This is one of my favorite times of year. I love Christmas and all it represents and I love how warm and cozy everything feels with the decorations and scented candles and fireplaces. I also love this time of year because it’s right before a new year. New beginnings after a long year. I always feel so excited and ready for a fresh start.
I’ve been planning for this time for quite a while. We moved to a new city / state this year and it feels like we’ve been trying to adjust ever since. This Christmas we will have been here a year, and I’m ready to start living. It’s probably a little early to already have my goals set, BUT – I wanted to have them established and start making small progress towards them in December so that when January 1 hits I’m not overwhelmed with trying to start a bunch of new habits at once.
I love sharing my goals, and I love hearing about YOUR goals. Here are mine below. Some are fun and silly, but others are probably more like work. Balance! If you feel like sharing yours as well, please do!!
LESS SCREEN TIME : It feels like we are becoming more and more dependent on our phones and iPads. I want to spend more time as a family and doing things far more important than scrolling Facebook and Instagram. I’m going to try to really limit my screen time when I’m with my family in the evenings. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while but never fully pulled the trigger. No time like the present!
READ 12 BOOKS THIS YEAR : I wish I could be someone who read all the time. I know it sounds silly, but it makes my brain feel good to read. This year I’d like to try and read 1 new book per month. With less screen time, maybe I can do more reading. My kids have to read every evening for school, and I thought I could join them and read my book at the same time. If you have any good book recommendations, I’d love to hear them!
BE A BETTER PARENT : Our life feels hectic (and this is something I need to work on in 2020 as well) and I feel like our evenings are so frantic and stressful sometimes. I’m too focused on the things that need to be done (race home to cook dinner, clean up after dinner, pack lunches, bath time, clothes for school / work, homework, etc) that I never stop and look at my kids and just spend quality time with them. I don’t make them feel as loved as I’d like to. Everything feels like work and nothing feels like what I’d like home to feel like. I have some mini goals written down for this, but the main thing is I need to alter my focus.. I need to determine what’s more important.. I need to remember what matters in the long run.
TAKE BETTER CARE OF MYSELF : I am so tired, ALL THE TIME. I’ve gained so much weight. My body hurts and aches and I’m too young to feel the way I do. I feel like I’m wasting precious years being unhealthy. I need to focus on my health physically and mentally. This is at the top of my list for the new year.
BE FINANCIALLY FIT : College and moving and not having a job for a while took a toll on us financially. We were doing SO GOOD for so long, but right now we have some catch up work to do. This stuff gives me so much anxiety, and I’m hoping to hit it head on and not be scared about it.
SIMPLIFY : I want to simplify every aspect of my life. Finances, health, marriage, parenting, household, etc. I want to break things down to the foundation, to the things that really matter the most, and then focus on that moving forward. Excess creates stress, and I want to live as stress free as possible.
CELEBRATE EVERYDAY : I want to find something to celebrate as often as I can. Make life fun and fulfilled. Create a happy environment for my kids. Eat pie on National Pie Day.. haha. Just loosen up and not be so serious all the time. Life was meant to be enjoyed.
I’m so ready for a brand new year. I have said over and over that “2020 is going to be my year”.. I hope I’m not wrong!