The New Year, The New Me.

Every year I go through the same process once the New Year hits. I decide I am going to completely makeover my life, and I mean completely. In the past it has gone something a little similar to this:

"New Years resolutions, okay. Hmm. Well obviously I want to be in shape, yes very fit. I will look like a Victoria's Secret model! Okay so work-out. I will work out ALL the time. Oh! Also eat healthy, yes, of course! I can't work out without eating healthy too! Silly Audrey. You know what? Let's just cut out meat all together and be a vegetarian. You could SO be a vegetarian Audrey. Scratch that, we're going VEGAN. Oh yes, vegan. Easy-Peazy. What else? Oh money! Yes, I am going to save every single penny of mine. No more going out to eat, no more online shopping, no more movies, nothing. I am going to save every bit of my money and put it towards traveling around the world in 80 days, only staying in 5-star hotels. That'll be easy, all I have to do is just not spend money! What else should I do in the new year? Hmm, probably learn to surf, never be caught in an ugly outfit, read 100 books, become a yoga master, and blog like 3 times a day."

I'll let you figure out how this ends up for me on your own.

This year, I'm hoping to be different. I'm trying to avoid the silly, unrealistic expectations. I've been spending time thinking of careful goals I have for 2015. With goals that reach too far and with unrealistic outcomes, it seems to just be setting myself up for failure. I really want to test myself this year though and see how long I can continue with these resolutions. Or perhaps, how long until these "resolutions" just become my lifestyle.

The first draft of my list of resolutions was quite long and it took a few edits for me to narrow it down to a short list of 2 items. So without further ado, here are my New Years resolutions for 2015.

1) Promote a healthier lifestyle.
It's a broad resolution, but my goals within it seem reasonable to me. I don't have a goal to lose a certain amount of pounds, to gain a certain amount of muscle, to be able to bench a certain weight, etc. I just want to take advantage of the fitness center at the U and just not indulge in every single one of my cravings. Any progress is a reward to me, really. And if I had to pick an ultimate goal for this, what I did was pick out a nice swimsuit I have been wanting for the longest time and once I feel confident to wear it, then I'll treat myself to it. How typical of me, my motivation is new material goods.

2) Exercise my brain more.
I've been a bit pathetic when it comes to blogging lately, not posting nearly as much as I hope to. So in the new year, I hope to write more, as well as possibly expanded my horizons when it comes to blogging and incorporate new ideas and segments into it. For example, possibly finally include some fashion and OOTDs, which I've always wanted to. I do also have some ideas in store starting in the New Year that I am very excited to share with you all! In addition to blogging, I want to finally dive into the large pile of books I've been adding to over the past six months. Rather than thinking of it as "reading more," I'd like to think of it as tidying up my books, so I can finally put them away. Lastly, I want to get more crafty. For the past 2 weeks, I've been all over Pinterest and Youtube learning how to croquet, cross stitch, embroider, etc. Since I've confirmed that I am a 70 year old in a 19 year olds body, this one doesn't come to surprise to me at all.

Well, that was the easy part. Now the hard part: sticking with it. I've been tempted to start today even just so it doesn't feel like as drastic of a change once the new year actually comes. I'm excited for what 2015 is going to bring for me, and what I can bring to it. I'm crossing my fingers and I ask you all to cross your fingers with me!

Cheers to the New Year!