I realized I’m not very good at New year’s resolutions – is anyone, though? I’m afraid to officially set resolutions, because then I feel like I’m “officially” setting myself up for failure. That’s why, this year, instead of focusing on things I’m going to do, I’m going to make a list of things I’m NOT going to do anymore. Seems easier to not do something, doesn’t it? Maybe I’m crazy, but it’s all about perception!
Here are a few things I’m trying to avoid this year –
1. negativity
This applies to me and the people I choose to be around. I’m the first to go down the rabbit hole of negative thinking. It’s just SO easy to be negative, and at the moment, it feels good to sulk in it. However, it’s not good for me or the people around me. This year, I’m going to be more mindful of my negativity and actively try to pull myself out of it. This may be through yoga (which I rarely do now), meditation (which I just started to do and have been LOVING so far), and generally just reworking my mind to think in a positive light. Controlling HOW you think about something can change your mood, it just takes effort.
2. toxic relationships
That brings me to my next point. Negativity in your relationships can also be soul crushing. This last year was the first time in my life where I started weeding people out. It’s hard to let go of relationships that have lasted years and years, but ultimately, why keep people around if they’re not bringing anything positive to the table? I found myself getting continuously let down by specific people, and realized that I don’t need that in my life. Time is limited, and I want to spend it with people that make me happy. It’s that simple.
3. allowing my anxiety to get the best of me
I haven’t talked about this much here, but I can be an anxious person. Usually, it’s triggered by specific things – changes at work, being late, over-committing, too much caffeine. In the past, I’ve just sort of dealt with it (aka I was an anxious mess sometimes). This year, I’m hoping to manage it better. This means avoiding my anxiety triggers (like not running late constantly – which was also on my resolutions last year – maybe this is the year!), and also learning how to deal with my anxiety when it’s in full force. This can be as simple as taking a few minutes to just BREATHE.
5. adding to the clutter
You know what else gives me anxiety? Too much STUFF. At this point, just looking at my closet gives me anxiety. Since we moved in our place a little over year ago, we’ve been focusing on the big things – remodeling, furnishing, decor. Now it’s time to hone in on organization & decluttering. I dream about the day where I open up my closet and feel at ease – what a nice way to start the morning! This will require major clean-up, in addition to adjusting my purchasing habits. I go through phases where I buy things for instant gratification. I’m hoping to shift towards more mindful purchases – purchasing less, but higher quality pieces that I’ll have for year and years. I know I’ll never achieve a full blown capsule wardrobe, but I can at least try to find a middle ground, right?!
PS – How to declutter your inbox & some fitness inspiration for those of you trying to hit the gym more!
