On my personal blog a few years ago, I attempted to write one post per week for the duration of the whole year. I got very close, only dropping off at the end when I went to Disney- I imagine I was quite busy. 😉 I would like to try something similar this year, as I have this peculiar feeling that 2019 has some really great things in store for me. I have several "goals" or things I want to focus on for this year, and I would like to have a place to talk about them and a place to look back on all of the stuff- good or bad- that's going to happen to me. I've started a new blog as part of my effort to create a brand for myself, and it's not that I'm ashamed of the things I have said on my other blog, but just that some of it is still very personal and private, and not everything is for everyone to see. I hope you can understand, as I'm sure you do. With that, let's jump right into 2019, and the things I want to work on!
~Goals~
1. Better Health & Fitness
First and foremost, my first goal for the year is to be more healthy. This has been on every list of mine in one way or another over the last several years, and I think it's a good thing to keep around. We can always treat our bodies a little better. For me, this year is about weight loss and creating healthy habits. Now before someone starts in about, "Effie, it's not all about losing weight. You're beautiful just the way you are," etc, etc- let me stop you. I want to lose weight and that's okay. It's okay because I am in control of that thought. I carry weight that is unhealthy for my frame and height, and I can tell that that extra weight causes me aches and pains and prevents me from going up a flight of stairs without being out of breath. I don't want to live like that for the rest of my life, especially not from such an early age. My weight has been a struggle of mine- mentally and physically- for many years, and I think most men and women who have previously struggled with it can attest to the fact that some days are harder than others. Having body positive thoughts about yourself doesn't happen overnight, and the negative ones don't disappear completely, either. It's a constant battle, and it will probably continue to be one, but I am okay with that. So I want to lose weight for myself right now, and for the future Me as well. I also want to develop healthier habits that I can carry with me as a lifestyle long after I reach any weight-based goals. Maybe in a future post I can talk about this more, but for now I would just like to say that I feel good about the direction I am headed in, and I know I am starting this year with a clear head and positive feelings.
2. A New Social Media Brand
As I mentioned at the beginning, I want to start working on my "brand" and building that up- whatever that may look like. As a Millennial moving into the world on my own soon (without school and a part-time job as crutches), having a purposeful social media presence has become important and even helpful in finding employment in some cases. It might just be writing on my blog, but I've also been toying with the idea of developing a YouTube channel- either through vlogs or maybe some specific targeted content. I like the idea of developing video editing skills, and I think that might be a real area of interest for me; something I could really turn into a hobby if I practice a lot. What better way to do that than to make short videos and vlogs for a platform like YouTube? I certainly don't expect fame and fortune, but I've been looking for a different creative outlet and I believe I could be onto something with this. If you're interested in the types of videos that I am drawing my current inspiration from, check out Julien Solomita, Safiya Nygaard, The Try Guys, and Jenna Marbles. I am also always open to suggestions- so comment away!!
3. Some Lifestyle Changes
This next one is a little harder to put into a nice little succinct sentence, but it's about how I live my life, and it encompasses a few areas. First of all, I would like to work on being more positive. I feel like in the last six months especially, I have grown quite negative and jaded. Most of this stems from my job unfortunately, but seeing as how I need to stick it out through the summer, I would like to make a concentrated effort to bring less of it home with me, and to let more things roll off my back in a positive manner while I am still at work. I think taking on the day with a smile on my face and a determination to keep it there will yield better results in the long run. People are still going to suck, but maybe it won't hurt me as much. The second part of this is how I live at home. I am a messy person, anyone who has lived with me or even come to visit me on short notice knows this. I don't leave trash or food lying around, but where someone would hang up their clothes right away, I'll just lay them on a chair to do later, and pretty soon, you can barely see the chair. I spend a lot of time in my room, because between my job and school I don't have time for much else besides sleep, and unfortunately my room sees the worst of this bad habit. This year I want to work on living a tidier life, one that doesn't cause me embarrassment for someone to see my living spaces. I know there are some traits that run deep, but I also believe I could try a bit harder at this. Finally, I want to do more with my life. I turned 25 in December and I have become painfully aware how boring my life has become. Sure, it's comfortable, but I am bored. I want to travel, I want to experience this world. I can always make excuses- it's cold, it's just Iowa, I don't have the time, I don't have the money, I'm tired, I deserve a day off- but there will always be some reason to skip the activity. I don't want to sit around and waste my time on Netflix any longer. I want to read more books this year, I want to see more of Iowa and all it has to offer, I want to try new hobbies and activities- even if I might fail at them. I would like to meet new people and make new friendships, listen to new music, learn how to do my makeup properly, develop my wardrobe to reflect my aesthetic, and write more- maybe even finish a full story. I have so much on my Bucket List, and I want to get started on it this year.
4. Be More Environmentally Friendly
I want to work on my environmental impact this year. I have been known to preach about sustainable living and the things we can do to help the environment, but what am *I* doing to help? There are some things I cannot help just yet- like the fact that I have to drive 20 minutes to and from school every day, but perhaps I will be able to move and be walking or biking distance from my job. Hell, maybe I'll move to a city where a car is hardly necessary at all (I'm talking to you, Seattle). I want to remember to use my reusable grocery bags more often than not, and choose paper over plastic, or no bag at all when I can help it. I want to convert to reusable (and portable) utensils and straws. Part of this will mean eating out less, and as far as I am concerned that's okay. It will also mean buying some more expensive products for the sake of the environment and that's okay as well. If I am going to believe in a cause, I have to be willing to do the things I talk about. Who knows? Maybe I'll even start sewing my own clothes!
5. Have Financial Stability
This one perhaps should not be so far down the list, but then again, does this list really have a hierarchy of importance? I have held at least a part-time job for the last 5 years, and do you want to know how much money I have put into a savings account in that time? $100. It has fluctuated over the years, but currently, to my name, I have $100 to draw on in the case of an emergency. As I approach the time where the symbolic "boot" will be kicking me out into the world, I feel more and more pressure to be financially secure, which is probably a good thing. I have made great strides in the last six months, but I want to continue to be even better. By the time I graduate school in May, I want to have $1,000 in my savings account, money that I will not touch unless it is a true emergency. I have started budgeting my money, and even tried using the envelope system at the beginning of December (I liked it) so I want to continue in that fashion in order to eliminate needless and spontaneous spending. I know that most of my money goes to impulse buys and the idea that $10 or $15 here and there don't add up to much. Surprise- they do. I have plans to pay off my two credit cards this year as well, which will be such a relief to be out from under. This endeavor will take a lot of trial and error, and a lot of discipline and patience- two things I don't always have much of- but I am determined to set up a future for myself that does not include scrambling from paycheck to paycheck, and praying that my car doesn't break down on the side of the road.
I am sure that I have more things to add or that I want to work on, but right now, these are the few that are coming to mind that seem to encompass my vision for this coming year. 2019 will be the year that I have my "glow up," and in more ways that just physical appearance. I enter this year willing and ready to be molded by my experiences, ready to try new things, and determined to try harder to be the person I know I am meant to be. Above all, I vow to myself to follow my passions, to trust my heart and my gut, to stop worrying about what the world thinks of me, to follow through on my promises, and to make myself proud. I hope you all can accomplish something that makes you proud as well.
Always,
Effie
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