What a year 2022 was!
It's been a year of new beginnings (what with my marriage and settling into a house and trying my best to make it into a home in a new city), recreating work identities, and most of all celebration pro max (aka weddings - me and some of my closest/bestest friends). I don't think I've ever gone into a year and come out of it so incredibly changed (and evolved if I may) and a large part of that credit goes to my family, my partner, and my therapist.
I'll eventually get back to this blog (and writing in general) a lot more because I do have many life updates to share in detail and recommendations to make for those few shining stars that still show up here. However, let today's post be all about what I intend for 2023 to look like so I (and all of you) may hold me accountable for the same:
1. Exercise - 10 minutes daily. No questions, no excuses. The research on this is indisputable and I do wish to scale a mountain someday so might as well get started.
2. Eat right - No ordering in. Four junk passes, preferably all in person but minimum two in person meals outside. I have been a slave to food all my life and would really like to be the one in control of it and not the other way round.
3. Skill enhancement- Dance and financial literacy. By the end of the year reach an intermediary level at least. My friend has really inspired me to start dancing again and I am tired of how gendered the financial literacy levels are in the world (not just in India) so I want to do my bit to make a dent in that stat.
4. Read- One book per month so 12 books this year is a must. Hopefully 1 book for leisure and 1 for psychology each month (would total to 24) but we will see if we get there. I used to read a book every week as a child and to go from that to 3 books last year (with a lot of effort)) is abysmal. It's time to get off the screen and on the page.
5. Mindfulness- Five minutes every single day. I know the benefits, the merits and the science. Now I have just got to sit down and do the damn thing. I'm not going to let app preferences/subscriptions (Headspace has really been toying with me!) get in the way of that either. The aim is to get ten percent happier and I know mindfulness is the sustainable way to get there.
There are some other habits that I have been doing (albeit unsuccessfully) off and on and would like to enhance and continue. However I don't want them to be in my top five else I become too ambitious and end up doing nothing! So here are five additional things I'd like to strengthen if I can push myself more on some days:
1. Continue daily gratitude work - Let's hit 365/365 this year!
2. Journal and write - five words, five sentences, five pages doesn't matter. Just show up to the page every day.
3. Scheduled house time - things pile up very quickly and I like my house to be a certain way (mom must be smiling) so I'd rather put in the work daily to ensure it doesn't leave me frazzled
4. Reduce average screen time to 2 hours per week - I'm already honouring my 15 minutes Insta-limit. It's time to further challenge myself and step away from screens as much as possible.
5. Grow my brand - all new plans for TST to be executed this year. Consistent curiosity, learning and growth, will be the mottos of this year.
What are your new year resolutions or plans? Do you wish to join me in building some of this together and keeping each other more accountable? Do you want to reflect on why resolutions or plans are beneficial or necessary? Or do you just want to hit snooze on this ultra ambitious rant and get some more sleep in this freezing winter?
Whatever you choose, I'll be there with you :)
xx
