Hello 2018,
You’re here! You’re not what I was expecting but I am determined that you are going to be kind to me and that you are going to be a very good year. I am excited by the possibilities.
I don’t believe in new year’s resolutions anymore. They set you up for failure because they put too much pressure on you. At least, that is the effect they have on me. I don’t choose ‘a word’ anymore either (choosing a word is about intention … for example ‘balance’ … an intention to find a better balance in your life over the coming year or ‘trust’ … an intention to trust in your choices or what the world presents to you during the year, trust that you are where you are supposed to be right now etc). A chosen word is supposed to be your guiding word for the year. I chose a word for two years running (2014 ‘Trust’, 2015 ‘Believe’) but by the 2nd year I found that I had forgotten all about my word and not kept it in mind throughout the year at all. It might work for others but I didn’t feel the concept was working for me. I might revisit this idea one year to try it again but I’m not wanting to this year.
So, instead of new years resolutions or choosing a word, I think I prefer a softer, more chilled out approach. I want to be like the girl sitting on 2018 reading a book in the image with this post. She knows what she wants. She’s got this, and she’s relaxed about it!
So in a soft, relaxed, chilled out way, here are some of the things I am hoping to achieve or do during 2018:
- embrace friendships that nourish and uplift me and let go of those that drain and deplete me
- regular exercise that I really enjoy
- some time outdoors every day – even if just at home
- eat healthy and well and try to curtail the snacking
- long weekends away in nature to restore me
- meet up IRL with blogging friends who I’ve only known online (and also the ones I’ve met IRL before)
- to do well with my new venture (to be announced soon – some hints in my recent Taking Stock post)
- continued and improved connectivity with readers via my blog and other social media
- Twin2 to get a job that he loves
- all my family and friends to be healthy, safe and happy
- read more books
- be more organised
- be productive enough to feel a sense of achievement and satisfaction
- love myself more (shush the self-critical mind)
- restore my attitude of gratitude by starting each day with a grateful heart and finding at least one thing in every day to be grateful for
- practice mindfulness and meditate at least once in every day (fantastic way to slow or stop an overly busy mind as mine can tend to be)
- regular self-care to keep stress and anxiety at bay and keep me well
- travel somewhere I have never been to before
- feel well, relaxed, and happy.
So cheers to a relaxed, productive, healthy, fun, happy and kind 2018! As I said on my Facebook page just after midnight on New Years Day: Peace, love, good health and happiness to all is my wish for 2018. Happy New Year!
Do you make New Years Resolutions or choose a word for the year? What are your hopes for 2018?
Ciao for now,
Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team:
Leanne of Deep Fried Fruit
Lyndall of Seize the Day Project
Kathy of 50 Shades of Age
Deborah of Debbish
and Jo of And Anyways
It doesn’t matter where you link up as it will magically appear on all six blogs.
40 Comments
Now, they’re good intentions! I tend to set a word – and I tend to set goals. I’ve done neither so far, which is weird for me. Looking forward to meeting you IRL…Happy New Year
I will hopefully set more concrete goals as I move through the year. We shall see! Next month! We will meet next month! I am picturing coffee, food, chats, laughing, beach walks. Can’t wait! 🙂 xo
What a wonderful list of hopes and desires for 2018 Min! I also don’t make resolutions or choose a word for the year. What your list reflects is the desire for a life that has purpose and meaning, and this is what all of our lists should reflect.
Thanks Jo. You are right on the money. I want a life that has purpose and meaning and is enjoyed. 🙂 xo
Ha ha! It seems both you, me and Lyndall have posted about the same subject. It was bound to happen right? I hate New Year resolutions too, but I’m giving the “word” thing a shot this year. I think your intentions are all very sensible and achievable. Good luck with them and the coming year.
Yes I have noticed! Great minds think alike! I’m hoping my intentions are achievable and doable. A balanced, happy, healthy and rewarding year is what I’m hoping for. Good luck to you for this year also. You have some big events coming up! 🙂 xo
Happy new year. Whether resolutions, goals, a word of the year… it is just semantics- at the root of it all is being intentional about your year vs. letting it flow to you (and some people fall in between the two camps). Your list is lovely and I hope wonderful things unfold for you this year.
You’re right Deb – you worded it perfectly! I hope wonderful things unfold for me this year too and I hope the same for you! 🙂 xo
Hi Min – I choose a word for the year (have done for the last 3 years) This year my word is “Rise” to inspire me to rise up and move forward. I like the idea of a word rather than a resolution because there’s less chance of failing 🙂 I love your list of do-able list – plenty you can tick off as you go along without feeling stressed that you didn’t accomplish it all. I hope 2018 is a really good year for you (and for me!)
Rise is a good word Leanne! I do think a guiding word is a nice idea. My first year in having a word worked well, but my second didn’t. I may try it again one year. I hope that 2018 is a really good one for us both too! 🙂
What you described reminds me of how I look at working out in the last 5 years. I used to be that gung ho kind of girl that always had to try super hard and be sore the next day. But in the last 5 years, I’ve embraced the more kindler and gentler workouts and give myself grace if I can’t do something!!!
Happy 2018!!
