We've all made them. We've all broken them within 2 weeks (or less) of the new year. New Year's resolutions are often made to be broken, some sooner rather than later. However, there is something to be said for the refreshing feeling of a new year and new start, especially after the rat race that we make out of the holiday season. Here are some New Year's resolutions every Girl Banker or woman in business should consider implementing effective January 1.
Self Care | Consider this resolution as me preaching to my own choir because I suck at self care. While you could lump in all of the typical "lose weight" or "exercise more" (or in my case, "exercise at all") into self care, this resolution should be at the top of your priority list in 2019 because let's be honest, we all suck at it. If you don't take care of yourself, how could you be expected to take care of your family or succeed at work? I'm the world's worst at thinking that self care is equal to being selfish and our culture reinforces that mindset. Plus, I just don't make it a priority or pass it off as "I don't have time for that" and therefore, I suffer.
This past year, I took on this blog, more responsibility at work, sold my home and began a home remodel, and then started doing speaking engagements that required travel. I stopped doing any form of exercise, ate plenty of junk food, rarely got enough sleep, and was never hydrated like a should be. As a result, I started having anxiety attacks when I would travel, resulting in even less sleep, more stress, and a less productive mother, wife, and banker. Self care is unique to everyone, but for me in 2019, it's going to include drinking more water, starting yoga, working from home or the library once a week, and recognizing in advance when I need to take a mental health day and go get a massage. If momma aint' happy, ain't nobody happy, am I right?
Purge | I'm a massive fan of cleaning out the clutter and there is no better time to do it than the beginning of the year when you are in the mood clean out all the things! Personally, I feel "lighter", more organized, and have a better sense that my shit is in line when I purge out things in my life that is taking up too much space. Here are a few ways to purge:
- E-Purge: Unsubscribe to all the crap emails, clean out your voicemails, texts, organize your photos by backing them up to an online storage source like Shutterfly or Google Photos, and get rid of the apps you never use that are taking up too much precious storage on your phone.
- Stuff Purge: Pinterest has a lot of great checklists to help you start the purge with your real things and if you are really into it, you might check out the Kon Mari Method. It's extreme, but helps you stay focused and before you know it, your clothes, household items, kitchen stuff, and paper will be neatly organized and greatly reduced. (Can I get an amen for figuring out where to put all those school papers the kids bring home?!)
- People Purge: Yes, you read that right, but I'm not referring to the kind of people purging that hideous movie suggests, but instead, get rid of the toxic people taking up precious space in your life. Stop associating with people that don't truly add value to your life. Trust me, if you made a list of the people that really matter most, your list will be short. Your circle will be small, but the quality of that circle will be much better than it was when it was big. My mom has always told me that you can count your true friends on one hand. She is right. Drop out of those annoying group texts, UNFOLLOW all the ridiculousness in your social media news feeds including profiles that make you feel bad about yourself like beauty bloggers and celebrities, and only make time for YOUR people. You know who they are.
Track Your Successes | Nothing overwhelms me more than a to-do list and I have a good one going that overlaps from week to week in my
Passion Planner and on my Outlook Task List. I find myself looking at my list or adding to it each week and suddenly noticing my heart rate increasing, my mood worsening, and the fear of never getting it all done creeping up on me. This year, I am going to keep a "Done" List where I keep track of all the completed projects, successes, and tasks that I have marked off my to-do list. By doing this, I can tell that overwhelming feeling I get from looking at my to-do list to kiss my ass, plus I can take this list to my boss at my annual review. Win, win!
Here's wishing all my readers a very Happy New Year. May you have a year full of success, valuable friendships, and fulfilling work. What are your resolutions for 2019?
