2018: WHAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE
- Sophie Elgar
- Jan 11, 2018
- 5 min read
Instead of calling these resolutions, I'm calling them things I want to achieve in 2018. Resolutions are just that, so resolute, they seem so finite and rigid. What if I want to add to my resolutions throughout the year? It doesn't seem right somehow to add to your 2018 resolutions halfway through the year, so I think calling it things I want to achieve makes it more open, maybe I'll achieve one or more of the things on this list in the first couple of months, they don't have to be year long goals, because let's face it, we find it hard to visualise a whole year, it seems so far away and this is one of the biggest reasons resolutions so often don't get completed.
There have been loads of things I've thought of since the end of 2017 that I want to achieve this year. I know everybody says it, but I really feel it this year, I think it's going to be a good one. There's something in the air (and the stars!) that's just giving me ALL the good vibes for the year ahead. We're in a master number year according to numerology, an 11/2 year, which from what I've read is a pretty good thing!
Some of these on the list are quite mundane, joint achievements Nick and I want to get done by the end of the year, others are more lofty, including spiritual and personal growth.
1. Put bookshelves up in the living room
We've lived in our house together for just over 3 years now and STILL don't have the bookshelves I covet up in the lounge. Not any specific ones, although we do both have an idea of what we want, but we just haven't ever got round to actually getting them sorted. I have hundreds of books that are just shut away in boxes or cupboards at the moment and it makes me so sad not to see them! This WILL get done by the end of this year if it's the only thing I do!
2. Save a minimum amount of money
I won't detail how much we want to save but it is definitely a priority for us. Due to various circumstances over the past year we haven't been as flush as we would like to be and have had to dip into some savings now and then, so replenishing these is a big thing we need to achieve this year.
3. Do a long walk in the Peak District (around 10 miles or more)
This was something we kept half-ass planning last year (not that it needs to be thought about that much, I mean it's not like we're planning a hike through the Andes or anything) but for various reasons, mostly being lazier than we should and using the slightest bit of drizzle as an excuse, we kept putting it off. We have always loved walking together so sooner rather than later we're going to make a day of it and do a nice long walk!
4. Get a light shade and mirror in the downstairs toilet
Again, this is incredibly simple but something we don't seem to have managed in the three years we have lived here. It's inexcusable!
5. Have permanently tidy spare room
We're terrible at using this space as a bit of a dumping ground and letting it build up until you can barely get in there (slight exaggeration but you get the drift), so it's a mission this year to keep it tidy and clutter free and then, who knows, maybe we can actually have guests to stay!
6. Give something back - volunteer or raise money for charity
Once again, this is something we've both said for ages we want to do, Nick was going to run for charity last year but it didn't happen (is anyone else sensing a bit of a theme? As in we both just need to get of our arses and start actually doing some of the stuff we say we want to?) so this year we, or I at least, will definitely be doing something to give back, even if just in a small way. My sister raised money for Cancer Research last year just by walking 10,000 every day for a month - if she can do it then so can I. This is the link to sign up, it's happening again in March so why not sign up too and raise some money whilst getting fitter!
7. Bake at least 4 new things
I do love to bake and I'll likely end up baking more than this anyway (bread, cakes, biscuits, pies etc) so this should be quite an easy one to achieve, but I wanted to keep it low just in case. It's always nice to add to your cooking repertoire so adding a small challenge element to it just makes it a bit more fun!
8. Read 40 books
I always seem to set my yearly target at 50 and get nowhere near, so I'm lowering it and really pushing myself this year to get more reading done. In my spare time or time in between doing stuff I'm going to get reading done, even if it's just a few paragraphs here and there. I tried to tot up my books read for last year and counted about 23 (I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting a couple) and, whilst that is a fair few away, I know there were times last year when I really lost my reading mojo and didn't pick up a book for a good few weeks, so here's to increasing this number and hopefully finding some amazing new books! First on my list after re-reading Harry Potter is A Little Lie by Hanya Yanagihara.
9. Keep connecting spiritually
This is a key goal of mine this year. In the latter half of last year I really discovered spirituality and many aspects of which I am fascinated to learn more about. One way I am going to keep connecting is by meditating a MINIMUM of three times a week. Ideally I will meditate daily as I was doing this in October/November last year and seriously felt a shift in myself for the positive, so this is a huge intention of mine this year. I will also continue to read as much as I can on all sorts of different spiritual topics in order to broaden my awareness and openness, and a final goal is to connect with someone else on a spiritual path, either in person or online. Currently there isn't anyone in my life who is particularly spiritual, or not openly anyway, but it would be amazing to be able to discuss everything spiritual with someone who gets it.
Pretty self-explanatory but something I want to do to expand my film knowledge. I was quite shocked actually at how few of them I had seen, so by the end of the year this will change! We've already watched two and we're not even half way through January so I'm feeling pretty confident about this one!
11. Cook from a cookbook at least once a week
We got in a massive food rut about a month or two before Christmas, we seemed to be eating the same thing week-in week-out and just couldn't seem to think of anything new to cook, which is very unlike us as we both really enjoy being in the kitchen. In order to resolve this it is a resolution of ours to cook at least once a week from a cookbook, if not more, to reinvigorate our dinner times. So far so good and it has felt amazing to try some new dishes and feel inspired about cooking again.
So there we have it, not an extensive list but one that I am so excited to already be on the path to achieving. Let me know any of your goals and things you want to achieve this year, I would really love to know!
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