I used to think balance meant doing all the things, all the timeākeeping every plate spinning and calling it success. But now I know balance is quieter than that. Itās about doing theĀ rightĀ things, at theĀ rightĀ time.
For a long time, I talked about living in seasons as an alternative to balance. Now I see it differently. Operating in seasons isnāt avoiding balanceāitās the gateway to it. Itās the pathway to peace.
Alignment, for me, means letting my energy, priorities, and capacity match the season Iām actually in. Itās about listening instead of forcing, choosing what fits instead of what simply looks good, and trusting that not everything needs my attention all at once.
Alignment is living with easeāallowing lifeās current to guide me and trusting that when I follow my soul, things unfold the way theyāre meant to.
In 2026, Iām choosing alignment over overwhelm. Presence over pressure. And peace over perfection.
And honestly? I need thatābecause I ended 2025ā¦ not great.
Iām not talking to Hectorās family. Iāve drifted from a few friends. I didnāt go to my momās for Christmas. Most of December I was sick, stuck inside, watching the days blur together instead of actually living them.
I ended up in the hospital recently, hoping for answers about whatās been going on with meĀ nowāand instead I got a full highlight reel of everything else. Pre-diabetic. Low iron (which I already knew). Low vitamin D (no surprise when I barely leave the house). Six medications. A lot of charts, a lot of numbers, and the very humbling realization that I havenāt really been showing up for my health the way I should.
Iām not working right now, and I wonāt be going back to school in February either. That sentence still feels strange to type. It wasnāt the plan. None of this was.
But this isnāt me giving up. This is me pausing.
I want 2026 to be betterānot in a ānew year, new meā way, but in a quieter, more realistic way. The kind of better that looks like taking my meds, going outside, keeping appointments, choosing rest without guilt, and rebuilding slowly instead of burning myself out trying to fix everything at once.
Last year I made 25 resolutions and completed six of them. And honestly? Six is more than zero. So this year Iām not dragging all 19 unfinished goals with me like emotional carry-on luggage. Iām choosing ten. Just ten. The ones that still matter. The ones that feel possible. The ones that support the version of me who is tiredābut trying.
This isnāt a fresh start. Itās a continuation. A softer one. A more honest one.
ReadĀ 30 books
Run aĀ 5K
WriteĀ 100 blog posts
Get aĀ tattoo
Get myĀ passport
Paint on aĀ large canvas
TryĀ 20 new recipes
GoĀ hiking once a month
ScheduleĀ one spa day each month
Work outĀ three times a week
Thatās it. Ten goals for a year thatās about choosing what fits, honoring the season Iām in, and building a life that feels steady, creative, and kind to me.
I hope everyone had an incredible New Yearās Eve celebration and is excited for the adventures this year has in store!
This year, Iām diving headfirst into some thrilling New Yearās resolutions: Iām on a mission to plan my dream wedding with maximum joy and minimal stress, shed 60 pounds to feel my absolute best and keep my budget in check by skipping out on unnecessary expenses. Letās make this year unforgettable!
But thatās just the beginning! Iāve got even more on my to-do list. Iām ready to regain control and stop letting stress dictate my life. Last year, there were so many moments when work or school tried to pull me under, and I let it overshadow the good stuff. This year, Iām committed to celebrating those amazing moments and embracing all the positivity life offers!
But how will I do this? Well, that brings me to my word of the year: Resilience.
Resilience is all about having the strength to handle lifeās ups and downs! It means facing challenges, stress, and pressures with a positive attitude and returning from tough times. You can easily navigate through changes by building emotional resilience, being self-aware, and staying adaptable. Itās like having a toolkit for life that helps you grow and flourish, no matter what comes your way!
Here are some friendly ways I plan to build resilience in myself:
ā I will practice mindfulness and be present in the moment.
ā Iāll look for opportunities to discover more about myself.
ā Keeping things in perspective will help me stay grounded.
ā Iāll make self-care a priority in my life.
ā Taking care of my physical and mental well-being.
ā And Iāll remember to express myself!Ā
These are some friendly steps Iām excited to take on my journey!
As I get ready to dive into the new year, I canāt help but take a moment to reflect on all the thrilling experiences of the past year! It may not have been flawless, but it has been an adventure! Amid the hustle of my job and school, I sometimes let stress take the spotlight, but there were so many incredible moments that deserved all the attention. Hereās to celebrating the highs and learning from the lows as I gear up for even more excitement in the upcoming year!
