A New Year. A New Beginning.
2024.
Oh-eM-Gee!
I still can't believe that it's been eight long years since my last 'New Year's Resolution' post which was in 2016. I had been away from this blog for far too long. Aside from my very personal post last 2022, I haven't posted anything in this blog at all.
Looking at my list from eight years ago, I must admit that I haven't accomplished much. I think I've done them for a good couple months and then completely forgotten about them. And then there were some that I never even bothered to do. Anyway, with that being said, this will once again just be a repost of my 2016 New Year's Resolutions with a few tweaks here and there. Because in those eight years, my likes and preferences has also change. So I'm also going to incorporate them on this list.
And without further delay, here are my new year's resolution for the year 2024:
1. Be More Punctual.
This year, (1) I will strive to be on time for work and always arrive 15 minutes before get-togethers or any scheduled engagements (e.g. meetings, etc.), and (2) I will only use my vacation leaves and sick leaves when necessary.
This resolution has proven to be the most difficult one for me. Judging from how I always include this on my NYR lists, you would get the idea that I'm having difficulty accomplishing this. Sure, I am able to do this for a good couple of months but the consistency for me is the problem. After a few months, I always go back to my usual self. So this year, I will strive to avoid being late. To make it more realistic, I promise to lessen my tardiness to just five per month. And the second point is self-explanatory. Actually, I've already done this before, but based from last year's attendance record, I need to get this back on this list.
2. Save moohlah!
I promise to allot a portion of my salary on savings. I should also keep track of my expenses and learn to budget my money wisely.
Again, this is something that I struggle with. Like my tardiness, I did this one for a good few months and completely disregarded it. Last year, I was able to save up until June and was able to keep track of my expenses up to October. And then for some reason (most probably my laziness), I just stopped doing it. Recording my expenses is actually fun. I get to keep track of where my money goes and then I feel disappointed in myself whenever I record something that I should not have bought. Lol!
3. Renew my faith.
Attend mass every Sunday and other holy days of obligation; pray the rosary; read the bible and the purpose driven life; do not forget to thank God for all his blessings; and finally go to confession.
Unfortunately, I never bothered to make any improvements for this resolution in the last couple of years. As someone who attended Catholic school for all of her student life (First grade to College), I suck at this. So for this year, I again promise to be closer to God.
4. Live a healthy lifestyle
Exercise regularly; sleep before midnight; avoid staying up late (except on weekends); no more coffee after 6PM and limit coffee intake to at least one per day; take multivitamins everyday; take a shower at night regularly; do skin care routine every night without fail; and drink tea at night.
As of this writing, I currently weigh 72kg which is significantly over the recommended weight for my height. No wonder I am now having trouble standing up for long periods of time and that I feel pain in my joints and ankles from time to time. So this year, I want to lose even just 10kg.
Also, I feel like my coffee dependency is going back to the old ways. Until early last year, I've done very well at having only a cup of coffee per day. Two cups if I'm putting an all-nighter. But around April or May, I found myself drinking two cups of coffee per day and three cups (or more!) when I have to stay up late. And speaking of staying up late, my insomnia is at its worst. Unless I'm really tired, I sleep at 3AM and had to wake up at 6-7AM for work. That's three hours of sleep plus the other two or three hours I manage to sneak in after work when I can no longer stay awake. So this year, I hope to make a few changes (even just a little) to my health.
5. Reinvent myself.
Wardrobe change and update at least once a month; wear accessories; and learn how to apply make-up.
Again, the problem is that I have too much of everything but I never wear or use them. I couldn't open my drawer because of all the boxes stored in front of it and some of the clothes that I have no longer fit me. As for bags and shoes, I have a lot but I keep wearing or using two to three pieces at most. For about a year, I always use the Jansport backpack I borrowed from my sister and worn two shoes out of the 30 pairs that I have. For accessories, I seldom use them. When I was cleaning my drawer, I threw out 30+ nail polish and a pile of expired make-up that I've only used a few times. So this year, I want to only buy things that I will definitely use and use everything that I already own.
6. Take up a new hobby.
Knitting, sewing, or dancing; learn photography; update my bucket list; make art crafts more often; start the outline of my scrapbook and travel photo-book; get into any kind of sport; learn how to play the guitar; lettering; painting; and coloring.
Again, everything that I needed to start some of these hobbies are collecting dust in my room. Last year, I even bought a ton of stickers to start my scrapbook and journal, but as of today, I never even bothered to open them. Also, the paint by numbers kit that I've bought a few years ago are also left unopened in my room.
Another thing is that, I also wanted to make accessories again. Not for business, but for personal use. When I was cleaning my room, I saw all my tools and beads and I kind of miss making something beautiful out of them. So this year, I want to visit this shop at Quiapo and stock up on my jewelry-making supplies.
