignment just so they “know what direction to go on.”
26. Don’t be the girl who makes others feel bad about their eating habits. If she’s going gluten free; that’s her business. If she’s eating a pastrami sandwich for the fourth day in a row; let her live her life.
27. Don’t be the girl who doesn’t give her seat up to the elderly. Your legs may be tired, but if theirs aren’t sturdy they could end up in the hospital for a hip replacement.
28. Don’t be the girl who lets a guy who hardly texts her back control her happiness
29. Don’t be the girl who doesn’t take her friends opinions into consideration. If all your girlfriends aren’t all about your relationship, you might want to take a second look at the guy you’re with. This isn’t middle school anymore, your friends want the best for you now more than ever.
30. Don’t be the girl who always vents, but never consoles.