Happy New Year and yes I know it’s almost February!
Each year, I jump off social media and hunker down with my family for some much needed rejuvenation. This year we were lucky enough to head to Hawaii immediately after New Years for a week. Going to Hawaii always feels like going home and it was truly the best way to start a new year.
During our time in Hawaii, I had time to seriously reflect on my goals for 2019, so I thought I’d share them on the blog!
Here are my 10 aspirations 2019:
Date Nights
I’d love to make these a regular event! We often get so busy and tired that we forget to schedule a babysitter and head out for a kid free evening. We did this in Hawaii and it felt so nice to reconnect and not have to rush through our entire meal.
Fitness
Fitness has always been an important part of my life. Before kids, I would go to the gym at least 6 days a week and spend hours working on fitness goals. Since it’s not feasible to spend all day/night at the gym, I’ve needed to get creative in order to meet my fitness goals. The Peloton Bike (more on this in a later post) has been an absolute lifesaver for a busy mama and makes it possible to get in an amazing workout from the comfort of my house before or after I put the girls to bed. It’s also been fun to schedule a babysitter and make fitness dates with friends either boxing or cycling to keep fitness routine fresh. Plus, Fit4Mom is my other favorite workout because not only do I get an amazing workout with a view of the ocean, but I get to bring Eliana and she gets to also socialize with her baby friends.
Read at least 50 books
This seems like a BIG goal given the fact that I read a total of 20 books last year. But, since I love reading so much I’m committed to meeting or beating this goal. Over the Christmas holiday, I read “Educated“, “Where the Crawdads Sing” and on Audible listened to the amazing Rachel Hollis’s “Girl, Wash Your Face which all inspired me to read more.
Presence
The art of being present is essential this year! Over the holiday season, we made an effort to turn off social media, put away our phones and to be more present with our family. I can’t even begin to describe how amazing it felt to disconnect and have family time. The years with our children are already flying by, and I don’t want to miss a moment. So, I plan to put my phone away when spending time with my family and to be more cognizant of not being sucked down the social media rabbit hole, which might mean I miss a text or two, but it won’t be the end of the world.
Meditation and Yoga
I would like to incorporate some form of meditation and yoga in my weekly routine. As busy as life can get, a little zen time would be good for both the spirit and mind. I’m thinking maybe a little Headspace or a local Sound Bath session more often will help me to feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
Volunteer
Volunteering and giving back to the community has always been important to me, but since having kids finding time has been challenging. I’d also like to find a way to incorporate volunteering and giving back with my toddler, so that she begins to understand how importance it is to help others.
Organize
It may come as a surprise, but organization has never come easy for me. Last year after reading “The Art of Tidying Up” and now watching the Netflix series it’s become something that I’m truly interested in mastering. Plus, we live in a townhouse, which makes it an even greater challenge to keep our space clean and organized. But, I’m the first to admit that I need lots of help in this area, which is why I love working with Kari Jane and her team to keep my space functional.
Friendships
Over the last three years of motherhood, I’ve developed such an amazing mama tribe that I can depend on. Even though we are all busy with kiddos spread out in schools throughout LA, it’s important that I nurture those friendships and make time to reconnect. I also want to make more time for new friendships, as well as friends who have been in my life before children.
Mamma Time
Making more time for “me” is more important now than ever before. Having two kids, time is often stretched thin, and I’m lucky if I get to have a glass of wine at the end of the night before falling asleep. Mama time either spent alone or with friends always seems to be rejuvenating and in return makes me a much better mama.
Grow my Blog
Finding time to grow my blog is a huge goal of mine this year and has been challenging since the baby was born. Even though I often feel guilty sneaking out on a weekend or hiring a babysitter, it needs to happen in order to see any sort of growth. Working on the blog is a nice outlet outside of being a mommy, and makes me feel that I’m using other parts of my brain.
Consistent Bedtime
Going to bed at a consistent time has been a battle for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been a bit of a night owl and can always find one more task to accomplish before actually going to bed. I’m going to actually try to set a bedtime alarm on my phone and try to be in bed by the targeted time of 10:30 at least five nights a week. I’ll have to be much more organized throughout the day to make this happen, but I think it can be done (cringing as I write this at 11 PM).
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What are some of your aspirations for the New Year? I’d love you to leave a comment. Also, please remember to follow me on Instagram to see what’s happening in the world of books and life in LA!
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