Here we are in 2020 and the year is in full swing. The children are back to nursery and school and normal routines are once again kicking in. How are you feeling about the year ahead? Have you ever stopped to think about it? Few of us really do, especially when we are running a busy home, we just take each day as it comes. The only problem with doing this is that it doesn’t move us out of our comfort zone, it doesn’t challenge us to do things differently. Sometimes, moving out of that comfort zone reaps rewards, and that is what we want to talk about today. Today we are sharing with you 5 things to do for you this year, a little inspiration to give yourself a great 2020.
Make time for your friends
We will start here as this is one that we often hear people wishing that they could do. We would all love to spend more time with our friends and loved ones, wouldn’t we? Then make this the year that you do just that.
The key to this one is a little forward planning. Spontaneously meeting up with friends of an evening is probably a thing of the past as we all have so much on, so take the time to plan things in.
At the beginning of each month, you could start a habit to send out a handful of texts to the friends you would like to see and get a few things booked into the diary. These do not have to be all-evening activities if you do not have the time, it could just be meeting up on a shopping trip, catching up over a cup of coffee or walking your dogs together in the park.
Start a journal
If you have never kept a journal before, then we challenge you to give it a try this year. Writing in a journal is good for your mental health and it is an easy hobby to fit into your everyday life.
Your journal can be a chance for you to express your creativity, it can be an opportunity for you to indulge your love of pretty coloured pens or it can be a way for you to clear your mind and get everything out. Some people like to write a few words each day, some a doodle here and there. Some people like to give it a theme, such as a gratitude journal or word a day journal, whilst others use it to document things around the home, garden or family.
All that you need to do for this one is to grab a notebook and pen and start. Do not overthink it, this is your space and no-one else’s and you can do with it what you will.
Image Pixabay – Pixabay License
Learn something new
When was the last time that you learned something new? For many of us, the answer is ‘too long’! Make this the year that you learn something new, just for you.
Learning new things is great for our self confidence, our creativity and our memory. On top of that, we will have acquired whatever new skill it is that we are seeking to learn and maybe found a new passion along the way.
Have a think about what you have always wanted to learn more about and jot down a few ideas. You might want to learn a language, learn how to dance, learn how to decorate cakes or perhaps you have a hankering to develop your photography skills. You might have higher hopes and want to complete a degree, or it might be smaller and you would love to learn how to apply your makeup more effectively. It really does not matter what it is, just choose something new and go for it.
The chances are that once you start one thing, you will get such a boost from it that you will move onto something else, so keep that ideas list handy and by the end of the year you could have ticked off several of them.
Take up a new form of exercise
We all know that we should take some form of exercise regularly. It is important for our physical health as well as our mental wellbeing. We know this, and yet for many of us this can be a real struggle.
When we run busy households, time is often our first barrier. We are so busy looking after the kids and getting everything done, often whilst juggling it all with work, that making the time to exercise on top is often a step too far. This lack of time is only compounded by the fact that we are often not that desperate to get ourselves down to the gym anyway, so it slips further down on our list of priorities. That is why it is so important to try something new, something that you actually enjoy.
We are not all gym bunnies, we don’t all love to run and we are not all cut out for Zumba, so do not worry about doing what you have always tried or what everyone else does, find something that makes you happy. Maybe you could try yoga with online classes or maybe joining the local netball club appeals to you. Perhaps you feel like picking up a new club from Next2NewGolf and see if you can beat the scores at your local golfing green The chances are that if you take up a form of exercise that you actually love, you will find the time for it every week.
Set yourself a target
Targets and goals can be so motivational and give you a sense of purpose, so why not set yourself one this year? This could be your own personal challenge, just for you, to chip away at all year.
This one is going to be personal to you. It might be a project for your home, it might be about pushing your own boundaries, it might be a health and fitness goal or perhaps you are looking to start your own business.
It is good to set yourself an end goal, a treat for achieving your challenge. Maybe you have always wanted to spend a weekend away, or you would love personalised plates? Maybe you have your eye on a shiny new sewing machine or you dream about getting a kitten. Think about what you would love and then make this the ultimate goal and prize. Print a picture off and stick it up to remind you of all that you are working for.
