Happy New Year!
I love a fresh start...I'm all about blank slates and endless possibilities! I'm excited for the year ahead...lots to look forward to! I'm not usually one to set New Year's Resolutions or long-term goals in general...at least not on paper. I joke that it's just not "my thing" but in all honesty, I do set goals in my head and never share them with anyone. Why? Because I hate the idea of failure! As a teenager I remember every January 1st I would get out my journal and write a list of things I wanted to do that year. I was fearless and would write down everything and everything I wanted to accomplish. I remember the year I was graduating I wrote down things like "Get into BYU" and "Make it to top ten at Cheer Nationals" like it wouldn't be hard (one of those things happened, and one of them didn't...thankfully the more important of the two worked out). I wasn't worried about the outcome, I just wrote it down and hoped it would happen.
Fast forward to me as an adult, and January 1st feels the same, but different. I think as an adult I've become more afraid of failing. I haven't limited myself, so to speak, but I avoid setting myself up for failure. I have not written a list of goals down on paper in YEARS! But every year I do tuck a few goals away in my mind. I have them, I just don't share them. Now, this goes against EVERYTHING I've ever learned. I have a degree in Health Education and the number one thing that was pounded into my head throughout my four years of education to become an expert at health was to set realistic, measurable goals and WRITE THEM DOWN. Come back to them and check in. Make lists, check them off and praise the achievements while you continue to work towards those you haven't quite accomplished. I know it works. It can work, and has! I've just avoided doing it.
This is the year...this is the year I'm going to try to break from my norm and become a little more fearless. This is the year I'm going to set goals on paper and check back in to see how I'm doing. The time has come to get back to my fearless teenage self and remember it's ok to go big or go home! I'm excited to try something new! I'm a firm believer that daily routines and schedules are everything when it comes to achieving goals...which is actually something I'm pretty good at so at least I'm starting off with confidence in that! So without further ado, here are my ten New Year's Resolutions...some are physical, some are spiritually centered, some are continuations of goals from year's past and some are just to see if I can do it!!
2017 New Year's Resolutions
1. No candy during the day (with the exception of 1-2 Hershey Kisses or some other chocolate after lunch--keeps my sugar craving under control). I have been following this rule for the past few years and it really helped me get my candy addiction under control. During the holidays I have definitely gotten lazier about this goal so now I'm back at it! I also allow myself a treat at night if I feel like it but no candy grazing during the day!
2. Workout 4-5 times a week including 2-3 days of cardio and 3 days of BBG or weight bearing exercises. I have been a religious exerciser for as long as I can remember. Its something I love but in recent years injuries have really made it difficult to keep on my routine. I do as much as I can as often as I can. My goal is to keep at it. I love an exercise high!
3. Work towards finding a solution to my back injuries. As I mentioned above I have dealt with a lot of injuries over the past few years, all exercise-induced. Summer 2015 I trained for a 10K and had a hip/back injury occur from over-training and have never gotten over it. I visited a few doctors, chiropractors, PT before we moved last summer but got no good results. After we moved I took a break from Dr's and hoped it would heal on it's own. No such luck. So I've already started in on this goal...I have a Dr appointment later this month with a new doctor to get going again on finding some answers and solutions. Crossing my fingers because living with chronic pain at 36 y/o is no fun!
4. Take 10 minutes out of my day, every day to read my scriptures. I'm not an avid reader so this one is hard for me, but I know I feel more centered when I do it so this is one I really want to focus on this year. 10 minutes may not seem like very long, but I'm starting out small because as I mentioned above, you should set achievable, realistic goals! Also along with this, say daily, meaningful prayers, morning and night.
5. Go on date nights with my husband at least twice a month. We try to do this together already a few times a month and I really love that time we spend together. It's so good to spend one on one time with your spouse!
6. Go on date nights (or day dates) with my boys, individually, once a month. This is a new goal I have this year...to really spend one on one time with each of my boys.
7. Meal Plan. This was a huge fail in 2016 and I find myself at the grocery store or Chick-Fil-A drive through line way too often! Don't get me wrong, I'm still never cooking on a Friday night if I don't feel like it (Friday nights are always my night off from cooking) but at least Sunday-Thursday I want to have solid plans for dinners so I'm not panicked at 5pm with "What's for dinner?"
8. Send snail mail more often. I used to be SOOO good at sending birthday cards and letters to people as a teenager and even in my 20's but as an adult it's progressively gotten worse. This year I want to be proactive in sending a letter or card to people who maybe aren't expecting it because let's be honest, getting mail is so fun!
9. Look for opportunities to serve more. In recent years I feel like I haven't looked for service opportunities like I once did. I've felt overwhelmed and busy and kinda brush the idea of service aside. But this year that's changing! I want the spirit of service to take over our home...both personally and as a family I want to make service a common occurrence.
10. Don't be afraid. Be smart, but don't be afraid.
There you have it! I can't believe I actually wrote them down. I'm already a little panicked (lol)...but I'm gonna try to practice #10 as I push "publish"...and not be afraid! There are other goals I could add to the list (work related, cleaning related, laundry related, whatnot) but I'm gonna stop at 10 for now. That's about all I can handle making public. I'll keep the rest tucked away in my head. =)
What are you working towards in 2017? Are you setting goals? Join in!!
Here's to a great year ahead!!
xoxo,
Jenni
