It’s nearly 2017. Not only is the day going to be a fresh beginning, but the year is new too. Let’s be honest 2016 has been quite a crummy year for a number of reasons and we all have things we wish hadn’t happened. Even though I don’t always believe you have to wait for a New Year to kick start something in your life, I am always a believer that if it helps you start what you need to, then I am all for it. 

I’ve had a ‘all things change’ year with giving up freelance for full time work, hubby changing jobs and then me discovering three breast lumps. Luckily only just before Christmas did I get the all clear about the final two lumps, (the first was about 6-7 months ago) so I could relax over Christmas knowing everything was okay. But holding all that together was absolutely horrendous as I’d just started a new job, the doctor had put me for an urgent 2 week referral but it turned out he had forgotten to send the letter, after me waiting 4 weeks. I then had to wait another 2 weeks to go to hospital again. Along with this the car kept failing it’s MOT and I was still waiting on my first payslip… it just got too much from all the worry and finally on boxing day (when I’d stopped) I had an anxiety attack. I’ve not had an anxiety attack in absolutely ages, but as my Mum said, it was just from my body being in shock from all the worry.

Luckily we’re onto a New Year in good spirit. So even though I don’t really do New Years resolutions as such, I like to remind myself of things I want to achieve in the year that aren’t too hard to complete. I’m never going to be 8 stone, and to be quite honest I wouldn’t want to be! So why should I give myself unrequired pressure to achieve it? A lot of resolutions are unrealistic aren’t they? Which is why they fail. Exactly. With that in mind my list of 5 would consist of the following.

Drink more water – I’m terrible for drinking water. So I have purchased some squash to hopefully entice me into drinking more flavoured water. I always have water bottle for exercise and one for my desk at work. Fingers crossed I can up my game on the department!

New hobby friends – I have a fantastic network of friends, but I would like to push myself to make new ones that have a passion for things that I do. Not totally sure how I’ll do that exactly! Perhaps finally joining the local triathlon club? Or maybe building better friendships with my blog buddies?

Fight lack of confidence  – I’m starting to teach at a local gym in the new year which I’m really happy about. Sort of dragged my heels for years with teaching due to confidence, (believe it or not I’m really not to confident regardless of how it looks on the outside) but I made a pact with one of my friends I’d teach at his gym. Now I’m going to be, plus it is down the road from me and around the corner from my work…. so no excuses on that one!

Finish my PT course – Going back to ‘school’ whilst in a full time job and juggling my blog is a bit of a head explosion waiting to happen, but whilst I have no babies and only a husband to look after I’m pretty sure I can nail it. This is a long time coming after beginning this journey back in 2003 and dropping it and picking it back up in 2010… so this is the 3rd time lucky!

Have more me time – You will see I tend to be always busy – right? Well I got completely burnt out a few weeks ago. It was only then did I realise I could actually just be at home or spend time with friends, without cramming too much in. I could say ‘no’ to things and that was okay. This is a working progress but I’m planning to pop a ‘me’ time slot every month, which will consist of a bubble bath, face mask and book time.

I’ve only set 5 things for now as I’ll build on these as the year goes on. I’ll look at how far I’ve come each month and add in new resolutions all the way in 2017. It’ll keep me focused and make any changes or alterations less daunting. What are your resolutions for 2017?