2019 was a big year for us. Think about it…we saw Trump get impeached, the Royal couple welcomed their first baby, the USA Women’s soccer team fought for equal pay and Greta Thunberg inspired us to act on climate change.
Our personal accomplishments may not have set the world on fire, but they sparked change in our lives, and that’s just as important. After looking back on the year, I’m sharing 19 things I learned to hopefully inspire your 2020 resolutions and spark reflection on your past accomplishments.
Take time to slow down
More than any other year before, I finally learned to accept doing nothing. I used to be running around constantly busy and took no time for myself to relax and just breathe. In 2019, I came home and changed into my pajamas after work to watch TV more than usual without feeling guilty. It’s okay to skip a happy hour to head home just to veg out on the couch. Never feel guilty about that.
Surround yourself with positivity
Life’s too short to surround yourself with toxic people. If someone isn’t adding value to your life, they’re NOT worth keeping around. It’s exhausting trying to keep in contact with friends that don’t put forth the same effort. It’s a two-way street and if they aren’t pulling their weight in the friendship or relationship, it’s not worth your time. The people that are meant to stay in our lives will always find their way back.
Find a job that makes you happy
Since graduating college in 2017 I worked at a big PR agency. It’s exactly where I thought I wanted to be after college. Two years later, I learned that’s not at all what I wanted. I felt like a small fish in a big sea, overworked and under appreciated. In 2019 I said enough was enough and started the job search, ending up somewhere completely different than my fresh-out-of-college self desired. I switched to a smaller mid-sized agency where I work on more business-to-business clients rather than the flashy, high demanding consumer facing clients. It’s been a challenge to switch to technical writing and dive into digital work, but I’ve enjoyed every second of it. I’m finally happy about going to work every day.
Set out for a large goal and do everything you can to achieve it
For the last 2 years I had run a half marathon on my resolutions list. The only difference is I actually accomplished it this year. My boyfriend committed to running with me and we set out of the Detroit International Half Marathon in October. We weren’t setting out to hit a certain time, we just wanted to finish. And we finished in just over 2 hours and that’s something we were really proud of. We aren’t runners. We pushed ourselves hard to reach this goal. Crossing the finish line was the most rewarding feeling, which quickly went away once our body aches started… Thinking of running a half marathon yourself? Here’s everything you need to know.
Trade screen time for reading before bed
I set a goal for myself to read 20 books this year which was a hefty resolution after reading only a handful in 2018. Towards the end of 2018, I started reading a lot with my friends and work book clubs so I thought 20 would be a challenging goal. Well I hit 20 and am now on my 22nd book of the year.
Place more importance on self-care
I can’t place enough emphasis on self-care. Whatever your idea of self-care is, it’s important to embrace it regularly. Whether it’s some “me time” to catch up on your favorite Netflix show or going for a run every morning, you need to take the time to take care of yourself. Need some self-care ideas? I’ve got you covered.
Health is more important than appearances
We often times judge health by the way we look, me included. In 2019 I learned the importance of being healthy rather than having the “perfect” body. I started and ended the year at about the same weight, which seems kind of upsetting because I’ve been trying to lose weight. I had to get healthy before I could focus and really devote myself to weight loss. I was having chronic stomach pain and discomfort, so I embarked on the FODMAP diet in the later months of the year. I learned what food sensitivities I have and what foods I need to stay away from. Plus I finally saw a gastroenterologist to help treat my symptoms. 2020 may be the year of weight loss for me, but 2019 was the year of me tackling my health problems to live a happier life from now on.
Place emphasis on you
I spent more time focusing on me in 2019 and I’m so proud of that. I stopped serving other people all the time and prioritized my happiness. It’s okay to say no to things that we don’t want to do, no excuses needed. If something doesn’t serve you or your intentions for your life, ditch it.
Meditate and do yoga more
If you’ve never meditated, do yourself a favor and try it out. I’ll admit I don’t do it all the time but when I do I am much happier, less irritable, more calm and composed. Yoga is the same since it focuses on the mind-body connection and creates mindfulness in the body. Give the app Headspace a try!