Iām really proud of some things I accomplished this year! One of the highlights was making new friends at school. In the past few semesters, I focused so much on my studies that I didnāt invest in friendships. This year, I finally let myself connect with others and it felt amazing!
I also learned an important lesson about spending quality time with Hectorās family. I realized that when I say Iām making time for family, I really need to follow through. It was a bit of a wake-up call when they were genuinely surprised to see me at Christmas dinner this year.
Time management was definitely a challenge for me. I got so wrapped up in balancing school, Hector, and my family that I forgot to carve out some time for myself. Thatās something I want to change moving forward.
One thing Iām letting go of is the guilt I feel when I canāt make it to events. Since Hector is my other half, I know that if he goes, weāre still there together in spirit!
As I look ahead to the next year, Iām taking all these lessons with me and focusing on what makes me happy. Hereās to a great year ahead!
I have chosen a single word to be the foundation of my daily decisions for the upcoming year. I like setting resolutions for each upcoming year, but sometimes, they make me feel like passing or failing. Choosing a word of the year feels like having a supportive friend. My chosen word will support me through thick and thin and help me stay focused, even if my world turns upside down. By focusing on this word, I will gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and find new avenues for personal growth, which can be more potent than any New Yearās goal or resolution. This practice is commonly called choosing a āWord of the Year.ā
By choosing a word that resonates with you, youāll gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and find new avenues for personal growth. For example, if you choose āabundance,ā you could focus on cultivating meaningful relationships, achieving financial goals, and spending quality time with loved ones. If your word is ādiscipline,ā you could establish a workout routine, develop a consistent evening routine, and prioritize punctuality.
The beauty of choosing a āWord of the Yearā is that it stays with you throughout the year, reminding you of your intentions and goals. It serves as a supportive friend that keeps you on track, even when life gets challenging.
For me, my chosen word for 2024 is āfulfilled.ā Iām letting go of my tendency to overthink and instead focus on taking bold and courageous steps towards achieving my goals. Iām determined to approach everything I do with unwavering confidence and a positive attitude that will help me overcome any obstacles that I may encounter.
To make the most of the year, Iāve developed a New Year manifesto that outlines my passions, priorities, values, and intentions in the areas that matter most to me. The idea of being fulfilled will serve as a roadmap throughout the year, reminding me of what I want to achieve and helping me stay on track. Iām excited to leap into 2024 with a sense of purpose and determination, and I canāt wait to see what the year has in store for me.
My faith: I am determined to keep my promises to God this year. I will always remind myself that He will fulfill His promises to me. As a believer, I will rely on God to provide for my needs, knowing He possesses everything and can meet my wants. By doing so, I will live a fulfilled life in Christ.
Myself: Looking ahead to the coming year, I am committed to prioritizing my well-being. I have realized that focusing on my needs and desires is essential to living a fulfilling life. By engaging in activities that ignite my spirit, bring me joy, and inspire me to connect with the world around me, I am committing to the journey of self-care and personal growth.
My relationship: I want to have a meaningful relationship; the only way to achieve that is through effective communication. My partner and I have ups and downs, but we donāt always try to communicate and work through our issues. Itās important not to bottle up our feelings and to admit our faults when weāre wrong. We need to be clear on whatās missing in the relationship and discuss what we can do to improve things.
I have chosen a word for myself by asking a series of questions like what I want to achieve in the next year, what skills or characteristics can assist me in accomplishing my goals or lead a better life, what I need or desire more in my life, how I want to feel, and what my core values are.
Itās your turn now! I would be delighted to know your Word of the Year and why you chose it. Please share it with our community by leaving a comment below. Speaking your word into the Universe is a beautiful way to set things in motion.
Iām excited to set some goals for this year. And yes, there are 23 goals, and this will be my last year doing 20+ goals. Starting next year, 20 will be the max goal I have.Ā
I wasnāt super excited to have 23 goals this year, but I couldnāt determine which ones to cut from my list. Iām already emotionally attached to all of them. But I am trying to focus mainly on thirteen specific goals; the rest are just things I want to try to do.
You will see a lot of things from previous years on here because these are things I feel I need to work on more.Ā
Letās get into it, shall we?
1. 2023 Reading Challenge
On Barnes & Nobleās Instagram, they posted a 52-week book reading challenge. I want to combine that with the alphabetical challenge, which makes it much more complicated, and find a way to read the nine books I purchased when Barnes & Nobleās had 50% off all hardcovers.
