2023 Resolutions
New Year, New Me? Nah, just the same dysfunctional girlie y'all have come to know, love and appreciate. Which is why this post is coming three days into the new year...
If you've been around for a while, you may recall when I used to take my resolutions a little more seriously. The posts would consist of four main categories I wanted to focus on throughout the year, and then every quarter, I'd check-in to adjust, re-evaluate and execute accordingly. Then, the pandemic happened and I kind of push any attempt of a resolution to the wayside.
However, I can't say that I have been running amuck since I've shelved the website to focus on school. I've done a good job of establishing daily routines that helped crush goals overall. For example, I wanted to read 20 books this year and by challenging myself to read 15 pages a day, I was able to read 22 books in total. Making the smaller adjustments and shifting my perception has been a major attribute to my discipline.
After talking with a girlfriend about the new year, I decided that I wanted to go back to my roots and bring back the resolutions to this website. I'm more likely to hold myself accountable if I publish it for the entire internet! Let's get into it:
Career/Education
This is a new addition to the Resolutions list, but this year seems like a great time to focus on my career/educational goals, as I am finally comfortable in my current position. Last year was the first real attempt in my position of Marketing & Special Events Coordinator, and even though I got bumped and bruised along the way, I really felt like I've found my calling. I've always flirted with the idea of freelancing, and whether that being in marketing, event planning or even photography, I'd like to take the time this year to focus on educating myself in trainings, workshops and whatever free/cheap resources I can find to elevate my career.
As evident by the lack of content for this website, school has been at the top of my priorities list and I'm close to finishing my degree! I've been able to maintain a 3.3 GPA while in school (despite a slip-up with French inSpring '22). I've always been an A-average student, so I'd like to continue the good marks as I near my degree completion. If all goes according to plan, I should be eligible for graduation in the Fall '23 semester. (The plan being that it still remains free through my job/union).
Career/Education Goals for 2023:
Finish degree with at least a 3.5 GPA
Establish a side hustle
Ask for a raise - This one is a little touchy, as I just negotiated for a nearly 12% raise through the union I'm a part of. There are also some other factors in play, and will readjust this one come Q2.
Become more involved in Union Duties
Network, network, network!
Creativity
By the time this gets posted, I will have already crossed off one of my Creativity Goals, woo-hoo! 🎉
This website and my YouTube channel have always been creative outlets for me, and since being back in school, it's broken my heart that I've had to shelve the one thing I've loved doing. Seeing the shift to short-snip media deterred me from wanting to make longer videos, and I didn't think I was the kind of girlie who could be a TikTok star by dancing (Don't get me wrong, I'm always grooving, but I never said I was good!) This year, I want to take time to schedule out shooting (whether it be photo shoots to hone in on my photography skills or video shoots for YouTube) and create a posting schedule.
I've put more thought into expanding the content creating avenues, like finally firing up my LTK page. Styling and fashion has become something I've grown more confident in, and I take a lot of pride in my appearance, plus hot girls don't gate-keep their favorite products and sales 🤷🏼♀️
Manifestation has become one of those habits I've been working on in private over the past two years, and I've decided to be more intentional with everything I do. From affirmations to vision boards, I want to show up as the best version of myself.
Creativity Goals for 2023:
Establish a more consistent posting schedule
Create a Vision Board - This one I've already done! I've made it my phone background as daily inspiration
Schedule shooting days each month (photography & videography)
Financial
As I mentioned before, Mama got herself a nice little raise at the start of the year, and it's already burnin' a hole in my pocket... 💸
The pandemic didn't do me a single favor when it came to any financial goals I had established for myself. Living in a constant rollercoaster highs and lows made me a little impulsive with spending (In my defense, we were living through a pandemic, the world on the edge of World War 5, you know just life things...) Plus, pepper in that fun little thing called inflation.. my wallet has been HURTIN'.
Thanks to TikTok, I've been introduced to resources like The Financial Feminist/Her First 100K and now I don't feel as ashamed in my debt as I might have in the past, thanks to some financial 'gods'. Even though he might have taught us about the sinking fund and that it's always a good idea to have an emergency fund, I want to take more time in building my wealth. I've learned a lot about investing, high yield saving accounts and that ultimately, I shouldn't feel guilty for buying the damn latte.
Financial Goals for 2023:
Create a sinking fund
Pay off smaller balanced credit cards
Put any overtime worked into HYSA account
Build both 'f*ck you' and emergency funds
Schedule Money Dates each month
Fitness/Wellness
Just like everyone else... you know I got some fitness resolutions on deck. However, I'm taking a vastly different approach this year.
One of the things that became very apparent was the Quarantine 15 (when in reality, it was more like 30..) I put on once we were allowed into the world again. I didn't think that it was that obvious, until I went to a wedding with my best friend in February '22, and was flat out disgusted with what I saw in photos. I had reached my heaviest weight, and I was embarrassed beyond belief..
So I overhauled my relationship with diet and fitness culture. I found programs that I enjoyed doing, was growing stronger each and every day, and was even meal-prepping foods I wouldn't typically eat. When I'm on the wagon, I'm full speed ahead. When I'm not, oh boy am I not. This year, I've decided that I'm not going to promise myself a strict workout plan or a restrictive diet, but rather start listening to my body and doing workouts that feel good, fueling it by eating a little cleaner (but def won’t deny myself the chocolate chip cookie if i want it), and by just being a little nicer to myself.
Fitness/Wellness Goals for 2023:
Eat cleaner
Focus more on intuitive eating
Prioritize building mobility
Prioritize sleep (at least 7 hours minimum)
Drink 100-ounces of water daily
Intellectual
Another year older, another year wiser...
Like I mentioned before, enforcing smaller daily habits really helped expedite the process of some of the goals I set for myself in 2022. Even though I didn't prioritize making any sort of list, I felt sharp mentally. Admittedly, after having two bouts of Covid, my mental health was shaky: My attention span was nonexistent, and I felt like I was in a constant head fog. It got concerning, but I think the addition of CBD to my routine made a world of difference (which I'll talk about at some point in the future.)
Even though I'm technically a student, I like to take the time to teach myself things outside of work/school. I'll be taking Spanish this semester, so I've changed my Duolingo lessons over to keep myself studying and I'm keeping the same goal of 20 books/15 pages daily for a reading challenge. I've got a lot of book on my To-Read List, varying from mystery, romance to self-help. To help with networking, I may look into joining a local book club.
Intellectual Goals for 2023:
Read 20 books in the year; Read at least 15 pages a day
Join a book club
Practice Spanish by completing daily quests on Duolingo
Practice affirmations