Reflection of 2018 and Resolutions for 2019
Ok after reviewing the last 10 years of resolutions (click the tag if you're really interested, stalkers!) I've decided to keep mostly to the highlights of this past year, followed by a review of my 2018 goals, and then finally my current resolutions for 2019.
Highlights for this year included:
- Moving even further away from home (Brisbane) to Townsville. A big change from living remotely the past 4 years in Bowen but also a good mix of city and country. Overall I am positive it was the right decision, even if I do miss the beaches.
- Adventuring around Magnetic Island, Atherton and Paluma (x2).
- The day the highway north was flooded so I had to work at a different school on grade 3 - best day of the year by far work-wise, the kids and I had so much fun getting to know each other and creatively writing together.
- Getting lost with Doug whilst very sick with the flu walking around Hamilton Island trying to find the mountain, then giving up and just having mocktails by the resort pool. Then sitting on the beach for the entire afternoon getting deep and meaningful and mostly perving.
- Seeing my family and nephews at my brothers surprise wedding as well as catching up with old friends in Brisbane (James, Craig, Bec and serendipitously, Sabrina).
- Teagan getting caught up in her own knitting.
- Dancing in TJ max because Teagan made me try on crazy sneakers.
- Hitting the Ashy Bines pop up stall after work with Teagan.
- Meeting James and Caitlin at board games night and all our deep and meaningful conversations since then.
- Upgrading from a 2 bedroom to a 3 bedroom rental -acquiring desk, cube shelf, computer, dining table, fridge, bed, mattress and bedside tables, indoor plants, canvas print, outdoor herbs (albiet they all died in the heatwave!) ps debt!
- Quitting alcohol, coffee, and converting to vegan/plant based diet completely (4 months presently).
- Overcoming my insomnia for the most part - no sleeping pills or alternatives for the first time since I can even remember. Still working on not waking up in the night but I can fall asleep at a reasonable hour.
- Discovering podcasts!
- The random adventures with Matt and Aron - Fajita's in Woolworths, Kmart shenanigans, adventuring around Townsville on the tour Matt made.
- Groov'n the Moo Music Festival with Teagan, Scott, Aron and Matt - amazing Indian curry that day, also discovering Dean Lewis, seeing Grinspoon live!
- Christmas with Doug - seeing Cedar Falls with flowing waterfalls for the first time, playing lots of Hollow Knight.
This brings us up to date.
My resolutions I had planned for this year were:
1. HEALTH: Run, lower sugar 😂 eat more vegetables 🤷🏻♀️get tested for ADD
I barely ran at all this year. I think maybe 5 times I did the C25K app run. I was still really apprehensive after being diagnosed with costochondritis the year before and how much pain I went through with that. I did get pretty into my before work dancing/hiphop youtube routines and yoga stretches though and I am eating a tonne healthier with my vegan diet. I didn't get tested for ADD but still certain I have it. I heard ritalin causes heart palpitations and blood pressure issues so I decided it would be best to just embrace my self diagnosed ADD and just give myself plenty of brightly coloured to-do lists, rewards and breaks to stay focused. I also found marking 5 papers a day more feasible than sitting down of a weekend and trying to do the whole lot consecutively.
2. CAREER: Try to mark/edit work in the classroom more, try to keep work at work (mon-fri) and only lesson plan and do administration tasks for a couple of hours on the weekend (apart from marking ofcourse) don't take on extra responsibilities because it's a new curriculum and already hard work, just focus on the students. Call parents every Friday even if it is painful... Remember what happened with Jade, last day parent interview wanted!!! Don't let that happen again. Reward self with iTunes or something for making parent phone calls 😂
I did a lot more work at work this year. I went to work 2 hours early each day and did all my planning before school and on breaks apart from reading groups where I had to read the books and write the questions at home. I kept in contact with parents a lot more although it did not get easier at all. I don't think I rewarded myself or needed to as going home early every day when I could was a reward in itself.
3. SPIRITUAL/EMOTIONAL: invest in a steamer thingy for scented oils and relaxation. Remember that stress kills.. Stay off the drugs for another year (antidepressants).
Yes I definitely invested in a steamer, did I use it though - ? Maybe twice? It didn't really help with stress. I stayed off the drugs but this year would have been immeasurably easier if I was on antidepressants, so many unnecessary depressive episodes, anxiety, migraines and panic attacks.
4. LOVE: Be brave. As James put it. Socialise and meet people. Don't jump into things and don't ignore people / try to be open and honest about why you think things won't work... Maybe I'd be surprised.. Stay optimistic.
Well this was the worst advice. I did this but due to this I put my self through absolute hell with the wrong guy who was manipulative, controlling and abusive. Thankfully it was only 2-3 months out of the 12 and it was a lesson in following my intuition when it comes to removing toxic people from my life. Life is too short.
5. MONEY: Keep saving some amount every week... Keep using the budget apps... Don't spend money online!! 😂avoid getting the internet for as long as possible.
Fail haha.. Goodbye money... So much debt this year.
Ok which brings us to 2019 New Year Resolutions:
1. MONEY:
(1) Pay off GEM visa card, Afterpay and Zip pay accounts (debt).
(2) Try to go back to using cash only then saving the rest as I saved a lot doing this in 2017.
2. HEALTH:
Continue to not drink alcohol, coffee, meat, dairy. Work on flexibility/stretching with the end goal of being able to do a women's yoga retreat in Bali one day and not feeling like a complete noob!
3. CAREER:
Continue to do planning before school and keep in touch with parents. Get better at only spending the money that's available rather than using my own money (i.e laminate, prizes, coloured paper, butchers paper). Look into doing a Book Bags Tour maybe the following year. Apply for a transfer home or to Cairns if still overwhelmed even though I have no transfer points and I haven't completed my 3 year contract yet. Invest in a webcam to stream games.
4. SPIRITUAL/EMOTIONAL:
Continue to use games and skateboarding to blow off steam. Potentially get into night running once stretches become routine or invest in a treadmill if debt is paid off.
5. LOVE:
Proceed with caution.
Well that's it... For now! Here's hoping 2019 is a healthy and successful one for everyone of my friends and family and the ones they care for. Now to introvert and continue playing Red Dead! ^_^