2. Practice Mindfulness
I plan to meditate and get in the right headspace a few moments a day. I want to be aware of what Iām doing without being overwhelmed. I aim to step back from my thoughts and watch them and control them rather than them controlling me.
3. Staying Consistent
Whether at work, on this blog, or even with my diet, I want to be consistent. Otherwise, Iāll abandon things without realizing it. I feel like this may become a problem when Iām uninspired or upset about not seeing results, and I need to prepare for that and work around it.
4. Get Back into Journaling
Journaling helps me control my thoughts and emotions; I feel super stressed without journaling. Some days Iām just feeling a lot of things and I donāt always know how to express it.
5. Eliminate One Bad Habit
I have tons of bad habits, and itās time to break them. I didnāt notice them until they began affecting my daily life. Mostly the overspending, slouching, procrastinating, negative self-talk, overthinking, failing to say no to people, and eating poorly. Iām sure there are more.
6. Write 100 Blogs
I think I can do it. I wrote over 50 blogs last year, so now I believe I can bust out 100 posts. Is this false confidence? Absolutely. But the new year, new me baby, and confidence are where itās at.
7. Strengthen Relationships
This year I want to be there for the people in my life. Sometimes it feels like I donāt reach out unless it is a holiday or beneficial. And I want people to stay in my life, so Iāll start making the first move.
8. Create a Regular Exercise Routine
I want to end this year being smaller. I donāt need to reach a specific weight point, but I would like to be smaller. And even if not smaller, just more physically fit.
9. Prioritize My Happiness
I love making other people happy, but there comes the point where I also need to make myself happy. I need to acknowledge that it is not selfish to fill myself with joy. Give me what I genuinely want and need emotionally.
10. Speak Better Spanish
Do I speak better Spanish today than at the beginning of 2022? Heck yea, I do, but itās still very elementary level. Iām nowhere near conversational in my Spanish. And surprisingly, I am better at writing and reading Spanish than I am at speaking it. The goal is to be able to have a conversation.
11. Another No Buy Month
When I had the no-buy month, I felt the most relaxed. No looming worry about where money was going or shock over how much I spent on food. It was a simpler time. Also, it helped control my impulse purchases.
12. Pay Off ALL Debt
My debt isnāt all that bad. I know people with hundreds of thousands in debt. Luckily I donāt have that, but when you live in California and barely make above minimum wage, it is like youāre living paycheck to paycheck, so paying off debt seems to be a little more complicated.
13. Focus On My Business
I announced that I would sell Ice Cream, but I never did. I got cold feet about actually doing something. This year is different; I have plans. I want to have a spot at Smorgasburg, Los Angeles. I want to get a business license. I want to do something with my hands that makes me proud.
14. Sew A Costume
I keep saying I will sew a costume, but I never do. Between the last-minute planning and the mental breakdown about my weight by the time Halloween comes, I donāt even have a costume more often than not. This year is different. I want a costume. I want to be Anastasia from the 1997 cartoon.
15. Reflect On Each Month
I would really like to just get in touch with my feelings and remember what happened each month. What did I learn from each month? What were the high and low points? How can I make the next month better?
16. Spend More Time Outside
Iām never outside, and I hate that. My skin looks pale and even a little sick because I donāt remember the last time I was outside for longer than just walking to or from the car. I mean, I do, but that was back last March. Maybe Iāll try to do the 1000 hours outside challenge.
17. Take a Skill Class
I would love to try something new. I have been thinking about doing a yoga class or an art class. Just something to break up the norm, and you know, on The Sims, every time one of them takes a skill class, they always feel more inspired and focused. So, Iād love for a life that imitates art moment and would like to see if it works in real life.
18. Enforce Boundaries
I have a hard time setting personal boundaries as well as acknowledging others. It is not by choice, but it is something I need to be aware of and respect. I think for myself if I start to
19. Be Tidier
I want to declutter and organize my living space and life. In books, a characterās mental state is represented by their living space. I want a clean mind and a clean home. I plan to spend 25 minutes a week cleaning. This isnāt a lot, but for a person like me who procrastinates and is constantly tired, 5 minutes is more than a lot of time.
20. Have a Family Dinner Once A Month
I want to prioritize being with my family. My family is always doing something, and I never see them.
