Happy happy Tuesday! I’m feeling refreshed and ready for the year ahead after spending the past few days reading, writing, and organizing (oh, and eating, I’ve been doing a lot of that too). Basically, all my favorite things. 
I’m working on a huge 101 in 1001 list (a master bucket list), which I hope to finish and share with you all next month, but today I wanted to talk about a few of the goals I’ve set for myself in 2018!
WELLNESS
Continue going to therapy. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and had I not had my little accident, I would never had been introduced to my therapist (and my new primary care doctor, who basically functions as my second therapist 🙃). I have a few close girlfriends who I feel comfortable telling everything to, but there’s something about talking things through with someone completely removed from your life.
For lack of a better way to say it, I’d like to consume less shit. I was looking at my Twitter feed the other day and if it wasn’t someone going on a (totally justifiable) tirade about the most recent thing Trump did/said, it was a blogger complaining about another blogger (how much they’re spending on clothes, the ridiculousness that is Instagram pods, and so on and so forth). My plan this year is to keep my head down and do my own thing instead of getting caught up in what everyone else is doing. If that means removing the things and people that prevent me from doing just that, so be it.
Start using heavier weights in my HIIT classes. I talked to one of my favorite trainers about this a little more on Friday and my goal is to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to reps. If I can’t make it the full round with the heavier weights I’ve picked up, that’s okay, but in order to push my body past the plateau I’ve been standing on for…ever, I have to switch up what I’ve been doing. I’m also going to get better about incorporating rest days/days where I do something low impact so that I can really give it my all on days I’m lifting weights at the gym.
Continue to limit the things I know cause inflammation in my body. I’ve talked about this a little before, but I’ve spent the past six months or so really trying to figure out what foods make me feel blah. Now that I’ve pretty much got that down, I’d like to find some sort of balance so that I can still enjoy things that I love (like pizza) without feeling miserable on the daily. I’m also going to put blinders on to the trendier health foods/drinks that don’t serve my body. It’s easy to assume that because it’s deemed “healthy” that you should be doing it and I’ve learned that’s not always the case.
RELATIONSHIPS
Make it a point to Facetime with friends and family more. I caught up with my friends Meg and Hannah last week and we ended our conversations the same way we always do, “we need to do this more often!” We’re all incredibly busy (they’re both working moms and I still don’t know how they do it!), but it’s as simple as jotting it down in my planner and treating it like any other appointment or meeting in my day.
Follow through on all those, “we should totally get together soon” messages. Over the weekend I made a list of people I’ve been talking about meeting up with and I’m determined to be proactive and make it happen.
Write more letters. I do a pretty good job at sending snail mail (shamelessly because I love getting it in return!) and my youngest brother (he’s 11 and has the sweetest soul) and I are going to be pen pals! I asked him if he’d be up for it and I was thrilled when he said yes. His one stipulation, I had to be the one to write first (lol). Done and done.
Don’t give up on dating. I went on my fair share of first dates last year and most of them left me less than thrilled to be “back on the market” after 6 years. I finished this book over the weekend, which was really just confirmation that I’ve been going about this whole thing allll wrong 😂, and I’m ready to jump back into the dating waters and just have fun with it!
BLOGGING
Get back to leaving genuine comments on the blogs I read. I haven’t stopped reading blogs, I’ve just stopped taking the time to comment. I know how exciting it is when someone leaves a comment or shoots me an email about something I’ve written/shared and it’s an easy way to put a little good out into the universe.
Become more confident on camera. This one seems really silly. I absolutely love sharing on Instagram stories and Snapchat because it’s where you guys engage with me the most! I just hate hearing the sound of my own voice (just me?) and I find myself feeling self-conscious about the amount of sharing I do (less about what I’m sharing and more the amount of time it takes me to get my point across on camera…does this even make sense?!). Maybe I should have labeled this one stop second-guessing myself and try new things. 😉
Be better about my email. My plan is to only check email when I have the time to respond right then and there. I’ve learned that checking on the go causes things to get lost in the mix and before I know it, I’m starting everything with, “so sorry for the delay!” Perhaps I need a better system for checking blogging email in general. This is something I’m still working through so if you have any tips, do share!
I’d love to hear what you’re working toward in the year ahead!
These are great goals—so specific! Loved the “consume less shit” (same) and also following through on all of those “we should totally get together soon” moments! Someone’s gotta make the first move! 🙂
I think we could all stand to consume less shit 😉 I agree…making time for the people we want to see is so important!
LOVE all these goals, and how you’ve organized them into categories! Especially 1 & 2 in relationships! While we’re all so busy (and it is true), it’s important to be more proactive to make time for the people in our lives that matter. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Kayley! I couldn’t agree more. It sounds a bit ridiculous that we have to “pencil” in catch up sessions with friends, but that’s just the way it is these days. I hope 2018 is off to a great start for you!
Being pen pals with your brother sounds adorable! And I think I’m going to follow your lead when it comes to putting blinders on to the ~trendy~ health foods. They are EVERYWHERE. It’s been awhile since I’ve written down goals for myself but this list has given me some ideas…. 😉
I can’t wait to see what he writes me back! I can only imagine haha. They really are! I think with anything, it’s important to remember that every body is different and what might work for one person might not work for you. So glad that this sparked something in you. Cheers to a new year!! 🙂
I need to get back to leaving genuine comments as well. I typically read blogs through Feedly which makes it harder to comment, but I need to start reaching out and telling bloggers when I love their posts!
So Jess, I love this post. I’m also going to go read/listen to that dating book now because I need something to make me more excited about dating (as I made pretty clear on facebook, lol). I also need to start looking for a therapist again.
<3 Dana
http://www.somethinggoodblog.com
Definitely understand that! Thank you so much 🙂 You will have to let me know what you think of the book!
I love your very specific goals! I think that makes them much easier to accomplish.
Just found your blog, and I’m happy to be following along!
So happy to have you follow along, Kristen! 🙂 Happy Wednesday!
I decided to get back into commenting on the blogs I read, too. I’m taking the time to read something that someone took the time to write, so I might as well take the time to comment, too!
Alyssa at http://www.feathersandstripes.com
I like the way you think! 🙂 Have a great weekend!