I don’t know about you, but this time of year always leads me to a bit – or a whole lot – of self reflection.
I can’t help it!
I get excited about the thought of new goals and opportunities, as well as a fresh new start.
However this year is different as it’s also the start of a NEW DECADE.
So what better time to reflect and reset?
The last year has been one of my most challenging, and that’s saying something as the last decade threw a hell of a lot at me!
And even though I ended the whole thing sick as a dog with a sinus infection, to be followed by an allergic reaction to antibiotics resulting in hives taking over my whole body, I am excited about the new year and the future.
I really am.
For the first time in a long time my husband had a job leading into the new year.
This in itself is a biggy, a stress relief, and just … I have no words!
It probably explains my levels of exhaustion (which are high), as so much stress has been lifted from our shoulders. I am so happy for him however. He really deserves this.
We also celebrated our first Christmas with our adopted fur child, Freya, spent time with family, and had time off together to relax. It was the perfect time to see in the new year, as we ate and tried not to drink ourselves silly.
For New Year’s Eve, we found ourselves doing something different.
I forewent my early bedtime (these days, I tend to be in bed sleeping like a baby at midnight), to attend a concert with hubby, my Mum and my brother.
On New Year’s Eve we hit up a concert to catch a lineup of Aussie bands, including Cold Chisel – a band that was on my bucket list!!! (Consider that bucket item list well and truly ticked off 🙂 ).
We had a great time, had a great view up close, and the crowd wasn’t too feral (thank goodness!). The bands were awesome, it was great to hang with the fam bam, and it was just a brilliant way to see in the new year and decade. Music, and live music, is one of my all time loves 💓.
My Goals for 2020
With that in mind, here are my top four goals for 2020:
I will not listen so much to what people say.
Throughout my career, I have found myself in situations where I was analysed, criticised and – at times – bullied. And even though most of that comes with having a career AND I consider myself a strong person, in 2019 it REALLY got to me.
So much so I started questioning EVERYTHING I did, over and over.
And even though I rock (I think that’s gonna be my new affirmation), my confidence – something I had worked so hard to build – shattered.
And so I make this vow to myself.
To back myself, as I am good at what I do. I also aim to be gentler on myself in 2020 and beyond – and to not let what others say about me bother me.
I will work with balance.
In 2020 I will be starting anew.
I’ve learnt a lot over the last two years, however it’s time for a change. And so in January I will embark on a new part-time marketing role, something of which I’m super excited about.
I’m also excited about refining my business so it is sustainable for the future.
This includes moving back towards writing over social media management (I’ll still be doing that, but it won’t be the be all and end all). More specifically, I’ll be doing more copyrighting. Late last year I completed a Copywriting Essentials course through the Australian Writers’ Centre, and I loved it. So much so that I’ve now enrolled in an SEO Copywriting course, which kicks off at the end of January.
Of course, in saying all that, I want to do it with more balance.
And so I won’t be throwing myself into everything 24×7. No. Not at all. I’ll be focussing on time blocking, unplugging, and striving for some good old work-life balance (which includes naps, walking the dog in nature without my phone, and meal planning!).
I will live more sustainably
Over the last two years I’ve embraced Hygge and KonMari.
Both have made such a difference to my life.
By adding a sense of comfort to our home, and through decluttering, our home has become our solace.
Our home has become a place that is more decluttered (still a long way to go … but we are making progress), tidier, and it smells damn good (okay – apart from the dog smell because we adopted Freya a few months ago. She’s forgiven!).
Over the last year:
- I’ve thrown myself into collecting plastics for recycling instead of chucking it into our daily rubbish.
- I have started replacing my cosmetics and skin care products with products that contain less chemicals, aren’t tested on animals, and are in recyclable containers (at least).
- We’ve increased our composting effort, which is benefiting our garden greatly!
- I’ve been gradually replacing all of our cleaning products with those that are environmentally friendly.
- I’ve curbed my fast fashion habit. Today I am considering every purchase for where it comes from, how it’s made, who it’s made from, and how long it will last.
In 2020, I aim to ‘make’ my own cleaning products, avoid fast fashion – investing in clothes for the long-haul, and look in to other ways we can make a difference in our household. This includes investing in a bee house to do our bit to save the bees.
I will read 30 books
Reading books is another of my true loves, so I could not set a goal without include books in my list!
In 2019, I completed the Goodreads Reading Challenge, reading 20 books for the year.
In 2020, I’ve set my challenge at 30.
I’ve kicked off the year reading Godsgrave, #2 in The Nevernight Chronicles by Jay Kristoff.
My word of the year
Over the last few years my word of the year has been focussed around health: from mindfulness, balance and wellbeing, my word for the year has encapsulated both my focus and struggles over the last few years.
2020 is different however.
For 2020, my word of the year is:
Begin
I see 2020 and the new decade as a time for new beginnings.
Big and small.
Challenging and really quite simple.
And best of all an opportunity … to begin again after what was a very challenging decade.
I’m quietly and gently embracing the new year and decade with my whole person, and for the first time in a long time, feel calm and certain entering a new year. This is something that is welcomed wholeheartedly, and even though there will be challenges store (the next few weeks will be especially interesting), they will be worth it.
