This Time, It’s All About Me

It’s that time of year again. Many of us reflect on the year that is nearly past and start looking forward to the next year.

It’s a time of endings and new beginnings. I try not to do resolutions because I think they’ve developed a negative connotation over the years as being doomed to fail.

Instead I set goals. Sounds so much fancier and more doable. I know it’s a bit early to officially talk about what I want out of 2016, but you know what? I don’t care.

Because 2016 is the year of the Amy.

2015-10-20 13.22.41

I’ve spent a lot of time in the past years not making me a priority and that has got to stop. To be the best me, which in turn makes me the best mom I can be and the best partner I can be, I need to take care of me.

That means that my needs don’t get put at the bottom of the list. Compromising is good, but not when it leads to loss of sense of self.

There are four big things that I am planning to be the best me possible. These, above all other things, are what I am prioritizing this year. I believe that by making these four things a priority, I’ll have more time and energy for all the people in my life that need my time and energy.

  1. More sleep – I need to manage my cortisol levels better without drugs (who wants to talk about drug detoxing? Anyone? Because let me tell you, the controlled withdrawal from one of my ‘keep Amy sane’ drugs made me scratch my 2016 goal to become a drug addict). Stress management is better for overall health and sleep is a key ingredient for that. So I need to get back in the habit of early to bed.
  2. More writing – I have a book to finish up, and I’d like to finish it by my birthday (2/24 in case you’re taking notes). I have more books to edit. I have an edited book to send out to a couple beta readers. I need to make a concerted effort to get it published. I’d also like to do some smaller pieces and blog more. I love sitting at the keyboard and doing what I love should also help with that pesky stress.
  3. More movement – this was a pretty crap year of exercise for me. I started off strong, then got pneumonia, then got burned out. So no real big race goals this year. Just make time to move consistently every week. Trail running, bicycling, swimming, yoga. I like those things. I can do those things. I need to make the time to do those things on the regular. The architect can totally handle mornings without my presence a couple times a week. Bonus: exercise is a great way to increase stress management! (It’s almost like there’s a theme!)
  4. More job satisfaction – I think this would go the furthest towards managing the stress levels. I am not sure exactly how to get there, but by the end of 2016 I want to look around and say absolutely that I do not dread going to work (and maybe, if I get really crazy, that I actually enjoy what I’m doing). For some reason this one is the scariest.
2015-10-04 18.39.48-1

Being fabulous

Bonus goals

  1. More water

  1. More gin

2015-12-11 20.24.12

  1. More love

IMG_2546

  1. More laughter

2015-10-11 10.20.18

  1. More time outdoors with the Bean

2015-06-20 16.15.06 HDR

  1. More unicorns

2015-12-29 12.04.53

  1. More letting shit go

eALcMo1448997816

  1. More reading

to read pile

  1. More cheese

  1. More beer and cribbage nights

2015-11-27 18.53.50

 

There might be difficult paths on the road to putting my own oxygen mask on first, but when else do I start prioritizing myself? I don’t want to look back in twenty years and realize that nothing’s changed. It’s the last full calendar year in my 30s. When better, really?

This is what awesome looks like.

This is what awesome looks like.

Follow me on social!