2019, how you doinnn (in my best Joey Tribbiani voice).

I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on 2018 (final verdict: I want my money back) and brainstorming my goals and plans for this new year. Last year wasn’t exactly my best, and I felt like I lost myself along the way. BUT I’m determined to make 2019 my comeback year.

I know we all get caught up in the buzz of resolutions, but that doesn’t mean the classics are right for everyone (I’m looking at you, Dry January and Whole30.) SO, I want to go over something that makes my little Capricorn heart very happy: setting goals and making plans ….and kicking ass and taking names.

A few of my very first posts on this blog (and in my opinion, some of the most helpful posts I’ve ever written) were about resolutions vs. results and how to set yourself up for success. But before you check those out, I want to share a few of my own personal goals for 2019. I hope they will inspire you to get to planning for yourself. You’ll be saying #newyearwhodis in no time.

One thing I want to point out is that all of the goals I’ve set for myself have a very specific WHY behind them. Having a reason WHY you want to achieve something gives that goal a much more significant purpose, and will inspire you to take action on your plan to achieve it!

My 2019 Goals:

1. Show up for and nurture relationships with people who inspire me

Ever heard the saying, “you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with?” Well, I met [way more than five] wildly creative, enthusiastic and overall amazing friends last year, and let go of some that were not so much. I plan to continue to nurture those relationships in the new year, because to have a friend you’ve gotta be a friend, right? That means showing up: actually going to get that coffee we keep talking about, supporting their various projects and goals, and choosing to stay open while they continue to inspire me. I cannot express the impact that simply showing up can have on your relationships. In fact, my foodie boss babe @melsantell’s new blog post inspired me to finally publish this post in the first place!

2. Get my financial shit together and buy a home

I will be the first to admit that I’ve never been good with money (hello, I love random weekday Target hauls) but this year I am absolutely determined to buy my first house by myself. This goal has a nice trickle down effect. In order to save enough for a home, I need to be more conscious of my spending, get my credit cards into good standing, and mindfully contribute to savings. A lot of people make finance goals to budget or save more money, but having an end goal (buy a house, take a trip, etc.) will make all the difference!

I recently read the book The Automatic Millionaire which taught me how to automate my savings, payments and investments and I can’t recommend it enough if you have similar financial goals! I also use the app Digit (you can get $5 if you use that link) to automate savings and keep track of my account balances!

3. Spend more time creating content for YOU!

I’ve had this blog for about two years now, and I’ve never spent as much time on it as I would like to. I am determined to publish TWO blog posts per month this year and spend more time creating content that inspires and informs YOU, my lovely readers. You guys make this blog enjoyable for me and inspire me daily! As much as I would love to post once a week (or hell, be a full time blogger…) it’s just not a realistic schedule for me personally. I would eventually love to be able to monetize this blog and make it a full time gig – so researching the best ways to do that is another one of my plans! If you ever want me to write about or expand on anything, be sure to let me know and I would be happy to!

4. Focus on my health; physically and emotionally

Last year, I felt like I could never get a grasp on my personal time, couldn’t nail down a workout schedule, and just generally had a lot going on. I felt genuinely uninspired. I’ve been wanting to get back on track, and had a revelation recently while reading a book called The One Thing. Working out is the one thing that will help me to feel healthier and make healthy choices all around. When I work out consistently, I eat healthier by default, am more clear-minded and level-headed, I sleep better and have more energy. So focusing on working out at least four times a week and is my priority for 2019.

On that same token, making sure to carve out time to meditate daily and practice some self care is a must. Meditating sounds scary to some, but it truly just means taking a few minutes to relax and clear your mind. While I won’t be participating in Dry January because that’s just not realistic for my lifestyle (and you know your girl enjoys a cold craft beer), cutting down on alcohol is another plan I have to make sure I’m the healthiest and happiest version of myself! Ain’t nobody got time for hangovers in 2019!

5. Practice saying “no” when I need to

I am the biggest YES girl ever, so this is a tough but necessary goal. There are always so many fun events going on in the Tampa Bay area, and I love to be out and about (and hate to miss out on fun.) That being said, I found myself totally burnt out at so many points last year because I was saying yes to every event, every collaboration, every girls night out, everything! Even when I didn’t really want to go, I still did because “it’s better than not doing anything.” FALSE.

This year, I’m focusing on choosing what events, opportunities and activities fill me up with excitement, inspire me, and feel right for me, and saying, “no thank you” to those that don’t. This doesn’t mean not going to someones birthday party because, “I don’t feeeeeel like going tonight.” Like I said above, it’s important to SHOW UP for your peeps. But it’s also important to know your boundaries and take some time for yourself when possible and necessary.

I hope you found some nuggets of inspiration from these goals and are inspired to start working on your own! We may be in the second week of January, but don’t let that make you feel like you’ve missed the boat. It’s never too late to be who you want to be.

As always, I’d love to hear from you guys! Leave a comment here or shoot me a DM on Instagram @sunkissedindecember!

xx