My 2018 Tick List: Realistic Resolutions

It’s that time where people get their thinking caps on and make some resolutions for the year ahead. I’m not knocking the ‘New Year New Me’ mentality because for some people, it takes a clean slate and a new beginning to get the motivation to change things. But for me, I’m the same old Tiff, just with some habits I want to knock on the head and new things I want to try. In the past, I have made the same old resolutions and never really achieved them. Things have gotten in the way and my motivation has dipped. But this year, I’ve taken a step back and thought, ‘enough of the excuses’ – maybe my resolutions just haven’t been realistic to begin with? Setting goals is something you do when you want to achieve them and get that sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with it. It’s important for these to be attainable for the most part and not too adventurous because we can lose sight, lose motivation and then feel like a failure when we haven’t done things in a certain time frame.

Examples of this in my case were:

1) Losing X amount of weight by a certain occasion, event or birthday

2) Saving X amount of money by the end of the year

3) Visiting X amount of countries in a given time period

As much as these resolutions were set with good intentions behind them, I found myself being too hard on myself if I hadn’t lost weight by a certain date or saved a good chunk of money in a given month. When we set goals, we sometimes have our head in the clouds and are dreamers, thinking up ideal situations that we could see ourselves in should we get no interruptions. And by interruptions I mean real life. Tough road blocks, periods where we may not feel up to doing anything, busy weeks at work and those times when it feels like more money leaves your account than goes in.

This year, I wanted to do it differently and created a ‘2018 Tick List’ that should hopefully be easier to stick to and have me feeling positive about the year and all it will entail. I still have the same areas I want to achieve certain things in – mind, body, work and travel. I’m just not being so definite or restrictive. So without further ado…

My Mind:

– Read at least one book a month: this equates to 12 a year. I always have one on the go but can go days without picking it up. A few pages a day can be all that I need to re-centre and relax.

– Continue to appreciate the little things: my friend Sarah bought me a lovely book for Christmas where you write a line every day, about your day, for 5 years and can look back at all the lovely things you’ve done – however small. I’ll be doing this daily as well as continuing with my monthly favourite posts on the blog to look back on all the things I’ve done and achieved.

– Not be so hard on myself: not getting anxious because I don’t feel up to seeing friends or didn’t workout when I said I would is what I want to work on. Looking after yourself is very important.

– Appreciate others: whether it be a text, a comment on a great picture or letting another blogger know I love their content, I think it is important to let others know that you dig what they’re doing. Why keep it to yourself!? It could make that person’s day!

My Body:

– Walk a minimum of 5000 steps a day: When I lived and worked in Melbourne, I walked to and from work every day and never felt fitter. The recommendation is 10000 steps a day but sometimes that’s just not achievable for the ol’ office worker! I know my body will be thankful for any additional steps I can rack up in my lunch break.

– Up my weights: at the moment, my barbell is still set at 10kg. It came with a lot of additional weights to add onto it which I will work towards adding as I get stronger.

– Take up yoga: I want to increase my flexibility and concentrate on my muscles and breathing more.

Money/Work:

– Take lunch in to the office from home: I used to be so good at this, but the latter part of 2017 has seen me succumb to the goodies of the Bourne Leisure canteen and I am guilty of buying a £2.50 jacket potato more often than not. These little lunch splurges add up and can make all the difference to what’s left in my pocket at the end of the month.

– Put something away each month, however small: The point being I’m not being strict on myself here. If I can only afford to put £50 away one month due to my car needing it’s MOT and paying for a holiday, so be it. Something is better than nothing.

– Be more confident in my ideas: if there is something I want to suggest or something I want to learn in my role at work, I need to not be afraid to voice it.

– Keep working on my blog: I love love love writing posts, sharing pictures and making videos for The Positiff Blog. I think this year, I need to be even more brave and keep promoting what I want to share with the world – a positive mentality really can work wonders.

Travel:

– Visit more places in the UK: I forget of the awesome cities, secluded spots and pretty places that are dotted around my home country. I’d love to visit Bath, Newcastle and head back to my favourite childhood place – Cornwall.

– Holiday with friends: This should be on everyone’s list I feel. Holidays with friends are the best kind. I have a few planned this year and can’t wait to blog about them and create some new videos!

Note that none of these things that I want to tick off have a time scale or exact measure next to them and that’s the beauty of realistic resolutions. You can do what you put your mind to, in the situation you’re in. Small lifestyle changes can make a HUGE difference in how we feel and I can’t wait to have a fulfilled and fun year.

With lots of love and no silly fad diets in sight!

Tiff

xx