7. Learn.
Learn a foreign language: Korean, Japanese, Spanish, French, or Mandarin; study world history; review other subjects like Psychology, etc.; search a topic that interests me and read more about it; finish an online course; get into the habit of reading the news daily; and read more books.
Since I'm turning 40 this year, I realized that although there is no age limit when it comes to learning, I really need to start learning a new language now or else I will be too old to even bother doing it. And then there's my 1,700+ books that I still have to read. I'm afraid that if I don't start now, I won't have the time to do so in the future.
8. Travel more.
This year, I should go to a place that I've never been before; If possible, be able to go out of the country again; and revisit Baguio, Tagaytay, Intramuros, and other places that I haven't been to for years.
I'm planning to make a travel bucket list of places I want to visit this year (here and abroad). Also, I've already made plans for a tri-city tour (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia) with my friends at work this coming December. So hopefully, that will push through.
9. Accomplish something on my bucket list
Again, I should work harder on crossing off items on my bucket list. I made that bucket list for a reason, not just stare at it and imagine things about it. I should be able to live it and experience it for real.
Since making the list, I was only able to cross off probably less than ten items on it. It's such a pity really because you know, I'm getting older, and I really wanted to finish everything on that list. But judging on my track record, I will probably need another lifetime to get everything done. So I really really need to work hard on accomplishing them. Otherwise, I will live the rest of my dying days full of regret. I also plan to reorganize my bucket list and just put in those that I know I can finish.
10. Redecorate my room.
I used to like the idea of fashion spreads on my wall, but now that I'm turning 40, my preferences has also changed. Now I want my room color to be gray with a few pops of green and pink. I also want to be as organized as possible that's why I'm planning to purchase storage boxes for my things.
11. Learn my way around the kitchen.
It's about time I start to learn how to cook something edible. Something other than instant noodles, canned goods, and fried foods. Hopefully, learn how to bake too.
Last year, I finally learned how to cook rice and use the rice cooker. So this year, I want to learn how to cook even just one dish. I also plan to seriously learn how to bake. Because the electric oven that my dad bought for me before he died has been collecting dust for nine years now.
12. Try out something new this 2024 or my 40th.
Paintball, Go-Kart Racing, Target Shooting; or eating something that I haven't eaten yet: sushi, isaw, dinuguan; or experience something new: watch a theatrical play, visit the Dessert Museum, or ride a roller coaster.
This item is actually linked to my bucket list as some of the items listed here are part of it. Looking back, I'm proud to say that I've crossed off bowling and ice skating (which I suck at!) from this list.
13. Stop Procrastinating.
I've always been honest with this: I AM A MASTER PROCRASTINATOR. I keep on finding or making this excuses not to this or that and putting things off for later, and then completely forgetting about them. I really need to fix this "habit" of mine as my to-do list keeps on getting longer and I haven't finish one of them.
14. Become more confident, decisive and organized.
My closest friend could really attest to me being indecisive. When they ask me what do I want, I keep saying I don't know. I will say one thing then change it to another one and then go back to my first choice then still think of my second. It has always been like that for me so I really need to fix this too. I need to learn how make decisions on my own and not rely on my friends especially with things such as where to eat, what to eat, etc.
Also, I need to be more confident. Actually, I've been improving on this one but it's still lacking base on my own standards. So yeah, this should also be addressed this year. With being more organized, I think my room and my life needs an overhaul. I used to be kind of OC when it comes to my things, but looking back at the past years and how my room looks like now, I need to bring that side of me back.
15. Keep a Journal
I need to do this one as I want to remember things that happened to me on a certain day or period of time. I also need to keep one as I'm getting all these ideas that I sometimes forget about them especially when I don't write them on paper. Keeping a journal is like a pensive. I can remember things or moments that took place on a particular day. I will be able to remember the people, the emotion, etc. This is based on actual experience as I have been rereading portions of my diary and I felt so happy that I was able to capture the emotions I felt on a particular day. Reading them again was like travelling through time. So yeah, this one should be done again.
16. Don't dwell on the past.
Lastly, this is something that I should also work on this year. I've been feeling nostalgia about so many things lately. I've been living and imagining my past. I mean it's okay to revisit the past once in a while, but I realized that I've been doing it a lot. Even my conversations with friends are all about past memories. I couldn't even tell a new story because I've been living on my past. Dwelling on it. Letting it consume me. And then I started thinking of the 'what if's and if only' which is rather unhealthy. So for this year, I promise to live in the present and look forward to the future!
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Like always, I wish that the new year would prove to be a lot better for me, resolution-wise and otherwise. Cheers to 2024!
