I used to be a firm believer in New Year resolutions. January would come round and I would have a long list of New Year resolutions at the ready. By the end of February however, not only would that said list disappear but I would have either felt too overwhelmed or forgotten about writing anything down in the first place. So this year I am taking on a slightly different approach. I don’t want to abandon altogether the concept of making plans for the year because I still believe it is a good idea to set goals and have something to work towards. At the same time, I also don’t want to bury myself under a long list of ambitions I am unlikely to achieve.
For 2016, instead of just throwing everything that comes to mind onto the list, I thought the best way to do it is to set priorities, narrow things down and focus ONLY on what’s most important to me, what makes me happy (so it’s easier for me to stick to) and what’s going to improve me as a person one way or the other.
The first thing that immediately popped up in my mind is to Be More Organised. I think anyone who knows me will agree that I am probably one of the most unorganised and forgetful people you will ever meet. I also have a tendency to procrastinate and putting off tasks I have to do for as long as possible until I eventually forget about them. So this year I thought it’s time to tackle this problem. I bought myself a planner from KikkiK, which by the way is one of my all time favourite stationery brands and now has a store in Covent Garden. The planner has different tabs to help organise different aspects of your daily routine i.e. ToDo list, Meetings, Projects, Work, Expenses, Inspirations and you can also personalise your own tabs so e.g. I added a Blog tab to jot down ideas for my blog so I won’t forget them.
I have a personal tradition every year to buy myself a Moleskine Diary (this year I picked up a really cute one with Charlie Brown/Peanuts theme). It’s a one-day-one page journal for each day of the year so I can write some thoughts or snippets down every day. For the past 2-3 years, however, I have been neglecting writing anything down and my journals are looking rather sad and empty. So this year I am determined to Spend More Time Writing. Keeping a journal is such a lovely way to put your life in a special time capsule where you can revisit time and time again and reflect on how far you’ve come and read back on your thoughts and feelings on each particular moment in your life.
Another habit that I’ve been neglecting the past few years is reading. I used to consume books like drinking water. I love reading concurrently and tend to read several books at the same time. I’m not sure why I’ve gotten so lazy with reading the last couple of years but this year I am hoping to Pick Up Reading Again because it’s simply the best way to exercise your brain, expand your knowledge and a great way to wind down (there’s nothing better than sitting down with a good book and a cup of tea).
My next resolution is to try and Live A More Healthy Lifestyle, i.e. pay more attention to what I eat and also have a realistic exercise routine that I can stick to that keeps me motivated. I’ve been doing Pilates since last year but rather sporadically and couldn’t quite stick to a routine. This year I’m determined to establish a proper routine and set aside time each week so that hopefully I can see some positive results. I’m also hoping to eat more healthy or, at least, pay extra attention to what I eat. I believe wholeheartedly that you are what you eat and if I want to look good from the outside and feel good from the inside I need to ditch any junk foods that are not going to benefit my health.
Lastly and most importantly I want to commit to Being More Positive and Confident about myself. Most of us go through our lives tormented by one or more inner demons who constantly tell us that we’re not good enough, whether it has to do with how we look, our career, our personal life, the list can go on and on. I’m so guilty of always putting myself down, always nagging at myself for not doing good enough, always comparing myself to other people, and that is debilitating. Self-acceptance begins with intentions and this year I intend to shift paradigms from a world of negativity, doubt and blame to a world of allowance, tolerance, and acceptance.
Do you believe in New Year resolutions? Have you set any goals for the year?
