HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I thought about doing a separate blog post looking back on 2021, but you know what? Nah. I had some good things happen and some bad things, and well, it’s time to move on.
I’m very big on goals over “resolutions” and this year, I have a lot of them. I noticed that my goals for 2021 were a little abstract (I was admittedly in a much different place)… but this year, I’m getting verrryyy specific.
I’m sharing these for personal accountability, so let’s do this.
2022 Word: Protect
Late last year, this word came to me because I really felt like I did myself such a disservice. I am really bad about saying no. I say yes to everything because I never want to let anyone down, and if it’s a freelance gig, I always want the extra money.
Well, I pretty much made myself sick. I cannot tell you the number of times I ended up crying in my bed feeling like I ruined my own life. All I did in 2021 was work, and that included on any plane ride, during “vacations,” etc.
I failed to protect my own peace.
So this year, I’m protecting my peace, my energy, my money, my space, all of it. And a majority of my goals align with this word.
Financial goals
Lasy year, I used a budget journal for the first time and I spent the entire year just getting a solid understanding of where my money was going and what all of my different accounts (checking, savings, retirement, investment, etc.) looked like.
This year, I’ve got a fresh budget journal and am actually using the numbers from last year to set a budget and hit some goals. My goal is to put $800/month into savings. This is 20% of my 9-5 income and last year I did this, but I used freelance money to do it. This year, I’m doing much, much less freelance (I do have 1 contract job still but am not accepting ANY new clients), so I have to be a better (more mindful) spender to make it happen, but I know I can do it.
I’m also putting $1,000 toward my credit card debt each month and not contributing to the debt. I put a massive dent in my debt last year, but I still have two cards left to pay off. I really enjoy seeing the number go down every month, slowly but surely.
Health goals
I don’t have any goals to work out more or eat differently, really, but in general I just want to be more mindful about all of it. I’m focused more on prioritizing rest and sleep, and just giving my mind a big break.
This also means much less social media (no mindless scrolling), getting a good bedtime routine going, and checking in with my mental health via meditation and journaling daily (which I’ve been doing for a few years).
I’ve also challenged myself to take 1 PTO day a month so I can get a 3-day weekend, just to do nothing. Travel doesn’t count, or a built-in holiday doesn’t count. A day off just because every month — already have January and February’s in the request list!
Creative goals
In 2020, I met a fellow Austin writer during #NaNoWriMo and we decided to become creative partners. We check in every month and share our creative goals and just cheer each other on. I keep my goals private to her, but in general, I’ll be writing lots this year and getting a grasp on the industry so I can take some leaps.
I also am going to make an effort to quietly inspire myself and create, and just live with it for a while before I share. I don’t know why, but I feel like I’m just always grinding and doing and sharing, and I want to just marinate for a bit.
Basically, I’m just looking to stop hustling this year, and just resting, chilling, and being present. It might sound easy, but it’s all going to be a challenge. I’m here for it!
Whatever your hope is for the New Year, I hope you see it 🙂 Cheers to 2022!
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