To be honest, I did not plan to write about New Year’s resolutions or New Year’s intentions as some people are calling them, yet somehow, here we are. It’s not that I have a staunch opinion either way, it’s more just that I find the start of a new year exciting but kind of irrelevant to goal-setting.

It seems that everywhere in the world I find myself, we as humans feel obligated to change ourselves at the start of each new year. And I get it. A new year is, in theory, a great time to embark on completing a new checklist, or whipping oneself into a fitter shape, or learning a new skill. On the other hand, it can be terribly overwhelming and when we just plan for the next year our ongoing goals and previous year’s accomplishments can get lost in the fray. For that reason, I want propose the idea of continued intentions — meaning that when a new year is upon us, we refocus on the many goals and ambitions we already have. Of course I want to add to my list each year and dream big, but I also want to forge ahead on what I’ve already been working so hard to accomplish.

Another argument in favor of continued intentions is that in order to achieve almost any type of goal we need to set reasonable expectations, create smaller actionable goals for each day, and establish sustainable habits. In the same way we don’t have to wait for a Monday to start fresh, we don’t have to wait for 2019 or any year to build on ourselves and our dreams.

With those thoughts in mind, I am sharing an outline my continuing intentions for 2019. I would love to hear yours or what your thoughts are on the topic!

1. Hobbies: Keep up my weekly commitment to practicing keyboard three times a week because it brings me joy and brings me one step closer to understanding the amazingness that is music.
2. Workouts: Stick with my regular workout routine, but step it up a notch by adding two weekly long distance hikes on the treadmill to improve my heart health.
3. Reading: Keep up with my renewed passion for reading these past two months because I have five books on my current list (more on that in a later post) that I am so curious to learn about. Specifically, read each night even just for 10 minutes before bed.
4. Meal Planning: Keep planning my weekly meals through my Sunday weekly meal plan template and my Monday cooking nights when I prepare food for the week.
5. Fun: Continue to build more fun activities into my weekly schedule by planning get-togethers ahead of time for my weekends and one weeknight out to meet up with friends.

Over the next few months, I will for sure add to, change, and shuffle these intentions as my priorities and goals shift throughout the year, but that’s just part of the fun.

Happy 2019!