Every year, as the New Year approaches I spend a lot of time thinking, daydreaming, and considering what resolutions I can set for myself that will make the coming year the best one yet.  I love the time to think about areas of my life that could use improving and then setting goals to strive for.

This year has been a little different in the fact that I haven’t really been able to come up with clear, cut and dry resolutions.  When I  look back at last year’s post, I had a very detailed, organized list of resolutions that I hoped would bring good health, peace, and love into my life in 2017.  And while, I didn’t necessarily achieve every single goal I had so carefully laid out for myself, I certainly feel like I made strides in most of those areas.

This year, in an effort to release some of the pressure I put on myself, I have decided rather than focussing on the finish line of meeting a goal, I am going to concentrate on the journey of getting there.  Achieving goals or keeping resolutions is not a static process with a clearly defined beginning and end; rather it is a fluid, ever-changing process with many lessons, challenges, and celebrations along the way.  This year I want to embrace the journey of the intentions I have set for myself so when New Year’s Eve rolls around next year, I can celebrate the progress I have made, rather than think about all the resolutions I did not “keep”.

I suppose in a way, this is my way of going easy on myself.  There are so many areas of my life where I place far too much pressure on myself and I don’t want New Year’s resolutions to be one of them any longer.  That being said, I’ve always loved setting goals (and writing lists!) so below is a general idea of some of the journeys I hope to go on in 2018.  May it be as blessed and wonderful as 2017 and all the years before that.

2018 INTENTIONS

• Find a nutrition plan that optimizes my health (heals my gut and IBD, helps me to lose weight in a healthy way, gives me lots of energy, a clear mind, and clear skin)
• Do at-home workouts (BOD) on a regular basis
• Establish an early morning workout routine
• Stop hitting snooze on the alarm clock
• Make sleep a priority
• Spend more time outdoors (hiking in the woods, cross-country skiing, walking the dog, camping)
• Socialize with friends more often
• Learn calligraphy & lettering
• Be creative – find new creative outlets (art classes?)
• Push myself harder in some areas (exercise) and less hard in others (work).
• Complete a Learn to Run program (again)
• Do more yoga (at home and at the studio)
• Continue writing and journaling
• Live more slowly — pause & think before reacting — prioritize
• Cut back on hours at work – let go of the perfectionist mindset
• Keep a positive mindset at work – one day at a time
• Drink more water (from a reusable bottle)
• Continue to be positive and to notice the beauty all around us (snow on evergreen trees, sunshine on freezing cold winter days, students who have a desire to learn and be loved…)
• Continue to show gratitude
• Volunteer

Wishing you all the happiest of New Years!

xo