2022 Goals

I entered 2021 with the hope that things would improve from the previous year. That hope has been transferred to 2022!

2021 was just another shit-storm of a year. Surely it can’t be 3 years in a row?

Resolution vs Goals

This is the obligatory section where I explain the difference and why I set goals.

Resolutions are things we say we’re going to do at the start of the year. We have full intention, but after a few weeks, it’s all gone to pot.

Goals are stuff we can look at achieving through the year. It doesn’t need to be started straight away. And if you lapse, you dust yourself down and try again when ready.

Resolutions appear to be strict and set in stone. Goals are more lenient.

Goals

Goal 1: Mental health

As we are now coming out of the pandemic era (hopefully), I want to re-look at my mental health and improve on that.

Hopefully, my therapy will start this year. It’s been a long time coming, that is for sure.

Another thing I’ve become very conscious of is my imposter syndrome. So I want to look further into that.

Plans to achieve this goal

Mental health is on many levels, and I feel that for me, I am the only one that can fix my mental health with the correct support mechanism.

Having been on the therapy waiting list for so long, I’m hoping that 2022 will be the year that the support comes. I have another initial meeting booked, but I have been here before!

I want to continue 2022 doing things that help me, such as CrossFit and CrossStitch (Yes, I pick up hobbies with just ‘cross’ in their name). The latter really helped me de-stress from work. And as long as I am enjoying it, I will continue.

I also want to look at how I always put myself down, before anyone else can. Clearly, this defence mechanism has had a more detrimental effect on me. So I need to delve further and see how I can change this toxic behaviour.

I don’t think I will be off the happy pills. I can’t see me coming off them at all if I am honest. Although, it would be nice if they were reduced.

Goal 2: Body confidence

For someone who is an advocate for body confidence, I’m not exactly following what I preach.

For over two years, I’ve returned to that state of mind where I am so uncomfortable in my body. And this has to change in 2022!

Plans to achieve this goal

I will continue with the fitness malarkey. It helps with my mental health as well, so that’s an added bonus. The beginning of the year isn’t starting off as planned, due to the drunken shoulder injury. I am slowly returning to the gym, and not pushing it too hard.

I also want to continue with the running. To be honest, I have been lax this month, but I’m going to try and get at least one run a week in.

I need to evaluate what I eat and drink. My belief is that you should never cut stuff out, but cutting it down is an option. I also need to make sure that I have breakfast (of sorts) because I don’t think that helps.

Additionally, for someone who suffers from IBS, I need to see how I can reduce that as a problem. And become conscious that what this does to my body as the day goes on.

Ideally, I would like a full-time personal trainer and nutritionist. Oh, and a chef. But alas, until I win the lottery that just isn’t going to happen is it?

At the end of the day, I don’t want to be ashamed of my stomach. I want to be able to post a pic (aka a thirst trap) and not feel people are judging and pointing.

Goal 3: Professional development

Many-a-time work has been frustrating. Which is an understatement. If you are not having a good time doing something, then your only free time would be to escape from it.

After two years, I am finished with what was a very challenging project. As reflection time arises, I need to look at what I want to achieve in the future. Or retire! And I can’t afford the latter, unfortunately.

As much as I get frustrated with my job, I still enjoy it. However, I feel like my learning is always placed on the back burner. So I want to learn more in the industry, and there is so much.

For a while, I’ve wanted to get my professional site up and running again. I don’t think it’s going to be all bells and whistles, but I want to start sharing stuff.

Plans to achieve this goal

As part of my job, I have access to training courses, so I would like to try and get time to use this properly.

I need to look and set up a blog site for my professional stuff. I am still thinking about the headless approach. This is something that has been on the radar for a while, but with my next big project not for a while, I am hoping that I can spend time on this.

Additionally, as I am trialling a 9-day fortnight at work, I want to use the ‘day off’ for me. Whether that’s catching up on blogs, or using the time to develop and learn.

I want to have the confidence that I am good at what I do, and that I can share my knowledge.

Goal 4: Make a house a home the return

Living in a place you own, you’re constantly looking to improve the place. And to be honest, I think we’ve done that a lot throughout the years.

I still think there are a few other updates needed to the house to improve it. Granted not to the scale of when we moved in.

Plans to achieve this goal

While the house is in a good place that we could sell it now no problem. It just needs a bit of a refreshing in a few places.

The final rooms have already had their carpets replaced, and we’re currently looking at replacing some of the furniture.

The vestibule is my next big project. I just want to add some character, cause at the moment it feels like Oliver Twist who is asking for more.

The living room also just needs to be finished, with the wallpaper replaced with something a little lighter.

Another thing we want to do is de-gloss. Yeah, it’s hardy, but it’s a pain the add and quickly turns yellow.

Goal 5: Husby time

After being together for 18 years, you kind of fall into this loop of normality.

The husby and I have different tastes, and I love that about us. But it can also mean we don’t do a lot of stuff together.

So we wanted to designate some time for us, so we can continue to enjoy each other’s time, that doesn’t revolve around the tv.

Plans to achieve this goal

I want us to be able to continue having our independent lives and activities. But also spend time together…which we both agree on.

So, at least once a month, we are going to have ‘us time’, where we go away and venture.

We both like walks, so just doing stuff like that. Going to places we haven’t before. We may even get to the Lake District that he keeps on promising me we’d do.

Plus, we want to reduce the amount of ‘out out’ nights, so this will provide additional us time.