In my last entry I mentioned that I’d made plans for this year so I figured I would post them on here, if anything to act as a reminder. In 2014 I would really like to try and do the following:
- As Le Tigre would say “GET OFF THE INTERNET“ – I’m not planning on doing a Neil Gaiman but I do spend a lot of time on social media. V thinks that he does too. We’ve since tried to improve this by having phones/laptops/iPads put away on our evenings together with great success. I also feel like a crap friend at times. The time I spend online catching up with people I could be doing in person, the fact my best friend lives about a 10 minute walk away from me, yet I see her rarely is testament to this. I’m therefore going to try and limit my time online to just one day a week. I was/am quite addicted to a few games on Facebook. I’ve deleted them all bar one, however I feel playing it just once a week will become frustrating and I’ll probably give that up too in future. Hopefully this will mean I’ll have more time to read more books/crochet/knit etc. as well as blog more, which is another factor I’d like to improve upon.
- Operation Frugality – Although compared to others I am already a frugal person, I still find I waste money on absolute shit, this was confirmed during the great uncluttering of 2013. Therefore rules are simple and the plastic has been destroyed/hidden. I’m only allowed to buy things if I absolutely need them and even then if I can save money by being more savvy with my hard earned cash then to obviously do so. I’m thinking of doing a weekly breakdown blog post of what I’ve spent that week to keep my motivation levels high with regards to this. I personally think it’ll be interesting so we’ll see how it goes.
- Continue the great uncluttering/life laundry that I started in 2013 – Already I have a huge box of gear to give to charity and one huge box to list on eBay as and when inclination allows. I hate listing things on eBay so so much. Needs must however. Alongside this as mentioned before, I’m going to try and do at least one 20:10 of my home each day in attempts to ward off my flat becoming messy and disorganised but no more than 3.
- Diet and Fitness – I’m signing up to do a 5km run in the summer, something I’ve never done before but at least it will get me running (I have the couch to 5km app downloaded and ready). I’ve had a review at the gym this week and am hoping I can go back to kickboxing at some point in the near future. All in all I’m feeling quite positive with regards to my fitness this year. I also have the Insanity Workout (yes it is as horrible as what everyone makes out but it does get results) to attempt when I can’t do any of the above. I’m going to try and aim to do at least some form of exercise at least 5 days a week. Something is better than nothing. On top of this I will of course be trying to eat as healthy as possible as well. No more buying lunch at work (Operation Frugality denies it anyway) so no excuses.
- Get up to speed with my skills as a designer – I’ve done nothing with regards to my degree since I left uni and is something I constantly feel bad about. I have opportunities at my feet that I feel I cannot take advantage of due to this and the lack of confidence that goes with it. Therefore this year I’m going to try and master at least the aspects of print based design that I feel I need to work on so any resources for this would be appreciated. Same goes for photography too. I used to do a lot of it and then I stopped which is a shame as I did enjoy it.
- Vanity – I need to seriously up my dental hygiene and get my other sleeve started. I need to floss, my dentist has said so on many occasssions but I hate it. I try hard for a week or so and then give up. Now I’m a non smoker there isn’t any excuses. To be honest I haven’t even seen my dentist in about 2 years because I just know I’ll get another bollocking from her. Booking an appointment with her is on the “to do” list. Getting my other sleeve started is probably going to be the only indulgence of this year as and when Operation Frugality will allow. It needs doing. It’s been lasered as much as I can handle now so I need to look into my options when I have enough money saved up for my first appointment. Cheaper goals include mastering the art of good eyebrows and contouring. Ru Paul’s Drag Race can only educate so much.
I am aware that this list does seem like a lot but at the end of the day they’re just goals that I would like to at least try and do during the year. A year is a long period of time and if I don’t get to do them all then there’s always next year isn’t there. *wink*.