21. Fix Things Iāve Been Avoiding.
My house needs some TLC, and Iāve been saying Iāll get to it, and then I never do. Mainly because itās so expensive but also because itās all things that are for looks and not function. But they need to be done. So no more procrastinating.
22. Save for a car
I know this is always on my list. But this year, I mean it. For the last few years, I didnāt want to drive at all. I was scared to drive, but then I was forced to because I was house-sitting in a completely different city and had to go to work; Uber would have been way too expensive. And now I like driving. Iām still super anxious about it, but I feel better.
23. Volunteer
Last year I made more excuses about not having time to volunteer and once again donated money. It feels like just giving money is a cop-out. It feels like hereās money go away. And thatās not even close to how I think about giving. So I would like actually to do something for my community
Happy New Year, everyone! The first day of 2022 is officially here, and what better way to kick it off than with a resolution or two?
Last year I was so scared to make resolutions and goals. I was scared of what the future had for me as if I had no control. I donāt have any control over what happens in my life. I plan to control what I can by focusing on goals that I know are more realistic. Iām tired of letting fear stop me from being who I want to be.Ā
Ā Every time I plan out my goals or resolutions, itās me trying to figure out how to change my life for the better.
Here are 22 of my goals for 2022 to give inspiration for your own
1 . WORK LESS
I donāt have a work-life balance. Iām always working. I realized how many things I missed and how many things I barely got to do by luck. Iām going to request the time off when I need to be with my friends and family. Iām going to be very intentional with planning time for my family.
2. READING MORE BOOKS
I want to read at least 12 books this year. I donāt seem to know how to read anymore. That sounds wrong. Let me rephrase this. I find myself buying many books but not reading a lot of books. And Iāve also come to see if I am reading; it is not reading critically. Reading used to be engaging. I used to annotate my books.
3. WORKING OUT MORE
I used to be in a place where I was comfortable being in a gym alone. I used to go to the gym without fail at least three times a week. I was happy with my fitness journey. Iām slowly getting back into it but doing the terrain run made me realize how out of shape I am now compared to before lockdown. Iām excited to be back to the level of fitness I was before.
4. SHOPPING BAN FOR 30 DAYS
I spend too much money. I have been trapped in a vicious cycle of work-spend-debt. I spend too much money, so then Iām in debt. Meaning I have to work to get myself out of debt. Iām a shopaholic. Most of my money is spent on coffee, makeup, clothing, and things for new hobbies that I eventually abandoned.Ā
5. LEARN TO SEW
Technically it would be relearning how to sew. I used to sew and crochet. As I mentioned, one of my goals is to lose weight. A part of losing weight is buying a whole new wardrobe. But I just said Iām giving myself a shopping ban. See my dilemma. If I could give my current clothes alterations, I could keep my cute closet, have clothes that fit, and not buy new clothes.Ā
6. SPEAK BETTER SPANISH
My three-year-old niece speaks better Spanish than I do. I want to communicate with my boyfriendās family. I want to go to their house without feeling left out. I feel like knowing Spanish would make things a lot easier, even in my job.Ā
7. AT LEAST 50 BLOG POSTS THIS YEAR
I have so many blog ideas for the following year. 50 is not a lot when you think about it. If I were only to write one blog a week, that would be 52 posts alone. So I want to push myself to post once a week (not including months when I plan to post every day)Ā Ā
8. SPEND LESS TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
I spend a lot of time on TikTok and Instagram. Iād rather focus my time on something more productive. How am I supposed to read all the books I want to read and make awesome blog content when I lay in bed for 2 hours just on my phone?Ā
9. MASTER MAKING COFFEE AT HOME
The amount of money I spend at Starbucks is crazy. Thereās a Starbucks at my job, and the employees there joke that I only go to work to afford my Starbucks. I got myself an iced coffee maker to make all the iced coffee I want without having to spend $15 daily.
10. LEARN TO USE MY CAMERASĀ
Iām genuinely bad at using cameras. I have a vlogging camera and a Fujifilm Instax camera, and I donāt use either. Mostly because I donāt know how to take pictures or videos. My boyfriend set up his camera, and all I had to do was hit the button, and the second I touched it, the whole thing became blurry.Ā
11. DO SOMETHING NICE FOR MYSELF EVERYDAY
Doing something nice for myself doesnāt have to cost money or take up time. I want to appreciate myself and give myself the love I deserve. Wearing a panda hydrating face mask, taking some time to color, or dancing in my kitchen are all free and bring me joy.
