my intentions for 2022.

" New beginnings are in order, and you are bound to find some level of excitement as new chances come your way. " - AULIQ ICE 

I don't know when it happened but I decided to stop making new years resolutions a few years ago. We are all guilty of creating goals that aren't sustainable or were more in line with expectations set in society when in fact it's about setting things that are just for us. I'd usually give by April or somewhere earlier anyway and it wasn't worth the thinking space. 

Instead, I like to set myself intentions. It enables me to decide how I would like the year ahead to look as a whole and how I would like to feel. You can then build on that by deciding on the things that you are in control of that can be implemented or changed to help create the year and feeling you'd like.  The result of this is a far more rewarding feeling once the year is over and you are able to reflect on the last 12 months. 

The important starting block for this process is taking the opportunity to reflect on the past year before diving straight into what is to come. You may find that some things that worked for you 12 months ago aren't going to work in the next year ahead. With that in mind let's quickly reflect on 2021...

a look back on 2021...

I think it's fair to say 2021 was just as unpredictable as 2020 was. We came through the last bit of a lockdown and was striving towards some form of "normality". Yes mentally this year was just as difficult and I felt guilty for the lack of time I spent in 2020 with friends and family. I knew that I was so lucky not to have lost anybody close to me due to covid and being able to spend all of the time I did with Jordan at home. 

2021 brought me huge positives personally. In February we moved into our first home, by April I was visiting theatres again and the summer gave me a huge lease in seeing friends again. Considering all things pandemic I was able to see nearly 60 shows this year and read 28 or so books! 

I turned 30 in the summer and I think that provided me with the perfect opportunity to reflect; both personally and professionally about my life. Professionally my job isn't right for me anymore and I have been working really hard to consider what is the next step for me. The financial strain my job currently puts into our daily life is NOT what I want to be experiencing in 2022.  

what do I want in 2022?

which leads me nicely onto the things I intend to happen in this new year, 2022. Of course above everything else I hope it brings me happiness and good health. I want this year's focus to be on making the right foundations. I'm keen to get back to learning again and also doing more exercise for both my physical and mental wellbeing. If 2020 and 2021 taught me anything it was that our health is so important, both physically and mentally! Here are my other intentions for 2022:

📚 READ MORE

I lost so much of my motivation to read in 2021 which is a shame as it's one of my favourite activities to indulge in during the evenings and when I am commuting to and from work. In 2022 I am keen to read more by also diving into my bookshelves and beating the backlog of to be read books I have accumulated over the years. If you are a fan of reading, you can follow me on Goodreads! 

🏠 HOUSE PROJECTS

We would have been in our house a year coming February and have definitely been committed to one project so far, the living room. There are a few projects I have lined up for 2022, some obviously bigger than others. I want to begin with starting on the hallway before just adding a statement wallpaper into the living room and upcycling some of the furniture which was left with us. By then hopefully, we can get the garden looking marvellous for the summer and our snug pretty much completed for the conservatory! The bigger projects are not at the forefront of my mind in 2022. 

☀️ GET OUTDOORS AND TO THE SEASIDE

I missed the opportunity to see more of the outdoors in 2022 and I really want to feel the sand between my toes so get me to the seaside. 

💰 Be better with money. I need to look into better ways to save our money and earn cash back for purchases in 2022. Any tips or recommendations to do this are very much welcome in the comments! 

✍️ WRITE AND CREATE MORE

2022 will be the year I get back into writing on the blog and creating content again. I lost my spark in 2021 so would love to get back into it and work with brands more regularly.  ⠀

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🧠 continue to strive for development in my career. ⠀

🎭 Be more engaged and present in the theatre industry and gain exciting opportunities further down the line. 

What are some of your goals or intentions going into 2022? 

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