1) To implement ‘slow living’ strategies to make my brain calm down and focus on the ‘here and now’

My brain is always going at 100mph. I think my past jobs have conditioned me into thinking that the busier I am the better employee I must be. Which has always fulfilled my people pleasing tendencies. I’m battling this and trying not to flick between too many tasks or have an insane amount of mental tabs open at once. 

Plus with the constant access to social media, I sit and doom scroll. So I struggle to slow down and switch off which is why I’m making a conscious effort to disconnect and be present more. 

2) To not buy any more books and get through my To Be Read box!

Very self explanatory – I’ve got about 50 books to read so not buying any new ones until I’ve got through this lot! And then will hit up the secondhand shops.

3) To be financially comfortable by the end of the year – I don’t need to have tens of thousands of pounds behind me, but to have a buffer in my normal account so I don’t have to go to 0 every month

This is the year we get married so to be comfortable financially by the end of it would be a great milestone to hit. We have a lot of bills to pay but we will get there! 

4) To research and understand how food additives and non-organic products can affect our health and to combat this by starting to make more food where possible and eating organically/whole

I’ve gone down a rabbit hole and now I can’t escape. I read every food packaging label now to see what I am actually eating and there are so many chemicals that we don’t need to be putting into our bodies! 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a busy working mum with a Fiancé who typically works 80 hour weeks so I really can’t go too hard with prepping everything. But I’m starting small and buying organic and whole foods where possible, and trying to make more snacks and things. 

5) To fall back in love with looking after my animals again rather than viewing them as ‘the next job to do’

I love my animals and it’s always been a dream to have them. But it’s hard, and even harder when you’re tired and run down. 

Making a conscious effort to slow down and enjoy them again this year, it’s what they deserve and I need to do this for my soul. They’re my happy place.