I wasn’t sure whether to write a ‘New Year’ post or not – and, as it happens, it’s now December 30th and I’ve only just made up my mind. Resolutions aren’t always for me but this year I’ve decided to put finger to keyboard and think about how to make 2017 a great year. It feels exciting to think about new challenges and what the year will bring, including our 10th wedding anniversary and some great opportunities at work, but so much of that is up to me. Let’s go for it.
Spend More Time With Friends
It’s definitely plagued me in 2016 that I didn’t see as much of my friends as I would have liked. Scattered around the country and with various family sizes, it feels harder to keep up with everyone but it’s absolutely not. All it takes is a phone call, plans to be made. We share so much history, in most cases friendships stretching back to before partners and families and we’ve all been through so much together. Then there’s the new friends, the ones I’ve met through social media life. Blogging has been amazing for that and I can’t wait to spend more time with the people I’ve met in the past couple of years as well as hopefully meeting many more in 2017.
Look After Me
With this never-ending house renovation project, it feels as though every penny should go into it. Yet everyone deserves some time out and a little bit of R&R. I turn 37 in January and it’s time, finally, to sort my appalling hair out and learn how to do makeup properly. The other evening we were watching a Bruce Springsteen documentary and he said that his Mum spoke of how as soon as you step outside the front door, you must always present your very best self. Such obvious words but oh so true. I want to present my best self. After all, there were so many years in my early-mid 20s when I was so very unhappy with my size and weight, I’m doing a disservice to myself if I don’t make the most of everything the weight loss achieved.
Keep Going
On Valentines Day it will be 3 years since we picked up keys to our home. We’ve come on leaps and bounds in 2016 with our renovation plans, from completely new electrics to transforming the outside of the house so we just need to keep the momentum going. Sometimes we’re both so laid back everything comes to a grinding halt and months pass with no projects being completed but hopefully 2017 will be the year we finally talk to our financial advisor about options for financing our future extension.
Be More Organised
This is a must for so many reasons. I’m fed up with running for the train most mornings because I haven’t prepped my bag the night before or spent too long in bed scrolling through Instagram when I should have been getting up. Work will be very busy this year and if I want the blog to grow as wonderfully as it did in 2016 then lists and planning will be essential. As well as actually replying to emails and keeping on top of my blogging inbox in general, not one of my strong points. Simple things like editing photos as soon as they’re taken instead of waiting until it’s time to write the post could make so much difference to efficiency. I just need to put my money where my mouth is.
Mindful Consumerism
Over 2016 as I’ve blogged more and more regularly and come across so many inspiring Instagram accounts, it’s amazed me how often people seem to change up their interiors (or clothes or beauty). At first I was envious but now I’ve realised it’s just quite simply an ethos I can’t buy into. This Christmas, we asked family to buy us nothing for the sake of having something to open. We’d rather one gift that means something or is useful rather than so many insignificant trinkets. I’m passionate about supporting small businesses and equally as passionate about denouncing high street stores where we all actively know that they’ve caused harm to people.
When I’m feeling bold I’ll probably write more about this – none of us are perfect but for me we’re all capable of making one or two small changes. So for me it’s going to be less fast-fashion/consumerism in general and more considered purchases that I’ll treasure. Pete bought me two Christmas presents this year – the Kate Spade ‘Cameron Street Candace Satchel’ and the Fragrance Discovery Set from Jo Loves and I absolutely love both of them. It’s added to the realisation that I’d rather save for something so let’s see how it goes this year!
Cooking
Hand in hand with ALL of the above is a need, a want and a necessity to cook more. I eat on the go too often and waste money needlessly. It’s not an inability, it’s simply a laziness on my part but a little organisation means that lunches and dinners can be prepared in advance and budgeting/meal planning could make both our lives so much easier.
I’m excited to see what the year ahead brings, do you set resolutions? I’d love to hear what they are.