12. KEEP A MINIMALIST WARDROBE
I want to lessen my closet. I have so many clothes I donāt wear. My job should be getting me a uniform soon, which should help me get rid of some clothes. I want to keep the basics and interchangeable items, so I donāt have to constantly buy new clothes.
13. FIX THE THINGS IāVE BEEN NEGLECTING
I wish I could update my entire house because itās falling apart, but I donāt have the money to do that, nor do I want to when my roommates would just destroy the house again. My bedroom window is cracked, and my ceiling fan decided to kill itself in august. I donāt feel safe knowing my window is broken and could easily be used to break into my house. Yet Iāve left it alone for the past year.
14. COOK THROUGH AN ENTIRE COOKBOOK
This is all because I recently rewatched Julie & Julia. I remember saying I would love to cook through an entire cookbook, and my boyfriend said, well, why donāt you. At first, I tried to make excuses, but the more I thought about it, I couldnāt come up with any reasons for why I shouldnāt.Ā
15. EXPLORE MY STATE MORE
After moving back to California, I realized how little I know about California and how little of it Iāve seen. Iāve never been to San Diego or Catalina Island. There are so many places to visit in California. I would love to go to Lassen Volcanic National Park, Joshua Tree, Big Sur, and hike the Hollywood sign.Ā
16. CREATE A BETTER BUDGET
I used to think having a budget meant going on a spending diet. Keeping a tight budget and not going over a certain amount. And I will be doing that when I do my no-buy month, but a regular budget is needed because my boyfriend and I plan to merge our finances. We need to see when money is taken from our accounts, how much, and what adjustments we need to make to help us save more.
17. TRY TO BE MORE AWARE OF WHAT I SAY
I am a sincere person. Iām also very blunt. People who donāt know me just assume Iām mean or rude. Iām not rude or mean, I promise. I just grew up in a household where speaking your mind wasnāt a bad thing. Iām trying to unlearn that behavior and learn to think before I speak. I would love to not say hurtful things by accident. Iād probably have more friends if I knew what I was saying.
18. SAVE FOR A CAR
I need a car. A few things have deterred me from buying a car. Thereās no parking where I live, and two, car insurance for people under 25 is crazy expensive for full coverage. But after spending $400 on uber, and ended up late to work more often than not due to few drivers. Iād rather spend that money on a car note and insurance. I have okay credit, but itās still considered new credit, so no one offers me loans. If I save $5,000 for a down payment on a car, I can get a newer car.Ā
19. VOLUNTEER
I found a place to volunteer at. I am going to make time in my life to actually help people. Even if I donāt physically do any work, I still try to give to a shelter. I know that some places need the money more than they need extra hands, and I can respect that.Ā
20. RESTART MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
I want to give it one last try. I donāt want my youtube to just be me crying. I want it to be my recipes and adventures and show off my personal growth.Ā Ā
21. BE OKAY NOT BEING PERFECT
I felt that I had to be perfect Eryn at work, at home, and in my relationship for a while. And for a few years, I dealt with the guilt of not being perfect. When I quit school and when I moved in with my family. It made me try even harder to be perfect, and I recently realized that I wouldnāt always be perfect. I work 40+ hrs at work, and my family expects me to take care of the house and clean up after everyone. Iām learning to accept that, and Iām learning to stop letting my family feel like a less-than.Ā
22. FOCUS ON MY BOOK
I donāt want to finish it this year. I want to pour all of the focus, the care, and love I have for this story into it. I donāt want it to be just another checklist that I failed to mark off. I want my emotions to be felt in it. All of my favorite books made me cry and laugh and feel something. I want to be able to do that within my own writing. I used to feel silly when I was growing up crying at books or feeling second-hand embarrassment for a character. Now, as an adult, thatās what I look forward to.Ā
Seeing how terrible last year was, maybe itās time to bring back grandmaās tradition of eating collard greens and black-eyed peas on January 1st. Itās a southern thing that is supposed to bring luck, abundance, and prosperity. At least thatās what grandma always said.
If youāre new here, my website decided to kill itself in mid-December. With no way to recover the deleted content, I decided to wait until the new year to reintroduce myself. And the time is finally here.
Hi, Iām Eryn! Iām currently 23 and a Hufflepuff. My gifted kid burnout flavor is losing interest and quitting anything that doesnāt come easily to me. With a dash of getting angry at myself for not being immediately good at everything I try.
