New Years "Resolutions"

I don't really like the whole New Years Resolutions thing. I never have. I get the idea behind it but I really think you can choose any day to decide to change something in your life. I feel if you want to do something, change something, work for something you can start any time and you shouldn't have to wait for the new year. I feel it's a setup for failure because a lot of people put too much pressure on it. I do however, like the idea of using the new year to reflect on things and really think about realistic goals you would like to try to accomplish in the coming year. Or coming up with small achievable goals to help you towards a larger one. One example of this, probably the most common resolution, is losing weight.  Most people automatically start with " I want to reach my goal weight this year!" and that's great but, depending on your goal and your starting point, may be a little unrealistic. A better option might be "I would like to be at least one size smaller by next year" or "I would like to be able to run a 10 minute mile". Personally, I find these easier to accomplish and are less disappointing if they aren't achieved.
Here are a few goals I'll be setting for myself this year:

Every time I have a nice thought about someone or think of someone I know I am going to try to contact them. This might seem a little vague but I was showering this morning and one of my cousins popped into my head I was thinking of our last visit together and wandering what she's been up to. Then I thought how nice it is to be thought of. I'm going to try to write to, text, or call these people even is it's a "just thinking about you, hope your doing well!" This also applies to commenting on Instagram photos or statuses more often as well. I know how much it warms my heart when people do these things for me so I want to do it more for others. I want to be more present in peoples lives even if we can't be together physically.

I would like to find more volunteer opportunities. When I was younger I used to volunteer all the time. It was something my mom and I did together and I miss that. My mom and I live in different states now but I'd like to look into more opportunities where I live. It'd be nice to do some of the same organizations I used to like Toys For Tots and American Cancer Society but I am not sure whats going to be available near me. We also used to do Girl Scouts, walking dogs at the shelter, and the summer program and Sunday school at our church. So I'm sure my new town will have something I can volunteer my time to!

I am going to find more reasons to do my makeup and wear it more often. Since I've started working from home I never seem to do my makeup anymore. It went from wearing it every day to wearing it any time we went out to wearing it maybe once a month if I felt like putting it on. I don't want to do it every day again especially if I'm not going anywhere but I'd like to get to the point of putting it on to leave the house again.

The only goal I made last year that I didn't end up completing is joining a gym and I'll be adding it to this year again. Working from home has definitely impeded some of my weight loss progress and I would like to find a good gym to join. I am also going to work harder on working out at home more often. I have a lot of home workouts saved that I'd really like to try out this year. Ultimately I'd like to aim for 3-4 workouts a week.

One goal I set for myself last year and would like to continue and work harder at is clean eating. I get sick a lot and have a lot of health issues concerning food. Such as acid reflux, low blood sugar, allergies, and upset stomach. The better I eat the better I feel and well I'm not getting any younger!

I am going to try to read at least one book a month. In 2014 I read 98 books and this year I topped out at!......8. I'm going to try to at least make it to twelve in 2016!









I am so looking forward to this coming year. 2015 seemed hard on everyone and it was big transitional year for us. We were forced into some unpleasant circumstances in late 2014 and most of 2015 that we unfortunately had to endure to get where we wanted to be but we were able to finally get our own place and we both left miserable jobs to start new and exciting ones. Although 2014 was our biggest year so far I feel like 2015 really set us up for amazing things to come and I look forward to what those will be. So bring it on 2016 I know you are going to be fantastic!

What sorts of goals have you set for yourself? Do you make Resolutions every year? Have you stuck to them? Let me know in the comments!