As the new year begins I can’t help but reflect on the past year and wonder what the future one will hold. I’m slowly learning to be mindful that reflecting too much and wondering too much about the future can lead to excessive overthinking. I’ve always been an over thinker and while I enjoy it sometimes, it can also lead to negative thought patterns. I’m trying to be present.

I always set new years resolutions but I very seldom stick to them and that’s ok. I’ve never been one for the ‘new year, new me’ crap. I don’t change myself every year, I change throughout the years. I’ve never looked back on previous years and thought ‘yes that was my year, what a great year it was’. The truth is every year is great and exceptionally bad at the same time. Too think someone can be truly happy and fulfilled every day of the year seems impossible to me; if you’ve found that, then well done you.

I set new years resolutions in the hope of changing the things I didn’t like the previous year. I always set the resolution of getting fit and losing weight, but I never stick to the plan I put in place to achieve that; I must have countless exercise plans I’ve made in the past, that are half finished or forgotten. I also always say I’ll read more and watch less TV/ netflix but the only time I really ever get any proper reading done is on Holiday. So this year I’m going to carry on setting these resolutions in the hope I stick to them, but If I don’t then that’s fine too; I’m a work in progress. We all have things we want to change about ourselves, flaws we hope we can better, we’re are own biggest critic. I’m taking the pressure off myself, I’m far from perfect and sometimes far from happy, but this year I’m going to learn to accept myself and fall in love with me again.

Here are my new years resolutions:

• Pass my driving test
• Get fit (for my mind and body)
• Complete a swimathon or half marathon
• Stop comparing myself to strangers on Instagram
• Travel to places I haven’t been before
• Read and write more
• Save money
• Practice meditation
• Turn off my phone an hour before bed