Anthony's 5 challenges to take on this year

Updated

As January comes to a close, take a minute to reflect on your new year's resolutions. Have you kept them? If not, it might be time to start February with a few new ways to challenge yourself top of mind. Anthony Carrino of HGTV's 'Kitchen Cousins' shares a few ideas to get you moving.

Exercise almost every day: I have found that fitness apps are a great way to accomplish this goal, especially when traveling. Two apps I love that don't require a gym are: The Official 7 Minute Workout App (it's harder than you think!) and Pushups. A gym-centric app that I love is StrongLifts 5x5 Workout -- it is a great 45-minute to 1-hour workout that works your whole body and trains you for real strength, as opposed to just gym pump.

Take chances: Put yourself in situations that deliberately make you nervous. Just like training your body, you can train your mind, and these situations will get easier and easier.

Travel anywhere, as long as it's new: Seeing things you have never seen before sparks creativity, new ideas and a new way of looking at things. It doesn't matter if you go half way around the world or just a weekend drive away go experience new things.

Create something...something from nothing: Creating something with your own hands gives you a sense of pride and ownership in that thing. It gives you a story to tell (and laugh about) and if you do it with a loved one, it is a way to spend invaluable time with that person figuring something out together. Start small, this will keep it from getting too complicated and will keep costs down. Three of my favorite resources: Remodelista, Design Sponge and Design Milk.

Pick one long-term goal, and achieve it: Pick something you can accomplish before the next new year, set up a written plan on how to achieve the goal, and then go and do it. You might just find that this thing, whatever it is, is the most rewarding thing you do all year ... I find the things that are harder for me to accomplish come with a corresponding amount of joy and pride when I do finally accomplish them.

More from Guest Editors The Cousins:
Five quick fixes for a better you in 2015
The Cousins give a style lesson
What will be huge in 2015?

Advertisement