My 2017 New Years resolutions

Although they’re over by now, I absolutely love those days in between Christmas and New Years. It’s cold outside and I’m sitting on the couch with never ending amounts of French cheeses, wine and hot chocolate (not at the same time, obviously). Without having to do anything! I always try to work as little as possible on those days, and I managed pretty well this time. Instead, I used those days to make some plans for the new year. I wrote down my New Years resolutions and I even accidentally started a bullet journal.

I know not everyone believes in New Years resolutions, but I kind of like the idea of a new year and a clean slate. I know that realistically speaking it doesn’t matter one bit if it’s 1 January or 18 January, but that doesn’t take away the fact that it’s a good thing to pause for a moment and evaluate your last year, yourself, and see if you’re happy with your life and your personality. That’s why I made a nice list of New Years resolutions, and I’m sharing it with you! Grab a cup of tea, because this is going to be a nice and long personal blog post :).

TRAVEL

• Visit 40 countries
• Visit South America

The first one is a nice and clear goal. I like those, because it’s relatively easy to work towards. At the end of last year I had visited 32 countries, and this month I have already added two more. So before the end of January I’m already on 34 countries. So it seems doable, right? There’s still quite a few logical gaps in my list of countries (Sweden, Czech Republic, Iceland…) so I can’t see why I wouldn’t succeed! I keep track of the countries I’ve visited with an app called ‘Been’.

The second one is pretty straightforward too. To be honest I was never that interested in visiting South America, but I want to keep pushing myself to visit new places instead of just wandering around Europe or the United States. So if I’ll get a chance of going to South America this year, I will definitely go!

WORK

• More useful content
• 1 video a week on Youtube
• Grow my Instagram

When it comes to my work I have more than enough goals, but I don’t really like talking about my company‘s money and clients, so I’ll stick with things that are more relevant to you: things regarding my website! My biggest goal is growing the amount of (useful) content. I have to make a habit out of sitting myself down with every trip and think of how many articles I can write for every trip. With some trips I’m pretty sure I could write more! I also would like to write more useful, inspirational articles for all of you. I could actually use the help of a nice intern (sorry, Dutch only)!

For a long time I’ve been wanting to do more with my Youtube channel. I made so many vlogs last year, but I just didn’t get around to editing them. On top of that my laptop is so full by now, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to handle it! I seriously have videos from May I still need to edit! I also have a lot of useful tips I really would like to turn into videos. This year, I want to try to produce about 1 video a week, starting from the moment I get myself a new laptop.

I also want to try and grow my Instagram. I really love using the app: sharing nice pictures, chatting with all of you and sharing my live adventures through Instagram Stories. The more, the merrier! Are you already following me?

BODY

• Be active 3 times a week
• Cook at least once a week

Do you know these people who can’t take care of themselves? That’s me. Which means I’m totally fine with ordering food again when I don’t feel like cooking. To be honest, I’d rather be working! (I love it so much!) I just don’t see the use of cooking a big meal: you finish it in no time and then you’re stuck with dirty dishes! I’m also extremely impatient, and that just doesn’t work when you’re cooking. Because no: increasing the temperature doesn’t mean your meal is done sooner… Luckily my boyfriend likes to cook healthy food. But I do think I should invest some more time this year in cooking myself a tasty meal every now and then. And make it into a ritual. Just a moment to myself at the end of a working day.

Last year I haven’t exercised a lot as well. I like to work out indoors and in London that was basically not possible because I had such a small room (and I didn’t want to bother my downstairs neighbours with my jumping and working out). But since I moved back to The Netherlands I actually don’t have any excuse. Well… apart from the fact that I lost my sports bra. And that I don’t have enough motivation to go and find it ;-). But I’m actually someone who quite likes working out, since I’m a pretty competitive person, so I really don’t have any reason to do it this year!

MIND

• Develop a nice daily routine 
• Don’t let fear or doubt hold you back

The amazing thing about working from home is that you can do it in your pyjamas. And you can get up whenever you want. But that’s obviously not a very productive routine. So this year I’d like to develop a nice and productive working routine for myself. Mind you: I definitely work hard, and I often work late, but I just feel better when I start my working day a bit earlier. I’m hoping to find a good rhythm by getting up on time and making a good list of what I have to do every day. I use the app Wunderlist to make these lists, which works pretty well!

I personally think I’ve been held back by fear or doubt a bit too often last year. This year I want to remind myself of the thing I always tell others: do you really want your choices to be determined by fear? I’d like to take some more risks this year, and if I fail: so be it. Then we’ll find a new solution to deal with it. You can’t just think everything 100 times over, because in the end you’ll do nothing! I often have the habit of analysing everything, so I have to make sure to make a change.

SOUL

• Read 25 books
• Practice hobbies: calligraphy or knitting

You probably understand by now: I’m either busy working, or with something that involves traveling (and luckily enough it’s often both). And I love it! But that also means I don’t really have any other hobbies. Unless Netflix and eating delicious food count as hobbies ;-). When I recently visited Indonesia I got asked what my hobbies were, and the only thing I could think of was traveling. I suddenly felt very one-dimensional. So this year I want to take some time to practice some hobbies in the evenings, instead of just working constantly. Last year I already started a challenge to read a lot, but after a promising start it kind of died later on (although I think I read about fifteen books, so it’s not even that bad). This year I’ve set myself a goal of reading at least twenty-five books.

I also quite like creative hobbies, though I’m not particularly good at it. I’ve already tried knitting a long time ago, and I actually quite liked it! You have to focus, but not extremely hard, and you also create something useful. A tangible result of your efforts. Very zen! I also impulsively decided that I want to learn calligraphy. I never really had a nice handwriting, and I’m not that good at drawing, but hey: it would be so fun if I could do this. I already started a bit (by just drawing things I see) and I’m not even as bad as I thought I’d be! I’ll probably have to buy a book, pens and ink soon and start practicing.

I notice I find it really nice to be creative. I accidentally started keeping a bullet journal, and not only did I like making lots of clear lists, but also to decorate them with nice letters and happy doodles.

It seems all my New Years resolutions are about personal development in one way or another, which is very interesting to see. Here’s to a creative year full of travels!

What are your New Years resolutions for 2017?