New Year’s Resolutions: What I’ll Be Working on in 2020
The concept of setting New Year’s resolutions is kind of like mayonnaise. It’s highly polarizing. Some people are all for it and others think it’s unrealistic and a fat waste of time. I’m in the category that welcomes the fresh slate of a new year and the opportunity to set some new goals. I also happen to like mayo.
I try not to beat myself up if I don’t stick to every single resolution, but setting my goals and intentions for the year helps me feel grounded and motivated to be a better me. Here’s what I’ll be working toward in 2020.
Fall in love with a new workout regime and stick to it
Fitness resolutions have got to be one of the most commonly-made resolutions, but I think the key here is to not just focus on the results (weight loss, muscle gain, your dream bod, etc.), but finding joy in the process. I mean, sure, I’m not always going to love the idea of trading in my night of Netflix on the couch for a class at the HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) studio a few blocks down, but my hope is that I fall back in love with the idea of taking care of myself. Exercise is really critical for my emotional and mental well-being. I also love that exercise makes me feel strong. For me, the most effective thing that keeps me going is the slow but gradual progress I eventually see when I commit to something. I recently signed up for ClassPass and I’m looking forward to trying out some new fitness studios in my neighborhood and figuring out which workouts work best for me.
Get back on the blog and commit to a regular posting schedule
I haven’t had the best track record when it comes to writing regularly. When I was little, I had dozens of journals that were only partially filled out and then quickly forgotten. I’d find them again, months later, resolved to pick it up again. And then the cycle would repeat. I’d like to break that habit and start posting more consistently on this blog. We’ll start with once per week and see how it goes.
Invest in a DSLR camera and experiment with photography
I’ve always been interested in photography, but never knew how to get started and, if I’m honest, I was also pretty intimidated. When Adam and I were in Japan for our honeymoon, we fell in love with the Akihabara District, famous for its neon lights and many electronics stores. I was tempted to buy a cheap camera while I was there, but figured it’d be smart to do some more research first. This year, I’d like to invest in my first DSLR, learn the basics and go on some fun photo adventures.
Transform the apartment into our dream home
Even though Adam and I lived together for a few years before we got married, I feel like I entered a ‘nesting phase’ after the wedding. Now that the stress of all the wedding planning is behind us, we can finally focus on making our San Francisco apartment as cozy as possible. We bought a handcrafted Fair Trade Certified jute rug from West Elm, finally got a frame and headboard for our bed, and a dreamy, fog-colored Parachute linen duvet cover that we put on our registry. We also did some major decluttering to make room for our new wedding gifts. The next step to tackle in our home makeover is investing in a coffee table (we currently put a tray on our ottoman and use that as our makeshift coffee table and I think it’s time for an upgrade) and some new house plants (that I won’t kill).
Read a book per month
I was a total bookworm when I was younger, but as I’ve gotten older (and lazier), my voracious appetite for books has been replaced by TV. I’d like to get back into the habit of reading before bedtime. It’s so much better to have a paperback in your hands instead of a screen. I just started Haruki Murakami’s memoir, “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running,” and I can already tell it’s going to be a quick read.
Plan one date night per month with my husband that features a new and exciting activity (i.e. not TV)
Whenever we plan a date night, it inevitably turns into dinner and Netflix on the couch. I’d like to get a little more creative with our date nights and try new things like maybe a ceramics or pottery class, a cooking class, a jazz concert, exploring a new SF neighborhood or a picnic in the park.
Get to places on time
Ask my close friends and they’ll all agree that punctuality is not my strong suit. One things I’d like to work on in 2020 is actually showing up to places on time (or even five minutes early). Oh man, this one is going to be hard for me.
Budget better
2019 was a big spending year what with the wedding and honeymoon, so this year, I want to get back into the habit of recording each and every one of my expenses and taking note of which categories I need to cut back on (typically eating out and shopping).
Put my mental health first
I have an anxiety disorder and when an anxiety attack rears its ugly head, my self-care routine goes out the window. I stop exercising, I isolate myself from friends, I eat junk food, I stop putting effort into my appearance and I obsess over whatever it is I’m worried about. I’ve learned the hard way that mental health is the most important thing. The end of 2019 was particularly rough and I won’t say more than that, so I’m starting 2020 with a plan to tackle my anxiety head-on. Mornings are usually hard for me, so I’m going to start the day with meditation via the Calm app. I’m going to find a new therapist in San Francisco to help me stay on track and I’m also going to start exercising regularly again.
Do you believe in New Year’s resolutions? If so, what are you hoping to achieve in 2020?