I've thought long and hard about my goals for 2017. Every year I've pretty much had the same goal in mind. And I've never really achieved it! But something tells me that this year might be different. Or at least it will be if I manage to go another night ignoring my craving for a Chinese.
So, without further ado, here are my 7 top New Year's Resolutions. Wish me luck!
- Be healthier.
I'm just going to get this one out of the way first because it's the one I have the most difficulty with. I have always been a big girl. There have always been people that have sniggered and my Nan has always said no one will ever marry me if I'm the size of a whale (she means well but it was a bit of a pain to live with to be frank!) But you know what, I have found someone who loves me for me and I'm assured that I will one day get to live my life long dream of being a blushing bride. However, just because I have someone that loves me, I don't want to give up. I want to make sure that we are as both as healthy as we can possibly be without becoming total food Nazis so that we are able to enjoy our lives together, and grow old healthily. I want to raise a family and I don't want anything to get in the way of that. Working forces me to walk an hour five times and back which is definitely making a difference. But there's more work to be done. I need to keep the swimming up and I need to get on that cross-trainer more (Daryl is on it as I write). I would also like to get out of my comfort zone and join an exercise class. I've always felt quite nervous of this because it brings up frightening memories of being back in a PE class at school. Those were not good times. I'm also trying to cut down my snacking and cut down on the take-aways. I'll let you know how that one goes.
2. Stop procrastinating.
Argh I'm so guilty of doing this all the time. I sit there putting difficult things off and I've put certain decisions off by months before. This is basically my number one sin. I sit there and plan stuff but I actually need to do the stuff! If anyone has any tips on how to get going with this, I'm all ears!!
3. Adopt new hobbies (or make time for old ones).
I really need to get myself together. If I have a day where I have done absolutely nothing, I find that I end up feeling like I have just wasted a day, and my anxiety suffers for it because doing nothing gives me a lot more time to think and worry about things that really aren't worth me worrying about. So I think that a good way to deal with days like these is to adopt some new hobbies or to stop with the excuses and actually make time for myself to get on with things I have always previously enjoyed (yeah, I'm pretty lazy). For example, I really need to keep this blog up. I love writing and expressing myself and even if no one is reading this blog at all, I feel like I'm actually able to get things off my chest and it's an outlet for what little creativity I have. Maybe it will take me on some kind of journey and make me feel more positive about myself. Who knows?! But I definitely want to make more time to blog. I also really need to keep my crafting up. I absolutely love painting and making things, but because I don't think I'm very good at it and because I'm a perfectionist and this frustrates me, I put it off. Well I shouldn't at all really. Express yourself even when you're not perfect. It's important to not feel embarrassed by not being very good at certain stuff and I think that's always been my problem, so let's see if I can make a change this year.
4. Make time for Daryl's hobbies.
So Daryl really wanted a dartboard for Christmas and I really didn't want to get it for him. I thought it would drive me insane. Then I ended up having a little play at darts and actually really enjoyed it! I also used to moan all the time about snooker, which happens to be one of Daryl's favorite 'sports'. I still don't think it's a sport at all but I do actually find myself getting into the really intense moments of a game. So I am vowing to give Daryl's hobbies more of a chance and to moan less about them. It's only fair considering how much he hates Eastenders but ends up sitting on the sofa and comforting me as I cry about someone who's just died on it when all he wants to do is laugh his head off.
5. Stop swearing!
This one is pretty self-explanatory, isn't it? I swear far too much. And it disgusts me. And I probably don't swear as much of most of the people I know, but a bit less swearing won't hurt anybody so I'm very keen to give it a go. I'm pretty sure my 10 year old cousin will help me out. She's threatening to make a fortune off me dropping the more sweary version of poo around her.
6. Save up some pennies.
This is really hard to do when you just want to fill up a shopping basket full of make-up and other pretty things. I'm a magpie to anything that's bloody pricey! The funny thing is that I used to be much much worse but when your other half is as tight as they come, it kind of rubs off on you (shh, don't tell him I said that). He's not that tight, he has just worked so hard and he knows the value of money. He wants to make sure that we'll never go without, and how can I argue with that?! Plus I really do need to save them pennies and then some if I want to have my dream wedding one day.
7. Travel and enjoy life!
This one is quite hard to do when you're trying to save money whilst making sure you pay all your bills and keep the household going, but it doesn't have to be super expensive. We have put the deposit down for a holiday to Santorini in May (I'M SOOOO EXCITED!) and yes, that holiday is expensive. But one of my favorite days ever was a day Daryl and I spent in Bath and wondered around in Prior Park Landscape Garden. It was absolutely beautiful and so peaceful and it just made me think there's so much of this country I haven't seen, and wouldn't it be great to explore some more National Trust parks. So this is one we're both keen on doing over the summer. We'll also see how our spending is going and if we can afford it, we'll look into exploring somewhere for a long weekend later on in the year. Cornwall, perhaps? Or maybe elsewhere in Europe? I'm on the look-out for tips and a good bargain!
Well, those are my goals for 2017! I'm sure I will keep adding to them, but wish me luck for now and let me know if you have any goals and we can be resolution buddies :P
Chrissy x
