Just a girl with GOALS

New year means new resolutions... right?

Something I've been really thinking about since the year started is all of the pressure put on these resolutions. Every year we all make the same resolutions and nothing ever really comes from them.

I mean I'm sure there are a few of you that complete them, but this girl right here absolutely sucks at it.

I definitely mean well (I'm sure we all do), but the follow through is a little shaky. I guess in the end there are more important things than these resolutions that seem to get me nowhere.

So this year I decided that instead of resolutions, I'm going to do a few little things to make me better. Now I guess in the end that's what resolutions are, but I think using the word "resolutions" can be a bit intimidating. Honestly, how often do we make resolutions if it's not the beginning of the year and actually call them that? After January we just make goals and plans, not "resolutions."

That's much less intimidating if you ask me... so that's what I'm making.

Goals.

Looking at these goals, I wanted to choose something that can really change me and help me progress a bit in every aspect of life.

Spiritually. Mentally. Physically.

If the ultimate goal in life is to be happy and find joy, we should be making goals that lead us toward this huge end goal in life, right?

So with that, here are a few of my little goals for the year:

1. Make the bed EVERYDAY. Now it doesn't matter if I make it in the morning once I'm awake, or if I do it in the afternoon, or even right before bed. I just need to do it.

Growing up I always told me mom that I didn't understand why I had to make my bed when I was just going to mess it up later than night. Honestly, I still don't understand, but I have noticed the last week or so that I've made my bed, coming home is so much nicer. Instead of coming home and figuring out where I threw my bedding that morning, I just hop right in.

Now that's a little piece of joy I didn't realize I was missing.

2. Run more. Every year I make the same goal to work out more and every year I fail. It's not that I don't work out, but I don't work our more than the previous year. 

Recently I've realized that the amount I work out isn't necessarily an issue. I'm not looking to lose any weight, or gain any for that matter. But, running is a happy place for me. It clears my mind and takes away stress.

So here' to a more joyful and stress free year with a little more running. 

3. Go to the temple more. At the end of last year I made my schedule SO busy that I missed all of my ward temple nights. I work in the temple every week, so it's not that I didn't go, but I missed going and actually attending.

The temple is a place of calm and retreat and I seem to find myself a little crazier when I'm unable to attend. So the goal is to go at least once a month for me, and if I go more then even better.

4. Budget. Now this one is a little tricky. I'm not terrible with my money but I could always be a bit better. I've noticed that since I started working full time I don't watch what I spend as much.

This has caused a few issues in the past year with digging into my savings a bit more than intended. So this year I plan to actually budget so money isn't a huge stress.

Now these aren't huge goals and I definitely don't have a lot of them, but I am hoping to turn these goals into habits. Once I'm there I hope to slowly add more goals to replace them. Hopefully with the start of each month I can add something new to make my life a little more joyful.

So Happy New Year! Here's to goals and plans that we will actually follow through with.