I know people shouldn't wait for a new year to have goals, but why not use it as a little push to get the show on the road? So here are my seven new years resolutions for 2012.
1) Stop checking work e-mail from home: Unless it's something personal or for fun, I'm going to stop working from home. I've had two bosses plus my boss's boss tell me to enjoy the weekend. I'm a bit of a workaholic (and get it from my mother), but I'm going to make a point to enjoy myself 100% off the clock.
2) Eat out at fast food restaurants less: Vegetarian or not, I eat too many fatty, greasy foods (like French Fries) from fast food places. My wallet and my body will thank me. My goal is to only eat out twice per month. That's reasonable and realistic instead of once or twice a week like I've been doing.
1) Stop checking work e-mail from home: Unless it's something personal or for fun, I'm going to stop working from home. I've had two bosses plus my boss's boss tell me to enjoy the weekend. I'm a bit of a workaholic (and get it from my mother), but I'm going to make a point to enjoy myself 100% off the clock.
2) Eat out at fast food restaurants less: Vegetarian or not, I eat too many fatty, greasy foods (like French Fries) from fast food places. My wallet and my body will thank me. My goal is to only eat out twice per month. That's reasonable and realistic instead of once or twice a week like I've been doing.
3) Continue working out at least 4 or 5 times per week for an hour: I've been great at this since October, but I already liked going to health clubs when it's not nice outside. I learned to love weight training in college so doing this is no big deal. It's when the snow hits and sticks that I'll know whether I can push through it or not. But on those days, I'll work out at home. I don't have a weight goal, just a health goal. Nah, I want to wear my favorite jeans again, too. I'm at a 12, but I want to be back to at least a 10. Not interested in being a 6 or 8 again, but I wouldn't pout if I was.
4) Peaceful working days: Every job has its crazy days and its wonderful days, and I've worked with some really great people. I've also had tough days, but what job doesn't? I hope to improve on that and make it even better days in 2012. I'm starting the year off by thanking all of those helpful people with New Year's Day e-cards just to say "thanks." I also want to keep working my butt off on the health page because I really enjoy that topic. Working on National Travel and the Taking Off blog is fun, too.
5) Take a yearly travel trip: Some don't understand how I could have so much fun in Maui going solo, but I got to do every single thing I wanted to do, drama free and without having to compromise. I did NOT want to leave. Call it selfish, but I had a sensational time on my own, and I will absolutely be back to Hawaii again. Keep in mind I've had some pretty great times on family vacation trips, too. But what I missed was hitting the road and just having carefree days seeing something new. I miss my road trips to Missouri (with sunflower seeds and pink lemonade), and getting on planes to see some place I know nothing about. I want to start that again in 2012 and beyond. My spending habits must be more strict, but I can definitely pull it off.
6) Get my ends cut a few times a year: When I cut my hair in September, I loved looking at it. I like the growing-back process with haircuts, but what I liked more was how neat it looked. Although I can perm, wash and condition my hair, what I can't do is clip it. And I definitely save on major money by making use of over 10 years sitting in beauty salon chairs, but I want to keep my ends clipped. I fell off from that and my hair, which was at my upper back, started to break off. I'll make a few visits to my new beautician Francine to keep that in check. Then again, I might get bored with long hair and chop it all off again. Who knows?
7) Listen to more positive music: I really believe that the music you listen to can affect your day, and either I'm getting more mature or my ears and brain are paying more attention. I just cannot handle some of the hip-hop music that is out today, and I've been a loyal hip-hop fan since elementary school. I love the pioneers (Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, etc.) but too many new artists are overly negative and ignorant as hell. I've started listening to far more country music in December and happier R&B and neosoul. I think I'm going to give hip-hop a break (minus a few favorite artists who are reasonably positive) and start listening to other genres. I blasted country while I was cleaning up yesterday and man, I'm missing out on some great songs! Instant good moods, too.
8) Saving more money from coupons: The last person I ever expected to get a New Year's resolution idea from was Kourtney Kardashian, and although she took the couponing deal way too far, she had a point. I only use coupons when they arrive through snail mail, but I'm online all day long. Why not visit the store websites that I physically go to all the time and print coupons? The only time I ever look for online coupons is if I'm headed to clothing stores, which makes no sense because I spend far more time needing groceries than a new pair of jeans or my millionth sweater cape. I'm going to start getting serious about coupons.
4) Peaceful working days: Every job has its crazy days and its wonderful days, and I've worked with some really great people. I've also had tough days, but what job doesn't? I hope to improve on that and make it even better days in 2012. I'm starting the year off by thanking all of those helpful people with New Year's Day e-cards just to say "thanks." I also want to keep working my butt off on the health page because I really enjoy that topic. Working on National Travel and the Taking Off blog is fun, too.
5) Take a yearly travel trip: Some don't understand how I could have so much fun in Maui going solo, but I got to do every single thing I wanted to do, drama free and without having to compromise. I did NOT want to leave. Call it selfish, but I had a sensational time on my own, and I will absolutely be back to Hawaii again. Keep in mind I've had some pretty great times on family vacation trips, too. But what I missed was hitting the road and just having carefree days seeing something new. I miss my road trips to Missouri (with sunflower seeds and pink lemonade), and getting on planes to see some place I know nothing about. I want to start that again in 2012 and beyond. My spending habits must be more strict, but I can definitely pull it off.
6) Get my ends cut a few times a year: When I cut my hair in September, I loved looking at it. I like the growing-back process with haircuts, but what I liked more was how neat it looked. Although I can perm, wash and condition my hair, what I can't do is clip it. And I definitely save on major money by making use of over 10 years sitting in beauty salon chairs, but I want to keep my ends clipped. I fell off from that and my hair, which was at my upper back, started to break off. I'll make a few visits to my new beautician Francine to keep that in check. Then again, I might get bored with long hair and chop it all off again. Who knows?
7) Listen to more positive music: I really believe that the music you listen to can affect your day, and either I'm getting more mature or my ears and brain are paying more attention. I just cannot handle some of the hip-hop music that is out today, and I've been a loyal hip-hop fan since elementary school. I love the pioneers (Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, etc.) but too many new artists are overly negative and ignorant as hell. I've started listening to far more country music in December and happier R&B and neosoul. I think I'm going to give hip-hop a break (minus a few favorite artists who are reasonably positive) and start listening to other genres. I blasted country while I was cleaning up yesterday and man, I'm missing out on some great songs! Instant good moods, too.
8) Saving more money from coupons: The last person I ever expected to get a New Year's resolution idea from was Kourtney Kardashian, and although she took the couponing deal way too far, she had a point. I only use coupons when they arrive through snail mail, but I'm online all day long. Why not visit the store websites that I physically go to all the time and print coupons? The only time I ever look for online coupons is if I'm headed to clothing stores, which makes no sense because I spend far more time needing groceries than a new pair of jeans or my millionth sweater cape. I'm going to start getting serious about coupons.
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