I can't say I've always looked at New Year's Eve as a fresh start, because that's not true. It wasn't until recently that I started to view a new year as a new beginning. I used to consider my birthday or the start of another school year to be the time to start over; but, there's something about being 25 and not in school anymore that gives me a greater appreciation for when the calendar year changes.
Another thing about me: I've never really thought setting New Years resolutions was a good idea. I prefer to call them goals and this quote perfectly sums up why:
Ditch the resolutions. To resolve means to find a solution to a problem. You are not a problem. The way you showed up for your life this past year was necessary for your growth. Now is a time to reflect. To learn. To create an intention, a positive call to shift, a spark of magic + manifestation rooted in self love and backed with action.
So today I am sharing my goals for 2018 and how I plan to stay on track. Grab a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine, depending on the time of day), because this is a long one my friends.
FOCUS ON WELLNESS
From diet and exercise, to sleep and self care, wellness is going to be one of my main focuses this year. It's such an important aspect that often gets put on the back burner because... life.
This year, Rob & I are making it a priority to eat right. It really is true that what you put into your body totally effects the way you feel. And it took me eating right for a few months, then falling out of habit to realize just how true it is. We were doing SO good, then Rob went on a week long hunting trip, then it was Thanksgiving, then it was Christmas, etc., etc. Not that it's an excuse, but we were so busy and just fell out of habit. And once you fall out of habit, it's hard to get back into a solid routine. Nothing like a new year to get back on track, huh?
Along with diet comes exercise. I am setting some new fitness goals this year, especially with our wedding just 10 months away! I was doing so good with my workouts, but again, got out of habit right before Thanksgiving and that next six weeks flew by! I can't wait to get back in the gym and get strong. To kick off the new year, I will be participating in this work out challenge. The trainer behind it, Pat, is awesome! I've worked with him before and wrote all about my experience in this blog post. If you're setting some new fitness goals this year and need a little motivation, be sure to check out his new year challenge, starting January 8th! If you sign up, use code PINEBARREN10 for $10 off!
Self care and sleep are two other areas of wellness that I want to focus on this year. Going to the gym is one of my favorite ways to practice self care, but I also want to expand on this. Whether it's reading a book, treating myself to a spa day, or drinking a cup of tea in the morning, self care comes in so many different forms. It's important to practice self care because it allows you to be the best version of yourself. One way I want to practice self care this year is by getting on a better sleep schedule. I've always been a night owl, but I feel like so much of the day is wasted because I tend to wake up late. I also miss out on time with Rob at night because I'm working and he's ready to relax. Getting on a better sleep schedule will not only help me be more productive, but it will allow for Rob and I to be on a similar schedule.
NO PHONE ZONE
Did you know that your iPhone can tell you how many hours per day you spend on each app? I didn't either. But once I found out and saw how much time I was actually spending on social media I wanted to vom. My time on Instagram is probably more than yours, considering it is a part of my job; however, once I got to thinking about it, even though it's a part of my job, it should still be limited. Enter: no phone zone.
No phone zone is an idea I got from Courtney over at Bring Your Own Beauty and I think it's a great concept! Basically, Rob and I are going to designate certain times/activities as no phone zones. Whether it's while we're cooking dinner and eating, laying on the couch watching tv, or going out for the day, no phone zone will allow us to actually spend more quality time together. I'm also going to try my hardest to designate our bedroom as a no phone zone on weeknights after 10pm. I'd like to say 9pm but that's prime time for Instagram in the blogging world. *eye roll*
HAVE THE BEST WEDDING EVER
I mean why wouldn't this be one of my goals this year?! I think any girl who gets married would want their wedding to be the best ever, but there's definitely some extra pressure to make it Pinterest perfect considering I'm going to be sharing it all on my blog! I've gotten so many messages and have had so many people tell me they can't wait to see everything for the wedding so I hope I don't let you ladies down ;) More than anything, I just want our family and friends to have the best time while celebrating Rob & I's love for each other!
HOW I PLAN TO STAY ON TRACK
I often look back on previous years and realize that my goals seemed to get away from me. Maybe it's because I don't remind myself of them often enough, or because I don't make a solid game plan to tackle them.
This year, I plan to remind myself of my goals on the first of every month. I am going to track my progress and keep all of my plans organized in one planner. Sometimes I get overzealous and keep track of appointments in my phone, blog stuff in one planner, and work schedule in another. That often results in things getting forgotten or overbooked. If I can get organized and see everything in one place, my hope is that I'll be able to remember the big picture while taking steps to get there!
Whew, that was a long one! If you stayed with me, thanks so much for reading.
What are some of your goals for this year? I would love to hear them in the comments below!
xo
