My 2018 Goals

I am always hesitant to write resolutions for New Years – instead I like to think of them as my goals for the year ahead. Creating a plan for life. Things I would like to achieve and ways in which I can get there. This year there really is one goal. A simple aim – to just go through the year with a content feeling of happiness. And as pinterest and instagram like to tell me – happiness is a choice – not a result. So I am flying into 2018 making a conscious choice to feel happy in each and every area of my life.

How to achieve that – I have broken it down into five categories of my life that I deem to be really important to me…

1. Happy as a mother
2. Happy as a wife
3. Happy in myself
4. Happy as a friend
5. Happy in my work

To be happy as a mother I know I must be humble enough to realise I certainly haven’t got it mastered. Brave enough to keep trying. And thankful enough to see the grace in it all. Its not easy through the mess and chaos. And I will continue to always try and be ‘in the moment’ as I know thats when I am always at my best.

As a wife I know my husband gets put to the bottom of the pecking order now the girls are here. I want to dedicate time that is just his. Not me talking about the girls, or life admin, schools and bills… nor saying ‘hang on a minute babe I just need to post this picture’. But time that is blocked out (in my mind) as time for just us like it always used to be. I truly believe the best relationships are nurtured. And my husband is my rock he needs to be shown that every now and then.

To be happy in myself… comes complete body acceptance, accepting the dimples that once weren’t there, the stretching post-pregnancy skin that no longer sits taught across my stomach… the lines on my face… the marks of having a life and a damn good one at that. And to be truly happy I know I also need to be healthy (maybe just healthier)… less McDonalds and more fresh produce thats going to nourish me. Chocolate wine and gin are non negotiable. But regular exercise is on the list.

Since having children finding the time to see my absolute diamond friends has become really hard. As people have moved to Hackney and Bristol (you know who you are) and even those close return to work and our schedules no longer pair up. I am going to be business like in arranging ‘meetings’ because there really is no other joy like spending even an hour with one of your best friends in the world, talking serious or nonsense, laughing, hugging, reminiscing, putting the world to rights. I think everyone needs that time.

And lastly being happy in work. A little tricker as I think I really need to work out where I would like to be this time next year. Perhaps thats a whole other post. But I know the thing that makes me the happiest with my blog is getting messages from people who follow my stories and read my Instagram posts. When I know I have made someone laugh or helped them find the perfect patent boot, cheered them up when they’re having a grey day or just helped them realise they’re not alone in this crazy motherhood journey.

I hope maybe this will help you think about what you want to achieve from the next year. Just breaking it down into areas and what you could do to get yourself there.

I’d love to hear what you’re planning and how you’re planning it.

Thank you so much for reading,

Ashley

x

 

 

SaveSaveSaveSave