New Year, New You
12 Tips To Help You Achieve Your Goals This Year
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Every New Year, most of us (I won't say all) spend a little time focusing on how to better ourselves. I know I do. This year, you all know I'm focusing on those three main ideas from last week's post. If you missed it, you can catch up here. I also like to find ways to make improvements mentally, physically, spiritually and professionally, so I try to set small goals in each area, and I have a feeling a lot of you do, too.
Even though Christmas was just a couple weeks ago, it's nice to treat yourself to a few things that can help you achieve your goals. As an "Achiever" (my enneagram personality type, find out yours here!), anything that can help boost your goals is a must-have, no questions asked. And so, I have compiled a list of the products (and a few ideas!) that I use regularly to help me work on improving each aspect of my life. They might help you too!
Professional/Education
I am a firm believer that you perform best when you're organized and prepared. Here are my favorite things to get organized and boost productivity.
I LOVE to plan. I have had a physical planner for years and I'm not stopping anytime soon. My personal favorite and the one I've had for three years now is the Posy Paper Planner. It's similar to the fancy Erin Condren ones, but it's less than half the price, and it fits in my purse.
If you're looking for a thinner, more basic planner, Elliot got a really nice Moleskine one that's more streamlined and simple, but with a lot of note pages, if notes are your jam.
I was a pencil girl for YEARS. I swore by pencils. I got these in my stocking this Christmas and they have changed everything. They write so nicely, and it makes everything look so much cleaner. And they come in all the colors!!
I've mentioned this before, but if you haven't tried the Notion app for organizing/note-taking/planning, stop what you're doing and try it. I use it to plan and create content for the blog, store recipes I find online, and my address book. There are tons of templates to choose from, and it's so nice to be able to organize everything in one place. I will admit, it's a little overwhelming at first, but check out the tutorials and use a pre-made template and you'll be set.
Fitness
I have a small home gym in my basement (yes I had it before the pandemic) where I work out. I am a BeachBody subscriber, and I personally love the workouts.
(Disclaimer: I'm not a BeachBody coach, and I don't make money from it, I just really like the program and think it's a great option for anyone)
It's way more affordable than going to the gym, and I have no excuse to not work out, because it's literally downstairs. But, there are several pieces of equipment that I've found are really effective and make a really great workout, without buying all the fancy equipment.
Not the ones with handles. These puppies are strong and give your legs and buns a real workout. After a few months of using these, we upgraded to the heavy set, and I'm not sure I can even handle them yet.
I know they're coming back in style, but I use mine for its utility while on a run. I usually run with Mollie, so I like to have my hands free. I store my phone and keys and whatever else in this bad boy and go on my merry way. Best part: no bouncing!
Story time: My senior year of college, I had gotten in a bad habit of scheduling classes later so I could sleep in. I decided to break this habit by signing up for a 8am yoga class three days a week. The class was one credit, but missing more than 3 would cause me to fail and would affect my GPA, so I was forced to go. There were days I really regretted that decision, but I learned that I really like yoga! And I got up earlier, yay! I love yoga for days I want a lighter workout, or need to work on my flexibility (not a strong suit of mine). I bought this Manduka yoga mat from a Marshall's for said class, and it is amazing. It is so nice and super grippy. If you wanna splurge on a good mat, get a Manduka. I promise you won't regret it.
If you're thinking of making a workout space at home, look no further. Gym mats are expensive as heck, friends. Ain't nobody got time for that. Originally, I spent almost $400 on gym mats, and they didn't even last six months before starting to fall apart. We got these from Tractor Supply in May, and they have changed. the. game. They're thick, so you can drop heavy weight on them, they bounce back just enough, and provide an optimal surface for any workout. They cover a larger area than the previous gym mats, and were less than $200. It's a no brainer if you want to lift weights at home.
Confession: Sometimes I use cans of soup for dumbbells.
Okay I said it. It's out in the universe. I know it's lame, but dumbbells are almost impossible to find right now, so if you're in the same boat as me, and you need some lighter weights, use some cream of mushroom or something.
Sometimes, you work with what you have, and what I have is cans of soup. And I have done some workouts where a can of tomato is almost too much to hold up any longer (Barre Blend, for my BeachBody friends).
Mental Health/Self-Care
Especially during weird times when you can't do the things you used to do, I for one, need some kind of mental health intervention. I get in funks, just like anyone else, and sometimes you just need to treat yo' self. Here are some things I'm doing in attempts to maintain my sanity.
I know this sounds girly and not related to mental health at all, but hear me out. Taking a few minutes to smear on a face mask before you binge some Netflix is a really small thing you can do that just makes you feel better. Also, if you're like me, your face does NOT like being up close and personal with a mask every day. And it may lash out, in red splotchiness and acne. Fun times, am I right? Lately, I've been doing a face mask two or three times a week (I'm currently obsessed with the Bliss brand - they're cruelty-free, don't have harmful chemicals and affordable!), and it has made all the difference. I mean, I don't have brand new skin, but when I wake up and my skin is soft and hydrated, it makes a difference on how I start my day. Even if it's all in my head, it's worth it. Because mental health.
I'm learning Spanish! My husband is half-Peruvian, and I thought since my last name is Salinas, I should probably know more than "Hola" and "rojo". I started using the Duolingo app, and I'm really enjoying learning a new language. It feels like playing a game, but it's really useful, has tons of languages to choose from and it’s free!
I LOVE to travel. It's one of my favorite things ever, and let me tell you, it has made me stressy-depressy to have my traveling limited for a year. As a result, I'm working on fun experiences we can have to relax and take a break from everyday life, whether its a day trip to a winery, a drive to PA to go hiking, or a weekend away. In September, we did a long weekend in Maine, and it was much needed. So I might make something similar happen again.
Personal opinion: As a flight attendant, I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels. I like Airbnb’s better. You get a better deal, Superhosts take more pride in the quality and cleanliness of their rental, and usually they’re really helpful in giving recommendations of local restaurants and experiences.
Stay tuned for more travel tips and tricks coming soon!
Spiritually
This devotional is my all-time favorite. It's meaty, convicting, and full of grace, which ya girl needs a lot of! I just bought it last January, and its a 365 day devotional, so I'm excited to see what speaks to me differently this year.
Scripture
This year, I'm working on diving into the Word a little deeper by memorizing more scripture. In 2020, I memorized the book of James, and I want to work on memorizing smaller chunks of scripture. I’m also adding a mini challenge below to incorporate scripture into my weekly planning!
Planning + Prayer
I'm requesting my social media friends comment their favorite Bible verse for me to write in my planner for each week of 2021. I want to memorize your verse and pray for you that week, so please comment below with your name and favorite verse! I'm excited to incorporate this prayer and scripture into my daily planning!
Wishing all the best for you in your goals this year! Share your goals or self-improvements you’re working on this year in the comments!
Also, your Bible verses. Don’t forget those. Ya girl needs 52!
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7
“I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.” Psalm 119:15-16