I have never been much for New Year’s resolutions. The resolutions I have made in the past usually involve losing weight which great until March rolls around and I find myself back on the couch with a box of Cheez-It crackers at my side. I found I would fail at my resolutions more than I would succeed, which was discouraging. Therefore, this year instead of making a “resolution,” I decided to focus on what I need to do to increase my happiness and well-being.

2018 was a rough one for me: I started a new job with a steep learning curve, we had to move with only a 30-day notice (thanks Army), and we had to deal with some fairly serious health issues with my husband. It was one thing after another, constantly moving, never really relaxing or having time to vent or really assess all the stress I was under. It eventually all caught up to me. The week before Christmas I suddenly felt like my heart was racing as though I drank a liter of Mountain Dew and was completely wired. I was short of breath and my blood pressure was through the roof. I ended up having to leave work and go to urgent care. Despite being a nurse I really didn’t know what was going on. I felt okay: no chest pain, no numbness or tingling–I did a head-to-toe assessment of myself as I sat shaking in the waiting room trying to diagnose what was going on. After running a couple tests and an EKG (which was normal) the doctor discovered I was having a massive panic attack.

Now, I have always been high-strung and have dealt with anxiety most of my life, but I have never experienced these kind of symptoms before. After finally calming down, I really started to think about 2018 and thought to myself ‘Something has to change. I am 25. I should not be feeling this way.’ I have always been the kind of person to put everyone before myself and my own needs. After reevaluating the year I had, it made me realize I hadn’t taken much time for myself. I was so focused on the people and things going on around me that I forgot to care for myself and listen to my own needs. I was not a priority. I decided that this year has to be different and that I am going to invest more time and energy into my well-being. This may sound a little selfish, but here is my rationale: If I invest more time and energy into taking care of myself, I will end up being happier and healthier and in a better mood which in turn will make things around me happier too.

I have broken down my 2019 goals into a couple categories:

HEALTH
Instead of making weight loss a goal, I think the idea of ‘getting healthy’ is much more realistic. It has less to do with a number, and more to do with the amount of energy you have and how you feel.
-Eat more color: This is not referring to artificially orange Cheetos! By eating more color I mean more fruits and veggies. I was told once that your plate should look like a rainbow!
-Hydrate: I am so bad at drinking water! I get distracted at work and at home and put drinking H2O off to the side. My goal is to increase my intake in 2019. Water helps with your skin and digestion, and staying hydrated can help you lose weight and feel more awake!
-Walk more: This activity is for both mind and body. Walking is, of course, great exercise, but I also believe that getting out of the house into fresh air is one of the best ways to relax your mind, plus getting a little Vitamin D makes you feel better and puts you in a better mood. I am hoping to take Tilly for a walk 3 times a week (she gets a walk with our dog walker daily). I love spending time with my little fur ball so this time with her will also elevate my good mood.

WELLNESS
Wellness is more focused on taking care of my mind and focusing more on my own needs.
-Journal: Writing has always been my best and favorite way to express myself. My goal this year is to take the time to sit down and collect my thoughts in a journal when I am feeling stressed, and not to just push it to the side. I also plan to blog more (a new post at least once weekly.) I love to write and connect with my followers. It is such a great outlet!
-Skincare: I have never had a true skincare routine. I have always bounced around from product to product never really committing to anything. Your skin is your largest organ and does SO much for you, and now that I am in my mid-20s, I think it is time to commit! My goal is to develop a skincare routine that works, is easy to stick to and does not break the bank. I will be searching for new products and recommendations and will take you all along on the journey with me!
-Allow for Small Luxuries: I am not afraid to say that Jake and I basically live paycheck to paycheck. As most young adults, money is always on our minds. We do put a large portion of our earnings into saving in the hopes of kids down the line (or more dogs ha) or possibly a dream vacation. Due to having tight purse strings, I have let some of my own personal care go by the way-side. For example, I no longer get my nails done unless it is for a special occasion, and I had not gotten my hair cut for over 6 months (embarrassing, I know.) I was so focused on saving a few extra dollars that I kind of forgot why we had that money in the first place. I’m not planning on blowing though our savings, but maybe developing a small fund where I put away 10-20 dollars at a time so I can feel like I can indulge a little bit. Getting pampered, even if it means buying a peel off mask and a bath-bomb can be such a great stress relief and can make you feel refreshed! (Don’t worry, Jake has said he is totally okay with this! Make sure to talk with your significant other if you share a bank-account before you start funneling money away!)
-Declutter: Clutter drives me a little crazy. We are usually pretty good at keeping our house clean, but we are awful at folding clothes and putting them away! One final goal I have is to put our clothes away in a timely fashion! This is such a small thing but getting organized can be so satisfying and can make you feel like your life is more in order. If I can tackle our laundry room, I will be one happy girl!

Setting goals and making resolutions can be hard and frustrating. My advice is to be easy on yourself and be realistic! Think of it more as a lifestyle change instead of a resolution. You might have set backs and bad days but do your best to not give up and throw in the towel! I know I will have my ups and downs and will have to remind myself that I am only human. All we can do is try. Remember, if you do not succeed, there is always next year! 😉

What are your resolutions and goals for 2019? How do you plan to stick to them?

XOXO, Cait B.