For the past year, Iāve been working on creating a more mentally stable version of myself. Iāve taken to writing for therapy and to express myself. I realized I needed a positive output when I played 1560 hours of The Sims 4, pre-lockdown. What started as escapism from the bullshit around me became avoidance.
I couldnāt accept the fact that I āfailedā in life. I failed because I had to move back in with my parents. I failed because I dropped out of college. I failed because I couldnāt reach the top of the ever-growing standards I made for myself. For a long time, I was a failure in my eyes and what felt like my familyās eyes.
It has taken me a while to pick myself up and realize this was pure nonsense, but some days this still feels true. Itās been a struggle. A year ago, Eryn would tell you that it feels like every morning, I have to fight to get up. Telling myself, Iām worth it and practicing kindness to myself was so foreign to me. Honestly, it still is.
Maybe itās because my opinion of myself has never been very high, and I feed off constant validation. Is this the consolation prize for living past the age of 18? Anxiety and depression?
I have more anxiety now than I ever had in high school. Maybe itās because, as an adult, instead of sticking up for myself I let people and things chip away at who I was as an individual.
The most hurtful words Iāve ever heard, surprisingly, is not my stepmother telling me sheād have more respect for the dog than she would for me if I asked to move back home. It is, in fact, āYou had so much potential.ā It sounds silly, I know. Throughout the years, Iāve had many derogatory remarks about me. While those comments hurt, they are easy to brush off.
People are quick to remind me of how smart I was and how much potential I had. I mean, I get it. Iāve yet to see a hallmark movie with the main character leaving for five years, only to return with mental scars and debt?
I could not understand how people could tell me my potential was tapped out. I did not drop out of college because I was bored with it. I left because my mental health deteriorated, and I suffered a mental breakdown that I still havenāt dealt with properly.
For years my dreams and goals took a hiatus because I focused on working, on surviving. But all that working and surviving it made me fragile. It made me want someone to take care of me. Not financially but emotionally. When I got into a very serious relationship, I romanticized the wrong things. I didnāt know then what a toxic, emotionally abusive relationship looked like.
In that relationship, my job was no longer to fight to survive. It was to be a homemaker. Which, if I do say myself, is not a job I am meant for. No disrespect to any person who chooses to be a stay-at-home spouse or parents; in truth, I applaud you. I found it incredibly hard to make time for myself. Itās impossible to take a break from your job when your job is your life. I didnāt realize I was not the only one so unhappy with me being a stay at home girlfriend. He found his wife while he still dated meāThatās like getting fired and asked to train your replacement.
I want to say I was ready last year to become who I am meant to be, but I wasnāt. For the first time, I have the opportunity to focus solely and selfishly on myself. The only problem is I didnāt know who I was anymore.
So I rebuilt myself. Now that I have a strong foundation, itās time to work on my self-confidence and self-esteem. I hope you stick around for the wild ride.
Thereās something liberating about being my person again. To my young readers, whatever you do with your life, I want to discourage putting your life on hold to be what someone else wants. My dears, your hopes and dreams come first. Get the most out of this life. Remember to do something stupid and something terrible for you every once in awhile. You can live a hundred years without really living for a minute. I hope your days add up. And like every mother out there, I wish I could witness all your joy.
To my readers who feel they āhad so much potential,ā you still do. My loves, whatever is meant for you in this world, will be waiting. When you are ready to start after your goal, you will find what is yours to capture. Your potential has no end. Moving back home isnāt a bad thing. Sometimes when we fall, we need a hand to get back up. It does not matter how you get up; make sure you Get Up.
Being someone who wants to help others and pass on kindness, I want to help you with any problems you might have. Unfortunately, I donāt have access to all the universeās secrets, unless you count asking my magic eight-ball. Some of my advice might be useful, and some of it not so much.
I would love to hear your story. I say it time and again. I wish there were more words than the ones I use over and over to express my gratitude to you all, my internet family, and my inspiration.
Thank you for the joy you bring to my life. I cant wait to see where this year takes us.
Have you started planning your new year? Iāve got some big goals for the new year!
After everything this year brought, Iām not sure how much of this list I will be able to do. My main goal is to focus on remaining positive throughout the year. So I wanted to make a list of goals to achieve throughout 2021.
