Making plans for a New Year

Happy 2016! Can you believe it’s another new Year already?! This past one flew by in a flurry of baby and house moving and it seems I hardly noticed it coming or going. 2015 was a great year, but I’m even more excited about 2016. I’ve been feeling the pull of setting a few goals for myself for the past few weeks, I feel like I’ve finally come out of the ‘baby cocoon’ that comes with a new addition, and while I might not be getting much more sleep I’m raring to get this New Year started.

I know I’m not the only one who finds themselves feeling a little lost after having a baby – feeling out of touch with yourself. When you’re caught up in ensuring the survival of a tiny being, you tend to put your own needs last, especially when there are three other kiddos to look after, homeschool, as well as a house to run and you’re working too!

This past year has found me feeling more at ease in my own skin than ever, more confident in my abilities and more passionate about the things that I want to do. I feel like this is the year to let myself be the best version of me. Maybe it’s age, I don’t know – but I finally feel like I have the confidence to be me, and not seek out others approval. I, and no one else, am entirely responsible for my own happiness. I recently watched this Red Table Talk with Jada Pinkett-Smith and it really struck a chord with me.

Start Working Out

I’ve made excuse after excuse last year as to why I haven’t started working out again… in truth it was just laziness… I’m too tired… I don’t have enough time. Working out, for me, isn’t just about getting in shape physically. While I have a little baby weight I want to lose – a few inches of my hips and tummy, and some toning wouldn’t go amiss, excerise is the best gift I can give my mental health. One thing I learnt after years of depression, is that working out really makes me feel good. I’ve done the C25k programme before and I’ve just re-downloaded the app onto my phone. I’m planning on hopping on our cross-trainer in an evening after the kiddos are in bed – some loud music and half an hour of sweating will make me feel alive {I hope!} and be the tonic I need. I’ve also just subscribed to some YouTube fitness channels to keep it interesting! If you’re wondering – BeFit, Blogilates, Tara Stiles and The Daily Hiit {thanks Molly for the suggestions!}

Be Still

I’m the first to admit that I’m not good at doing nothing. Four kids, a hectic life, work, household to run means my to-do list is never ending, and I always feel like I should be doing something – not sitting doing nothing. After a couple of slow{er} weeks over Christmas I’ve realised that maybe I need to schedule in some down time. Some time to be still, to do nothing. To me, nothing is reading through naptime, or taking a bath in the evening instead of working. It’s turning the phone and computer off and going for a walk, or sitting in the garden and just relaxing. Too much of our lives are lived at 100mph and we rush from one thing to the next without ever giving ourselves time to just be.

Live Lagom

I’ll be talking more about this in the next few days, but one goal we have this year as a family is to look at how sustainably we are living. We’ll be making a huge effort to reduce waste, energy usage and food waste. We’ve always tried to be as ‘green’ as poss – we’ve grown our own food before, kept chickens and composted. I feel like we’ve gone off track a little last year – having a baby and moving house threw us and it’s time to kick our asses back into gear.

Put myself out there

In the past, I’ve been the one on the sidelines. A little too shy, a little to unconvinced of what I have to offer. Scared of rejection. You know what? No more – I’ve decided that it’s well past time that I stopped giving a damn. Stopped worrying what others may think, or if they might approve or even if they’ll simply say ‘yes’ or not. I’m going to put myself out there, both personally and professionally and make damn sure this is my best year yet.

Have you set any goals for yourself this year?