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Being more organised is definitely high on my agenda in 2016 and I’m really interested in your mindful consumerism point. Being on social media so much and having the pressure of being a (loosely speaking) fashion blogger makes me feel under pressure to have new things all the time which is something that A – I can’t sustain and B – don’t really want to do but it’s hard not to get sucked in. I definitely need to sort my head out in this department. You are a source of inspiration to me and I know you will do brilliant things in 2017!
Author
I completely agree with you and definitely think social media plays such a dangerous role in influencing us to rush out and buy more things – of course that’s the purpose in many ways of being a blogger but I was really shocked last year at how many people kept picking things up (from an interiors perspective) from places like H&M and *shudders* Primark (which I wish would just close the hell down, how anyone can shop there is beyond me knowing what we all know about their operating policies!)
I started thinking that I too wanted new things all the time and I had to give myself a good talking too, that it completely goes against what I believe in as a person and the type of products I want for my home but I know resisting will be a constant battle!!
Thanks so much for your kind words, YOU’RE the inspiration – please write a post on flat lays 😉 Xx
Happy new year lovely. I agree with this mindful consumerism idea, we do tend to buy for buying sake, it is silly isn’t it. Have a fab new year xx
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And the happiest new year to you too! I totally agree, buying things for the sake of it seems to be far too prevalent and especially in our social-media driven world. I hope I can maintain my discipline Xx
Mindful Consumerism is such a good one. I went Christmas shopping with my Mum a few days before Christmas, right after I had just read an article about how £7million is spent on presents that either go unopened or thrown away! £7m?! I’m so glad I read it as I’m all for presents, but my Mum was picking up all kinds of silly little things and useless bits for stocking fillers or for ‘silly joke’ presets for my Dad. I had to keep dragging them off her, as I realised that not only is it a waste of money but it’s this kinda crap that I ended up having bin bags full of when I moved out my flat in July. Bags and bags of things I didn’t really need or had never used.
It’s so easy to spend isn’t it, see something pretty, treat yourself. But I too want to spend on the things that mean more. For me this year that will be a trip to Japan. Gonna have to save like a mofo, but will try my best to avoid splurging on the little unimportant luxuries.
Thanks hun, you’ve really inspired me, might add that one to my own resolutions.
Happy New Year 🙂
x tink jayne x
allabouttink.co.uk
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Oh my goodness, £7 million?? That’s just crazy!! It’s very cathartic to have such a great cleansing process but it does get you thinking about why you have all those things in the first place doesn’t it? This year our family really listened to our request not to have 50 trinkets that weren’t to our taste and rather either give us vouchers or just get the specific thing we’d asked for even if to them it didn’t feel exciting. I’m so excited for you to get to Japan, that will be such an amazing trip and you will definitely make it happen, I have not doubt. Happy New Year lovely Xx
no resolutions here but we wait until we find the right thing we want and save up to buy it, this year Hubby bought himself a gas bbq he had wanted for several years, he purchased it in November and we labelled it a Christmas gift
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I love that Suzanne – so much more satisfaction and appreciation, for me anyway. I know everyone’s different but I’m struggling to come to terms with this influencer-led age we live in! Happy New Year X
Love this Lins, especially the mindful consumerism as i’ve always been a ‘shopper’ and there really isn’t the need for so much ‘stuff’ for either myself or the children- I think I’ll add this to my list too! x
Author
Thanks so much Becky – I’m with you that I love shopping, or rather I always want new things. But I’ve realised that I’m so influenced by social media in a negative way sometimes and I have to be the stronger person. I know I’ll mess up from time to time but best effort is better than none 🙂 X
Happy New Year – and sounds like you’ve got great plans for this year. And you’re right when you say so much of it is down to you, I totally get that and sometimes its so much easier to sit on the sofa and just plan rather than do. So here’s to being brave and getting stuff actually done – and done well! Thanks for sharing with #hopesanddreamsfor2017 and hope to meet up with you again this year X
I love your office set up and truly understand the need for organisation. #HopesandDreamsfor2017
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THanks so much Helena! Yes organisation is really key isn’t it? I’ve definitely realised this is an area of my life I need to improve X