Now Iām gonna be honest, I suck at sticking to goals. I spent years setting new yearās resolutions for myself, only to forget about them by February. Iām determined that this year will be different. Iām ok with not reaching some of my goals as long as I attempted to get them done.Ā
I know that creating goals gives you something to strive for and challenges you to be your best. Instead of making outrageous goals that I know I wouldnāt probably achieve, I decided to focus on goals that I know are more realistic.Ā
I decided to set goals that are more about WHO I want to be. I want to be a happier and more confident version of myself. I want to focus on what I need to do to be that person.Ā
My boyfriend will actually be creating his list later today, and when he gets back, I hope to get together to create our 2021 list.Ā
Some of these goals are carryovers from last year, while some are brand new.
1. GET MY DRIVERS LICENSE.
Ā I was supposed to do this, but due to COVID, my behind-the-wheel test was canceled. So the first available appointment of the new year Iām going to take.
2. CREATE A MONTHLY BUDGET.Ā
I really need to start saving better. Itās become all too easy in our house to spend it when we have it. While we have some money saved, my issue is moving the money over to my savings account.
3. CREATE A MORNING ROUTINE (And Actually Stick To It!)Ā
My mornings are the messiest part of my day. I do not rise and shine. Instead, I hit snooze on the alarm and throw the covers over my head. I am the person who has five different alarms that go off in the morning. Having that many alarms is chaotic, and Iām giving myself anxiety before I even get out of bed.
4. ELIMINATE ONE BAD HABIT.
Ā I have quite a few bad habits that have repeated themselves for too long. I want to change. Iāve been listening to the self-help book Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book has encouraged me to change my behaviors to build good habits and get rid of bad ones.Ā
5. COMMIT TO (ALMOST) DAILY WRITING.Ā
My goal is to have a very successful blog that can inspire others to live their best lives and remind them they are important. To do this, I need to write more. For the entire time Iāve been blogging, I have never had a backlog of more than one or two posts. I want that to change. Sticking to my weekly schedule is important to me, but itās also the part of blogging I find the most stressful.
6. SPEND MORE QUALITY TIME WITH HECTOR.
With all the other crazy things life throws at us, it can be challenging to get that time in. Quality, alone time is definitely needed, whether itās a romantic dinner, a board game, cuddle on the couch for a movie, or even an engaging conversation.
7. PAY OFF ALL CREDIT CARDS.Ā
Honestly, I just need to take two paychecks and pay them off already. And for someone in their early twenties, owing less than $1,000, itās not that bad.Ā
8. BUY A JOURNAL AND COMMIT TO 5 MINUTES A DAY OF WRITING.Ā
Iām not great at journaling, but I want to get better. I want to really evaluate each day and try expressing my thoughts and feelings in writing.
9. MAKE SELF CARE A PRIORITY.Ā
I can not stress how important self-care is! I was taught that self-care was a luxury and was being selfish- itās not, itās a must! I struggled with this in the past, but I realized that it is a necessity. Even now, I still have to ask myself, If I donāt take care of my physical, emotional, and mental well-being, who will?Ā
10. KEEP A REGULAR SLEEP SCHEDULE.Ā
Iām an insomniac who has to take melatonin to get some sleep, but I donāt do that consistently. If I take melatonin too late, it leaves me feeling groggy the next day. I would like to get into the habit of going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
11. DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE.Ā
Iām a creature of habit; I donāt like changing things. But I love learning things, and learning requires trying new things and exposing yourself to new and potentially uncomfortable situations. I genuinely believe that outside of our comfort zones is a beautiful journey of growth. Being pushed out of my comfort zone allowed me to find my passion.Ā Ā
12. DO MORE FOR MY COMMUNITY:Ā
I do not have a good history of volunteering. I find it much easier to open my wallet for charity instead of giving my time. Itās the whole social thing; I often have a hard time putting myself out there. This year though, I want to find an organization I support and put in the hours.
13. MEDITATE AND PRACTICE MINDFULNESS EVERY DAY.Ā
Meditation helps to clear the brain, aid anxiety, reduce stress. Want to be more mindful of my words and actions. I am not saying that I am not mindful right now, but there is always room for improvement.
14. SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.Ā
I know the phone works both ways, but why wait on them. I really want to be better about staying in touch with friends who arenāt in California.
15. STOP BEING LATE TO EVERYTHING.Ā
This is my mentality when it comes to time: if it takes 15 minutes to get somewhere, I leave 15 minutes before I need to be there. So basically, Iām always late, OR Iām always in a rush. Iām working hard to shift my time mentality and start getting ready to go earlier and then leave at least 5 minutes earlier than I would have in the past.
