Almost every year I set new years resolutions and every year I forget by January 12th and go on with my life. This year I’m going to set some goals to help me guide myself through the year. I hope by setting goals, It’ll change my mindset a bit and I’ll stay more committed. I also am going to try and blog about this once a month or so, to help myself stay accountable. 

1. Read a book a month

This goal really manifested at the end of this year. On our honeymoon, I read a fantastic book (Harmony) and it really brought back my love of reading. I’ve always been a super slow reader (wassup dyslexia), but I do enjoy reading, it just tends to take me more time. A book a month (or at least reading 12 books total this year) won’t be easy, but it’ll force me to put down the phone, turn off the TV and open a book.

I ended the year by finishing The Wife Between Us. It definitely has some twists and turns and I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a laid back read with a surprise in the middle. 

I’m starting the year off by reading Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty and then I have three books from my MIL that I look forward to reading. I’ll share any good reads I have with y’all! 

2. Listen to my body

This is becoming more and more important to me. I need to remind myself to listen to my body and how I feel, how certain foods or movements make me feel. In 2018, I definitely ate more crap than I’m used to and I learned how terrible it made me feel. I want to remember that, so in the future, I can treat myself better by listening and learning. 

I know this goal will take time and something I’ll continue to work on all my life. In 2017, I worked hard on listening to my body to learn how Crohn’s made me feel. In 2018, with the help of Remicade, I felt great most of the year, so it was easy to eat a piece of cake or something when I knew my stomach could handle it. It would make me feel sluggish, but I was really happy that for once, my stomach wasn’t the one causing the problem.

3. Stay on top of chores

This is a goal for Steven and I. We deep clean the house probably every other week, but dishes still pile up, laundry doesn’t get done and somehow there’s close all over (my side of the bedroom) floor. We’ve gotten better about not going to bed with a dirty kitchen, but as Whole30 begins, I know it can be hard to continue doing this. 

One thing I’m also really working on is minimalizing the things I own. I don’t need millions of leggings, but 5 good pairs will do. I don’t need an obscene amount of coffee mugs, but for some reason I still buy them…etc. I’ll be able to stay better organized when there is less to organize.

4. Budget and keep to it

Once again, this is a goal for Steven and I. 2018 was a pricey year, with buying a house and planning a wedding. We’re attempting to only eat out once a month (unless invited by friends or some other circumstances), which not only helps us health-wise but will definitely help our bank accounts. 

5. Try new things 

For Christmas this year, Steven and I bought bikes. We’re hoping to start riding around the neighborhood and that’s what sparked this goal. I haven’t ridden a bike in YEARS. I know it’ll be fun and good exercise, but it’ll be something new.

If y’all saw my Instagram stories over Christmas, you saw that I picked up knitting again. I knitted in like…middle school? So it’s been fun to pick it up again and I hope to continue with it. 

Lastly, as a “new thing,” I want to be consistent with blogging this year. In the years past, I’d share a few blogs then go MIA for a month or two, then come back. I’m planning better and really hoping to deliver two blogs a week this year.

What are your goals for 2019?