I’m not one to usually set many real new year resolutions. I usually pick something small, like to stop swearing or to floss my teeth more (yikes!). But this go-around I’ve done some self-reflecting and I have a few that I think are great for me but also realistic and attainable! Plus, I’ve been told that if you write down your goals, you’re much more likely to achieve them. So here we go, 2020!
1. Save More, Spend Less
I didn’t pick the username @shoppedtilshedropped for nothin! It couldn’t be more appropriate for me. Hi, I’m Jenna and I’m a shopaholic. (They say the first step is admitting, right?) For starters, Alex and I have made it a real point over the last few months to stay in more and cook rather than go out to eat in an attempt to save more and it’s been going well! But I’m still that same old compulsive shopper. Whoops! It’s important that I acknowledge I’ll always be a shopper, but that I just be more thoughtful with my purchases and stick to the damn budget! Anyone else buy something and come home to realize you love it because you already own something just like it? I’m the worst. This will be my biggest challenge for sure…but I love a good challenge.
2. De-Clutter
I do NOT like clutter. So I often go through my things trying to get rid of stuff here and there. Recently I’ve been really into Marie Kondo and her tidying method – who hasn’t? So I’d like to do one major tidy/clean-out and do it her way, rather than mine. I have so many things that are so nice but that I just don’t have the room for in our apartment. I’ve already started to part with some great pieces and while it’s been tough, I think it’s been a really cleansing process for me. Shameless plug: Go check out my treasures on my Poshmark account, JennaShopped! I’d like to see them all get a nice home LOL. In all seriousness though, I’m trying to be more thoughtful about only keeping the things that still spark joy!
3. Eat More Plant-Based
I’ve been really into intermittent fasting and breaking my fast at noon with a Blender Bomb smoothie (see my post here)! This method has helped me tremendously to improve my eating habits. I’ve cut down on snacking and have even lost a few pounds, but nothing major. It’s also helped improve my gut health! (Which is my major issue.) While this is a great start, I think the next step is to try harder to achieve the 80/20 plant-based lifestyle. Plus, to be honest, I totally pig out on weekend nights. So maybe I should try to chill out on the szechuan dumplings for a minute too…
4. Dry January
This one is totally temporary, and I almost didn’t put it. However, like I said, I love a good challenge. So I’m just going to go for it and see how I do! I love a big glass of red vino more than you know, #teacherlife. But I’m curious to see how I feel at the end of the month. Place your bets now on whether or not I stay true to this one!
5. Continue Blogging
Teaching full time and taking on blogging is a real balancing act! And as you can imagine, the blogging world can be really tough. There are SO many times when I feel discouraged and of course there are times when I compare myself to others who have been super successful. But the truth is, I started blogging for me because I love it and it’s a fun, creative outlet that I needed. I also knew that when I started to blog again that I was going to go big or go home because nothing worth it comes easy, right? So I’m continuing my promise to myself to be consistent, dedicated, and keep at it persistently as something I do for me.
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