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Working out? Oh yeah! I guess I should start doing some more of that this year, shouldn’t I! Lol I used to exercise to the extreme but can’t anymore. I can’t do running. It makes me want to throw up…but I can do other things. Right now reformer pilates and brisk walking are my fav things! I start back at pilates next Wednesday and I need to motivate myself to get back into the walking! Happy 2018 to you too Jodie! xo 🙂
Wow. That is SOME set of goals for the year. I reckon it is a good thing to consider how we would like things to be or grow or change but in the end to accept when that is not possible. Too often we berate ourselves when in fact it is circumstances and other people who affect what happens.
So, I am going with a gentle intention which I will unveil next Monday on my link up. You would be most welcome to add this post to the linky called “Word or Intention for 2018” and I would love to see you there.
I look forward to reading more over time of what you have planned.
Happy New Year,
Denyse xx
Thanks Denyse! Happy New Year to you too. I will definitely link this post up with you on Monday. xo
Thank you so much for linking up. Your post is a beauty! hanks for linking up for #lifethisweek 2/52. Next week’s optional prompt is My Favourite Weather.
Thanks (not hanks)
LOL – I knew what you meant 🙂
Thanks so much Denyse! Will see how I go (got a bit on my plate at the moment) as to whether I manage to link up next week. xo
Min, I love how your list of goals for 2018 has so many ‘softer’ aims on it. Life is so busy that making goals softer and more relaxed makes them easier to incorporate into already hectic lives.
SSG xxx
Thanks SSG. I like the softer approach LOL. I find that too much pressure leads to me freezing and not achieving! xo
Oh yes Min, I can relate to your resolutions and ‘word’ experiences. I just mentioned in a response to Kathy’s post that it was suggested to me that our goals be enjoyable things – things we actually want to do and yours sound like that.
Happy 2018 – it’s been a tumultuous end to 2017 for you and I hope you have a wonderful year ahead. x
You’re right – I think most of my intentions are enjoyable things that are achievable. Hope so! lol Yes it’s been a tough end to 2017 for me. Still tough but hoping for good things in 2018! 🙂 xo
Happy New Year, Min! I hope 2018 brings you peace, love, good health, and happiness. Enjoy each actiivity that you choose to do, however you like to do it.
Thanks Natalie and HNY to you too! I hope 2018 is all you want it to be and more! 🙂
Looks like a good year Min! Three cheers and best wishes for a fantabulous 2018. #teamlovinlife
Thanks Leanne. Hoping for a fab year *fingers crossed*. xo
Wishing you a beautiful, chilled and relaxed 2018 Min. Cheers! 🙂 x #TeamLovinLife
Thanks Lyndall … and same to you! 🙂 xo
Happy New Year, Min! Whatever works for you. I have a word, I have plans but casual and business plans and I have some intentions. That said, I don’t just save them for this time of year, I’ll review them again in a couple of months and again and again after that. The set and forget method doesn’t really work for me either. Forget seems to win. Haha. Your list is the perfect roadmap for a beautiful year.
Happy New Year to you too Melissa! Just read your plans and love them! Very exciting and I can’t wait to watch them unfold. I do hope you’re right and I have a beautiful year (and I wish the same for you too!). xo
It’s all kind of one and the same – call it what you will – anything that encourages us to be better . or enough or happy ticks the boxes.
I love your list , they resonate with me .
I tired to make mine a bit more concrete already , time will tell if this works.
Totally agree. It’s all the same kind of stuff – just packaged differently to suit whatever works best for us. Glad you liked my list. I tried to keep my intentions simple, realistic and achievable because if I put too much pressure on myself, I freeze up!
opps Tried …
LOL – I worked it out!
I have chosen words in the past and they have served me well. I am not entirely sure about this year. I guess I need to be more confident in my abilities and the way other people see me. I feel I am way harder on myself than I need to be. As I am not getting any younger either, I am more aware that I need to take better care of my health in what I am choosing to eat and getting a little more exercise. That would be my main aim for the year, to look after me better. Wishing you a fab year x
I am very hard on myself too Alicia and my confidence is not what it used to be. I think that striving to prioritise ourselves and look after our own wellbeing is key to everything. I hope you have a wonderful 2018! 🙂 xo
Happy 2018 Min! I reckon everyone needs to do what works for them. When I labelled my things as ‘resolutions’ I found I never stuck to them. Instead, I prefer having goals and I find it helps. I also found having a motto or word has helped {even though it didn’t in 2015 and 2016). My word for the year is Create and it ties in well with a lot of my goals for 2018 too. 🙂
Happy 2018 to you too Sanch! You’re right – we are funny creatures aren’t we? How things are labelled can really affect how they sit with us. Resolutions doesn’t work for me. I do like the idea of choosing a word but last time I did that it didn’t work for me so I’m giving it a break and just going with a list of ‘intentions’. I’ve read your post about your word ‘create’ and all your goals for the year and I love it. You have set some fabulous goals and the word create is perfect. I think you’ve got a fabulous year ahead! 🙂 xo
A hearty YES to the first six, and also the last two for me … I hope I’m one of those bloggy friends you would like to catch up with IRL 🙂
Of course Janet! It’s been a while! Hopefully there will be a repeat of the midlife blogger meet up that we both missed out on in December soon! 🙂