Is anyone else having a hard time believing that 2019 starts tomorrow? On one hand, I feel like I just celebrated the 2018 New Year, yet on the other, 2017 and the start of 2018 honestly seems like it was ages ago! Usually I am excited about ringing in a new year. It means more opportunities, advancements, adventures and growing older (if you haven’t learned this about me yet, I always want to be older than I am… I wonder at what age these feelings will change!) However, this year I am a bit nervous and scared to see what the new year brings. For the first time, I am not looking forward to the clock striking 12AM on January 1, 2019 because it means a new year without my mom. A full 365 days without her supporting me, pushing me, loving me, believing in me.

Before anyone messages me, I do realize that my fear is irrational. I can’t be afraid of a new year. And I have to know by now that my mom is with me in spirit every day.  She sends me so many signs that I know she’s by my side every step of the way. But a new year means more firsts without her, and that’s my fear. It means more moments I can’t share with her, more envy I feel towards friends and complete strangers who get to build relationships with their moms, and more moments of feeling lost and alone. Each day I am learning the intricacies of grief and how to move forward each day. 

The best way I move forward and push myself is through goals.

Many people write resolutions each new year, but lose sight of these goals due to lack of motivation and the sheer fact that life gets in the way. I think the issue with resolutions are that they are too vague, and people stop believing in themselves if they don’t start this resolution the first week of the year. Over the last few years, I have found success writing numerous goals, commitments, tasks and bucket list items I want to accomplish in the next year. The beauty of this list is that I can start January 1 or July 1. As long I as I make a conscious effort to complete the tasks I set for myself, then I am working towards bettering myself. 

How do I make this list? Great question! For starters, the total number of items on my list are dependent on my age that upcoming year. There’s no rhyme or reason as to how many goals you should have. Start a bullet list of things you want to accomplish and see where you land. Whether it is three or thirty-three, you’re already making strides for success in the new year.

25 goals and commitments for twenty-five year old ME

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

1.   Practice yoga 2 times per week
2.   Workout 3 times a week (in addition to yoga)
3.   Meditate 3 times per week
4.   Find a local family doctor
5.   Drink 8 glasses of water a day
6.   Be a better girlfriend and partner 
7.   Honor my mom on her birthday with an adventure, activity or event
8.   Write handwritten letters to my mom 

FINANCES

 9.  Save $100 a month
10.  Have three no spend months
11.  Organize our finances, mail and important  documents

TRAVEL

12.  Travel to five new places
13.  Plan getaways/gatherings with my friends and family once a month
14.  Visit grandma two times a year

CHARITY

 15.  Donate blood three times this year
16.   Volunteer with the American Heart Association
17.   Donate clothes at least two times

DOMESTIKATED LIFE

18.   Create a gallery wall
19.   Refinish mom’s entry table
20.   Make 25 new to me recipes or desserts

BLOG

21.   Write 50 blog posts
22.   Start a series where I interview family members,  starting with my spunky grandma

JUST FOR FUN

23.   Read 25 books
24.   Play 25 rounds of golf
25.   Learn how to drive stick shift

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This year, a lot of my goals and commitments are centered around my personal self care. So often, I lose sight of my own health and well being, such as fitness, and meditation, in order to help other people with x, y, z, or simply to have more time with my friends and family. This year especially, I learned the importance of a fitness and meditation routine for a happier, healthier self and this is my main commitment to myself in 2019. The rest of my list is a happy balance between growing older and more responsible as a 25 year old domestikated woman, as well as living life to the fullest as an adventure seeking young adult. I’m curious to see what 2019 has in store, and the other opportunities not on my list that will naturally present themselves to me. 

To any readers out there, do you write goals or resolutions for yourself each new year? If so, I would love to hear how you keep yourself accountable and challenge yourself each day. If not, I encourage everyone to give my goal setting strategy a try in the upcoming 365 days. You will amaze yourself on how driven you can be when you actually sit down and turn your dreams into an action plan. 

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year!