Ahhh New Years. Where optimism and positivity probably run the highest in comparison to the rest of the year. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Positive changes can happen whenever, you really don’t have to wait until NYE to start. Saying that however I’m as guilty as the next person but I did actually make some positive changes last year and I have ones I want to do this year too. So here’s a recap on 2013:
I did struggle a lot in 2013. Both in my personal and working life. I quit smoking which I’m still doing pretty well at despite being rather naughty over Christmas. I am firmly back on the wagon now and haven’t had any since NYE and plan on keeping it that way.
I also started (and stopped) going to the gym more regularly. The fact V enrolled as well kept both our motivations in this respect quite high, that was until he damaged his shoulder and therefore couldn’t go for a while and I in turn, then made excuses along the lines of “not wanting to go on my own” and alongside doing extra shifts at work meant that this once enjoyable and great habit slipped into a distant memory for both of us. I didn’t start running and didn’t go back to kickboxing either which quite frankly sucked.
I did try Veganism though, and lasted just over 4 months. I wish I could fully commit to this lifestyle but I just can’t. Instead I’m quite happy to remain a Vegetarian who tries her best which means although I will eat a lot of vegan friendly food at home with exception to the occasional tray of eggs (which I get from my Mum’s friend who keeps ducks/hens) and the odd indulgent cheese board, Outside of home however it’s a free for all. Non animal friendly cosmetics and clothing etc. will still be avoided as much as possible.
I did declutter a lot in 2013 as well. With eBay, Amazon and local charity shops all helping me dispose of items I no longer wanted. I still have a large cardboard box full of stuff to go but its getting there. I’m actually quite pleased with what I did actually accomplish in this aspect.
My finances are somewhat healthier now too. Not immaculate but definitely better. Already in 2014 I’ve started saving small amounts of money each month and have joined the pension scheme at work. Both little jobs that I’ve been putting off for ages but will be well worth it in future. Still in a little bit of debt but I’m going to really try and tackle that this year.
On top of this my working life has resembled somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster too. I hammered the final coffin nail into DJ’ing due to various reasons which I’ll probably go into in a future post if I ever feel the need to let off some steam. That and certain aspects at my day job meant that my ego came out of 2013 feeling rather bruised and battered. Trying to turn to the positive however I have learnt a lot of lessons too so it’s not all bad and I quote:
“Your heart is the only beating you will survive and though it may take some time to trust it, it has never let you down.”
How was 2013 for you?
I found out at the end of last year that I have gallstones after two hideous attacks that left me crippled in agony and as weak as a kitten. One night the pain was that bad I ended up in my local A&E. Therefore with impending surgery on the horizon I’m in dire need to shift some weight and overall become a healthier, fitter person (better late than never eh?).
I already do kickboxing (I’ve got an orange belt – babysteps innit) but since I’ve moved house and due to my finishing times at work I’ve found it difficult to get back into the swing of it which is a shame really as I love it. It’s the only exercise I’ve ever did where not only have I sweated buckets and ached all over but more importantly I’ve enjoyed, plus learning to kick the shit out of any would be assailant is always a handy skill to know in my book. One of the things on my list to do this week is to rectify this so I can go back as I love the club I go to. The instructor and everyone who goes are top notch and super friendly.
Alongside this a friend started going to bootcamp sessions three times a week and invited me to tag along. I hate the cold so this didn’t sound appealing whatsoever but a month later and she’s looking a lot better for it and with advertising like that I decided to at least try it and went along last night. Frightened by the weather I had leggings on under my tracksuit bottoms and on my top half wore a vest, t-shirt, long sleeved t-shirt and a hoodie. When we arrived I was freezing and remained so until I had to start jogging around a huge field in the pitch dark.
It got worse from then on and then easier(ish). I did slowly warm up and I got to do some sparring which made me happy (and more determined to get back to kickboxing). The well earned long soak in attempts to warm up once I’d returned home was well worth too.
However I woke up this morning and deary me. I ache. My ankles, shoulders, and back all hurt. It’s that weird good hurt however that appeals to the masochist in me so yeah I do think I’ll go again because I feel, like anything, it’ll get better/easier the more I go. No idea if I can commit to it 3 times a week but going at least once a week has got to be better than not going at all.
