As with everything, there are pros and cons to New Year's Resolutions. On one hand, they're often unrealistic, create another source of stress in our lives and encourage unachievable perfectionism. But, on the other, they encourage us to reexamine where we are in life, offering a fresh slate to start over and to make changes that can better us both individually and in a community of others. Personally, I tend to go with the latter- there's no time like the first of the year to set goals!
Therefore, here are my 2011 resolutions:
1. Stress less. This is the biggest one. Like many people, I often take life way too seriously. Though I try to keep my outlook positive in general, you do not want to cross me when I'm stressed out. This year, I'd like to focus on the bigger picture, accepting the things I can't change and instead being grateful for all the blessings in my life. After all, everything works out in the end- and if it doesn't, it's not the end.
2. Be more patient with others. Patience is one virtue I've never been too good at. I often get frustrated or stressed (see above) when others take more time or do something differently than me. Reminding myself to take a deep breath and put a smile on my face works wonders!
3. Continue a frequent strength training routine. For the first time ever, I'm really loving strength training in the form of BodyPump. My gym in New York doesn't offer it, so I'd like to find other enjoyable forms of strength training in order to keep my bones and muscles healthy.
4. Be mindful of my sugar intake. Health-wise, my sweet tooth is my biggest weakness. I love desserts and would never want to live without them, but I'd like to feel more in control of cravings and "oversweeting."
5. Keep working hard on the bloggie. Blogging is one of my favorite hobbies and I love the people and ideas it's introduced me to. Furthermore, I see it as a wonderful way to be involved in a community that I'm fascinated by but don't have much professional expertise in. I want to continue my passion!
6. Read more. Growing up, I read like it was my job. I just loved it! Once I got to high school and college, however, reading endless amounts for class took a lot of the fun out of reading. I'd like to try to read one new book a month this year.
7. Go to church more often. I feel more centered an in perspective for the entire week after a Sunday service. It's good for the soul :)
I have a few other more personal resolutions that I'm keeping off the blog (a girl's gotta have secrets, right?), but these are my biggest overarching goals for the year. That being said, they're things to strive for, not obsess over- I don't want #2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 to get in the way of #1!
I've got a feeling 2011 is going to be a good year :)
What's your take on resolutions? Do you have any? Are there any life goals that you're constantly working towards?
27 comments:
I think resolutions are good, but real changes shouldn't wait until January 1st. That being said, New Years does serve as a good motivator to get yourself in gear. I'm going to continue to try to be more active and also tackle my sweet tooth, like you.
Happy New Year gorgeous!
Great goals girl! I think #1 will be a life-changer for you. It's so hard when you have a "stress habit" as I call it, but I know you can break this! And you're right, goals are just goals, nobody will die if they don't all work out!
I love these 7 my dear! And they seem like better fleshed out plans of your Dec goals and some of your previous goals Ive seen you post...so here's to them coming true for you!
And YES, keep things off the blog!! Not sharing everything is a beautiful gift to YOURSELF. Your blog is your gift to others, you dont have to bare it all, clearly you know this, but thank you for writing that as I think it's a good reminder for all to remember we are not obligated to share it all :)
I love your resolutions, they are very similar to mine! I am also not sharing a whole lot of my resolutions on the blog as well.
I love those resolutions!! I can't wait to keep reading and seeing how your 2011 goes!
Great list! I'm with you on #1 ans #2. I've gotten better over the years and Billy really helps me with that - putting things in perspective and he calls me out if I'm being impatient! I have a continued life goals and there's a lot I'd like to accomplish this year. I turn 30 in October which is hard for me to believe!
I love this!
I'm definitely with you on READING more, haha. All I read now are magazines and I'd love to rediscover how it feels to get lost in a book!
I feel the same way as you about resolutions.. and ummm I think you just wrote mine for me. Reading this just goes to show how similar we really are. The Husband actually just told me last night not to take things so seriously all the time - I can't help it though! Instead of going to church more regularly, I want to get moer INVOLVED in church. I want to develop a group of people I feel connected with and focus on a ministry I love!
i think i never really make resolutions haha i talk about the best parts of the year and think about things i want to do and then sometimes i feel like life gets in the way and it never turns out the way i thought it would which is totally cool and fun and i'm good with that! i'd love to put more money in savings this year but i'd need a full time job first haha
hope you're enjoying your new years girl :)
I have been loving your blog! Keep up the awesome work!