16. BE MORE FOCUSED.Ā
Iām bad for doing ten things at once and not doing a good job on any of them. This is especially true when it comes to blogging. Iāll be writing a post, checking Twitter, watching Greyās Anatomy, and have a cat sitting on my lap. Thatās not the set-up for good work. This year I want to commit to focusing. If Iām writing, then Iām writing; if Iām watching TV, then Iām watching TV. Itās so frustrating (to me and the bf) when we get three episodes into a new show, and I have no clue whatās happening because Iāve been more plugged into my phone.
17. GET IN BETTER SHAPE.Ā
Iāve always had a love/hate relationship with exercise. Itās not that I donāt like it; I donāt like having to wait for results. Or I had a workout regimen, but once I reach my goals, I stop and then gain all the weight back.
18. DRINK MORE WATER.
Ā I have a tough time drinking water, especially the amount that is recommended daily! Iām not even one of thoseĀ āI donāt like the taste of waterāĀ people. I actually like water, but I donāt ever feel thirsty, so it is easy for me to forget to drink water. This goal is major for me.
19. MORE PHOTOS OF MYSELF.
Ā I realized my low self-esteem has been stopping me from enjoying life. Iāve always looked down on myself. Iāve always felt less than. And in todayās society, it is very easy to feel less than, especially with the impact of social media. We often compare ourselves to what we see. And because my weight is always fluctuating, I stopped taking photos of myself when I feel I look fat. Instead of being down and out about myself, I want to create a positive outlook and believe that I AM ENOUGH and that I am a total BADASS!
20. RESTART MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL.Ā
Not only do I want to restart my channel, but Iām also forcing myself to post 6 videos. I think Vlogging is something I wonāt be comfortable doing as long as I donāt like myself. Before, I was scared that my voice was way too high and irritating to listen to. I worry about being judged and criticized with vlogging because it means you donāt like me for my physical features. I think making videos will help me with my lack of confidence.
21. FINISH MY BOOK
In 2018, I started working on my novel. I hoped to finish in 2019, but that just didnāt happen. The last three months have been quiet as far as personal progress, but Iām back to regularly working on Sundays with my girlfriends!
Whatās this another post? Just like the rest of you I wasnāt expecting a post today either.
Happy Boxing Day!
I recently learned that my mom lied and Boxing Day is not a day to clean up and box up old things. It was probably a ploy she cleverly used to get us to clean the house.
Yea Iām an idiot for still believing it as an adult but tell me it doesnāt make sense to clean before the new year. To start fresh. It makes more sense than spring cleaning.
2020 is just about over. I want 2021 to get off to the best start possible. But also Iām nervous about what 2021 will bring. Or maybe more accurately what will I bring into 2021.
Things I plan to leave in 2020 are:
Unrealistic Expectations. Itās not a secret that I donāt think highly of myself.It was only recently when I started to think of my self worth. Itās kind of the reason I started this blog. My standards for myself kept growing and I never saw any improvement in myself. It wasnāt just what I did wasnāt enough but I wasnāt enough. even now I still donāt feel like I am enough.But Iām working on setting realistic expectations.
BitternessandResentment. I lost a few friends this year. People who were takers attached to me. It felt like they would drain me but didnāt add anything to me. I plan to learn to let go. When you donāt know how to forgive and let things go hurt turns into bitterness and resentment. I donāt want carry feelings of resentment into my new season. If I want to move forward and not backward, I have to release what hurt me.
Failure mindset. Things didnāt go as planned in 2020. Failure is not permanent. I canāt continue to let uncomfortable change, failure and disappointment control my life. Normally when things turn bad I become pessimistic. I tell myself all Iāll ever do is fail.
How Iām preparing for 2021.
Reflecting on 2020. What did I do right? ā Wrong?
Clean my room. Iām so used to cleaning before the new year starts.
Make goals. I want goals that are manageable and realistic. Goals I can actually accomplish.
Make a vision board. I plan to map out my 2021 plans. I want to be a powerful manifestor.
Side note! I brought myself a advent Calendar today because there are also 25 days between Dec. 26 and Jan. 20, I plan to countdown to inauguration day 2021.
Letās use the remaining days of 2020 to prep for a FANTASTIC 2021!