Be present
In an era where we are constantly on our phones and engaging with technology, it’s hard to live in the moment. My screen time was down in 2019 since I focused more on being present. During my commutes on the train, I used to constantly be on my phone scrolling through social media, but I traded that in for reading on my Kindle or listening to a podcast with my phone in my pocket. I highly suggest making an attempt to limit your screen time by finding other ways to fill your time and living in the present moment.
Solo travel every chance you can
I never thought about traveling solo until I did it this summer and I can’t recommend it enough. You can go on the excursions and to the restaurants you want without compromising with your travel companions. Before I started my new job, I headed to Denver and Boulder, CO for a few days of solo adventure. I stayed in the mountains and hiked every day. It was the soul-searching trip I needed. Read more about my trip and places you must visit while in Colorado.
Get a budget & stick to it
At the beginning of every year or every time I’ve started a new job or received a raise, I created a new budget. I start by making an excel doc and adding up all set expenses like rent, bills, student loan payments, insurance, gym membership, etc. Then I estimate how much I spend on groceries and transportation, plus any other categories that come up every month. Then you are left with the remaining money you have to spend on other things or save.
The hard part is sticking to it. Try not to overbuy groceries or online shop. Save the money and put it towards any debt, your 401K or an upcoming vacation.
Fight for what you want in your life
If you want change in your life, you have to make it happen. You have to fight for what you want. I thought I was where I needed to be at the beginning of the year. I was at a company I was excited and proud to work at and I kept telling myself it would get better. Well unless you take initiative, nothing will change. I finally decided to put my happiness first and started a new gig. If there’s something you want bad enough, shut off that voice in your head that says you can’t do it AND GET AFTER IT!
Don’t sit back and watch life pass you by
Contrary to what I said before about learning to slow down, you need to put yourself out there and enjoy your life. I’m definitely one of those people that love to come home and eat dinner on the couch after a long day at work, especially Fridays, but I’ve challenged myself to make more plans during the week and fill my weekends with fun and not just blog work and chores. Make sure you are spending enough time each week being both productive and enjoying yourself with family and friends.
Find a form of fitness that keeps you motivated to hit the gym daily
If you follow my blog or Instagram, you know fitness is a large part of my life. I go to the gym about 6 times a week and I preach the importance of moving our bodies. But I’m like everyone else, I sometimes lose motivation to go to the gym or lose the spark I have to push myself while I’m there. I’ve never really followed a workout plan before since I like to create my own, but I was looking for a new challenge. I decided to join Madeline Moves Weekly Moves Workouts and damn, they are tough. I’ve felt excited to get to the gym every day to push myself to the next level. Her Tighter Together challenge is coming up and I’m looking forward to being part of that, too!
Try something new
2019 brought so many new adventures for me. I ran my first half marathon, traveled alone, left my first professional job, and the list goes on and on. I recommend everyone push themselves outside of their comfort zones throughout the year to achieve great things.
Get involved in your city
This year I got involved with the National MS Society’s Associate Board to help host events to raise funds and awareness about multiple sclerosis. It’s an organization I’m passionate about and I’ve gotten to make an impact on my community. Whether it’s volunteering with a nonprofit, joining a sports recreation league or holding a spot on an associate board, everyone should get involved outside of work. It can be something related to your career or just a passion area of yours.
Set out to make new friends
Going hand in hand with getting involved is making friends. Put yourself out there. Joining organizations allows you to meet new people and make new friends. This year I made a few new great friends and it all starts with stepping outside the comfort zone. Ask them to grab dinner or drinks, hit up a workout class or have a movie night.
Plan for the exciting year ahead
This pearl of wisdom is coming fresh off the press. After wrapping up Christmas, I started to think about what I want to achieve in 2020. I’ve put together a few resolutions for the upcoming year and am truly excited about what’s to come. Whatever your resolutions or goals may be for next year, get ready to make them count!
Cheers to our 2019 accomplishments & what’s to come in 2020!