Ohh the new year. When you hit the ground running with fresh new goals, or loath anything remotely having to do with the matter. I think I fall somewhere in the middle, erring slightly toward the goal-setting side. I do like a fresh start.
This year I’ve set some loose goals, or intentions as some might say, but I’m also trying to be realistic in knowing that some may not go as hoped or planned. If I can tick just one or two things off my list, then that’s worth celebrating. If I can implement some things without putting a lot of unnecessary pressure on myself, then that is worth acknowledging.
The last two years have felt like one big cluster. Going through the motions – both on high alert and in zombie-mode simultaneously. And, if I’m being honest, I’ve lost a lot of the “umph” in most that I do. Quiet introspection has been a running through line.
In hopes to re-center and get some thoughts on paper, I last minute purchased the Cultivate What Matters Powersheets. I purchased this goal-setting workbook a few years ago, and really liked the “prep-work” to define your goals for the year. But, as it typically goes, I fell short at about the 6 month mark.
I’m giving it another try.
Since I bought Powersheets in late December, I’m working through all of the “prep-work” in January, and hoping to officially kick-off some of my goals starting in February. The planner provides categories in which you can define your goals, like relationships, spiritual, recreation, health and wellness, etc. My top three categories to focus on are:
- Health and Wellness
- Spiritual/Faith
- Recreation
Runner-up: Financial Goals
Health and Wellness
I think this will be the “easiest” category for me to dive into. Over the past few years, I’ve really become interested in the health and wellness industry – particularly in the realm of functional medicine and nourishing your body – physically, mentally, and spiritually. Give me all the podcasts, books, Instagram accounts – I’m like a sponge these days.
Goal #1 – Continue with Meal Prep
Meal prep has become a high priority for me as I’ve seen how it pays off during the week. A low-level goal (only because I feel like I have this system in place already) is to continue with Sunday meal prep as much as I can. Not only do I thank myself during the week for doing this, but I’ve come to really enjoy cooking as a way to unwind and be in the present.
Goal #2 – Bike, Pilates, Lift More Weights
In terms of fitness, I’m going to continue with my routine of riding my bike using the Peloton app, and doing Pilates via The Balanced Life app. I feel like this combination keeps me on track without getting bored. Also, having a bike in my home allows me to stay consistent during the winter months. As you may recall, I wrote a blog post about my “seasons” of exercise where I tend to do more intense workouts in the summer, while keeping it a bit more low key in the winter. The bike has been beneficial on those cold, dark days when I can’t muster up anything more than 15 minutes of exercise (before swiftly changing into cozy sweats and settling in for the evening).
In addition to what I already have in place, I want to get back to lifting more weights. From what I have learned, lifting weights is much more beneficial for women than doing a bunch of cardio. Plus, my physical goals aren’t to lose weight, but to gain muscle tone. With that said, I’m going to incorporate some more “follow-along” weightlifting routines – via the Pelton App or videos Caroline Girvan‘s on Youtube.
Goal #3 – Create a Mindfulness Practice
I’m rambling a bit here, but I also came across Kate’s Clean Life who is a kinesiologist and teaches all things clean living – food, beauty, exercise, etc. I signed up for her New You program (on a discounted price), and again, I’m soaking in all the education like a sponge.
The biggest thing I’ve gotten out of this program is how significant the mind-body connection is to healing and living an optimal life. Kate reiterates that you can eat as clean as you want and do all the right exercises, but if your mind is not right – you will continue to struggle with your health and fitness goals. One of her Instagram posts says “You can’t heal what you don’t feel”. Her program encourages you to bring suppressed emotions to the surface through an emotional detox – essentially taking 10 minutes each day to write down unwanted emotions. Write down what is frustrating you, making you angry, making you fearful, etc. When the 10 minutes is up, rip the paper up and throw it in the trash. Getting it out on paper, helps bring these suppressed emotions to the surface allowing the body to heal over time.
It may all sound a bit “woo woo”, but a mindfulness practice like journaling or meditation is just as important as the physical work. With that said, I’d like to incorporate some kind of mindfulness practice each day whether it’s the emotional detox I learned from the program, journaling in general, or using a guided meditation app for 5 to 10 minutes a day.
Spiritual/Faith
I’d also like my morning routine to be a bit more intentional. Incorporating some kind of faith-based reading or audio may be a fruitful way to start my day. One idea is the Bible in a Year Podcast with Father Mike Schmitz. At the very least, this would get me connected and re-centered with a word from the Bible each morning. I also have some devotionals that have not been cracked open in a while. I’m not putting a hard goal on this – just something I want to be more conscious of.
Recreation
I see recreation as activities that bring out the kid in you and bring pleasure outside of your day job. For me that includes being creative, being outside, reading and (what may seem weird to some) visiting antique shops.
Goal #1 – Continue with Photography and Painting practice
The main reason I started this blog was to practice and share my photography, but I have slacked a bit over the past few years – using my DSLR camera less and my iPhone more. I recently bought a new tripod (my first one broke), and hope to get back into some more food and nature photography. I also recently received materials for water color painting and have enjoyed giving this a whirl. It really keeps me in the present, focused on something other than my phone or the tv.
Goal #2 – Reading Challenge
You may have seen on Instagram that I have set a Reading Challenge for myself this year. My goal is to read 10 books this year, which may not seem like alot for some, but for me I think this a manageable goal while also steering me toward more reading and less scrolling. I’ll be posting the books I read on Instagram if you’d like to follow along at @kimj_inspired.
Goal #3 – Getting Outside/Exploring
I’d like to explore more locally – especially as it pertains to historic small towns and checking out antique or vintage stores. I would love to take a few day trips, and allow myself to just explore and wander. Maybe set aside one Saturday a month or quarter to explore somewhere new?
Wow – After writing all that, it seems I’ve set alot of goals for myself. 🙂 But, like I said in the beginning of this post, I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself. This is just a way to get what I’m thinking in terms of goals on “paper”. I’m hoping to implement my Goal Planner to help me stay on track and keep these goals at the forefront. If I don’t accomplish them all, there’s always next year!
If you’re still reading – Thanks! I know this was alot of rambling about my own goals, but I hope it inspired you to set one or two goals for yourself. If you’ve already set some goals for the new year, I’d love to hear them in the comments!
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