Love your goals girlie! :) And I love you blog, I can't imagine how you could improve it any more!
ah, G - your resolutions are just PERFECT!!!! My favorite part? The fact that none of them are geared towards vanity. Even your strength training resolution focuses on being "healthy" not "hot" (which you already are ;)!
Let's hope 2011 is finally the year we get to meet in PERSON!!!!!
Love you girl!
happy new year, gabriela!
you have such a great variety of goals! please do keep us updated as the year progresses on how you are doing/feeling.
and, haha, we are on the same brain-wave as i just wrote 11 goals for '11...can't wait to see what the year ahead brings!
Great resolutions! I really need to stress less as well. That is my biggest weakness!
My biggest dietary weakness is too many burgers. LOL.
First of all, I feel like you've been a blogging QUEEN over the past few days, haha! I just wanted to mention that I think your "vegan for a month" experiment sounds like a great one. Whether you remain a vegan afterward or not, I think that it's important for *everyone* to experiments with different eating styles to see what works best for them. And, since you've been mostly vegan for so long, it seems only natural that you'd give a fully vegan diet a try. Not to mention that you really do have such great resources now (specifically Mama Pea and Angela, like you said). Aaaand I did not intend this comment to be so long. haha, sorry! Just wanted to show my support :D
NOW about your resolutions - they seem just about perfect to me. Nothing is too strict or rigid, and I absolutely think that reducing stress is the most important. People don't seem to think that stress is something that can be managed because it is based on life's circumstances, but I couldn't disagree more! I think that it's entirely possible to practice reducing stress simply by being aware and making certain attitude changes. In fact, I'd say that that's probably my number one goal for 2011 as well!
It seems like this year is off to a good start for you, can't wait to see what's to come! xoxoxo
These are great 7 goals!! I am with you on less stress!!!
Happy New Year!
And that chocolate raspberry cake from your previous most, oh my, YUM!
I think these are perfect resolutions. I wish I was more patient naturally, too!
I'm not sure how I feel about resolutions. By no means am I against them - I think it's good for some people to finally be motivated to change what they've been putting off - but I'd like to think when I have a goal in mind, I put it into action then. (...not that I always do, though :P
Great goal s- I'm on the same page with a lot of those!
Glad you had a good NYE!!
My sweet tooth has and always will be my biggest weakness, this year I hope to manage it and just eat less sugar!
great goals and such a cute way of expressing them
I love reading lists like this! Great goals.
CHEERS to you and a prosperous 2011~!~!
Setting goals are great for keeping you on track and force you to hold yoursef accountable. Like you, I have been putting more of an emphasis on strength training and plan on meditating more frequently to help me stay in the present and deal with stress in a more productive way :)
I also am not a fan of new years "resolutions". Instead I made some goals with my boyfriend which we will exchange in four months. I'm a bit thrilled about it, as I have some life items I need addressed. It feels like a fresh start :)
I used to be against resolutions because I believed you should be able to set goals and achieve them any time of the year, not just at the start of the New Year. But now I've changed my mind because I like the fresh start that the New Year gives me!
Your resolutions are all great ones! I hope you keep us posted on how they're going throughout the year. :)
Great goals! Love the one about doing frequent strength training. I am such a nut for cardio and I have a hard time incorporating strength into my exercise routine.
Loved reading your resolutions. I also need some help in the stress department. Lately I've been working on getting into a nighttime routine that includes slipping into my fleece robe and curling up on the couch (or in bed) with a hot mug of tea and a good book. Perfect way to unwind if ya ask me :)
PS...Just caught up with the rest of your posts and I'm dying to try that tofu quiche soup! :)
Happy New Years ma dear!!!
i dont really have any. but i always have the same goals in life and im constantly trying to reassess and make progress. yours sound great. also, i am having sisues commenting for some reason on past posts, but the year in review post was epic. i love all the photos. your blog is such a pleasure to read and it inspires me to make different things outside my comfort zone (aka all things baking). so thanks for being you! heres to 2011!!
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