New Year, New Me?

At the beginning of each new year, everyone is usually making a new year’s resolution, vision board, or setting goals to better themselves. We often hear the phrase “new year, new me,” but in actuality that rarely happens. Those people are not actually setting goals to become their so-called “new me,” or are setting goals, but not following through with them. Is it really a new you if you are continuing with the same bad habits or not achieving some sort of growth? I mean, I tell myself I’m going to lose weight EVERY year, but as soon as January 2nd hits, I’m downing pizza and soda. Losing weight has been my new year’s resolution for the past 5 years of my life— that’s 5 years of failed promises to myself.

I knew that my goals were not being fulfilled, but why? What was I doing wrong? When I asked myself these questions, I realized that even though I made a list of goals, I put no actual effort towards achieving them. So, this year, my number one goal: FOLLOW THROUGH WITH MY GOALS.

“A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish.”                                                              -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

After my realization, I asked myself how I could fix this problem. Why wasn’t I putting in any effort to do something I’ve wanted to do for so long? Then, it hit me. I didn’t have a PLAN to succeed. I mean, how could I achieve something without preparing to do it? So, I made a list of everything that I needed to do beforehand:

  • Vision Board

I usually make a vision board on a big foam poster board every year, but after the first week of January, it goes into my closet until the next year when I think about looking at it again. But I think for the vision board to really fulfill its purpose, you need to look at it often, to remind yourself and motivate you to reach your goals. So, I decided to make my vision board in my everyday planner:

  • Planner

The vision board helps in reminding me of my goals. One of my main goals is to lose weight and get healthy, so I thought about what would benefit me in achieving that goal: a fitness planner. I have an everyday planner that I am OBSESSED with because it allows me to stay focused but is also a creative outlet. In a fitness planner, however, you simply track your eating, calories, steps, exercise, or whatever you need to track as far as fitness and health. Yes, there are apps out there that do the exact same thing, but for me, personally, physically writing down my progress and reflecting is really beneficial. Here is an example of a fitness planner:

Image result for fitness spread happy planner

  • Taking Out Extra Time

Currently, I have a 23 on the ACT with sub scores of 30, 25, 22, and 17. The 17 is my math sub score, which is preventing me from reaching my current goal of an overall 25 on the ACT, so I am taking out extra time in my week to work in my Jumpstart Test Prep in the math sections.

Image result for jumpstart test prep

  • Practice Tests

This May, I will be seventeen (), and I STILL don’t have my permit, driver’s license, nor do I know how to even drive a car (LOL), but I am done making excuses. It’s time for me to get behind the wheel (hehe), so I am taking these online permit practice tests. Y’all just better watch out (literally, haha) because I’m about to be DRIVING!

Image result for girl driving clipart

  • Asking For Help

Okay, so I have a reeaallyy bad habit of over-committing myself to things because I have some sort of need inside myself to have to do everything and help everyone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great quality to have, but it has its downsides. For example, I get super overwhelmed sometimes, and I feel like I have to everything on my OWN, but I am learning that I DON’T. It’s taken me way too long to realize, but this bad habit was really taking a toll on my mental health, but not anymore! This girl is asking for help from now on 🙂

these mountains you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb Najwa Zebian

  • Let Go, Let God

I also have tendency to care and worry about things that do not concern me. I put so much on myself and jeopardize my mental health for NO reason.  I cannot fix everything and everyone, and it’s not my responsibility to try to do, so I am giving it up and giving it to God.

Luke 22:42 Printable wall decor Bible verses Not my will but your will be done Nursery verse print d
Luke 22:42
  • Believing in Myself

I cannot tell you how much pressure I put on myself to try to be this perfect person who has their life together all the time when really my life is NEVER together. I am constantly trying to do so much to overcompensate for my own insecurities, but I am good enough, and I need to start believing that and in myself.

  • Finding Time to Decompress

Before coming to MSA, I had no problem with this, as I didn’t have roommates or any distractions. However, being here has proved to be a challenge to really take a break and decompress, but I am going to carve out time to really just focus on myself.

Find the time to decompress by @recipesforselflove on Instagram

  • Writing OFTEN

Writing is my number one passion, and I know I go to school where my discipline of study is writing, but I never write unprompted or because I want to anymore. It’s usually an assignment, which I have no problem or dread doing, I just miss writing for fun. One of my goals was to grow in my writing and in literary, and I think I am succeeding (with the help of Ms. Sibley), but I really want to get back to writing just because.

  • Self-Reflection

Recently, I had a lovely conversation with my friend, Hannah Hays, and we were talking about our blogs. I asked her what hers was about— y’all should go check it out. She told me that each year she has a sort theme, such as: self-love, self-discovery, forgiveness, etc., so I wondered what my 2019 theme was, and I concluded that it was self-reflection. I did a LOT of that last year; I guess that’s why I have so many new year goals (haha). Anyway, I really want to carry that over into 2020 because self-reflection leads to self-awareness, and that’s really good to have.

Honest self-reflection opens your mind to reprogramming, change, success, and freedom.

  • Mindset

Finally, I believe that having the right mindset is key to doing anything. If you don’t have a good mindset, you’ll never succeed, so I am going to maintain a positive, driven mindset all 2020! A New Chapter · But What Should I Wear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all, it’s a new year, but it’s not a new me; it’s the same me, just with new goals. Goals that I am going to achieve because I have a plan and I’m going to put in the work. I hope that my new year’s resolution inspires you to achieve your own aspirations. I hope that my explanation of my goals resonates or relates to you and incites a change in you. You CAN do this! A new year is great motivation to become your best self, but anytime is great day to start, so take the leap!

Author: Maleigh Crespo

Maleigh is a senior literary and an iced coffee enthusiast. She enjoys writing nonfiction and poetry but hopes that her affliction for short fiction will one day subside. In her free time, she can be found scrolling through Pinterest or with her beloved cat, Manny.

2 thoughts on “New Year, New Me?”

  1. I loved this! I’ve always set general goals at the beginning of years, but actually making a plan to reach those goal hasn’t crossed my mind for some reason. Reading your blog is inspiring to put together my own plan to reach my goals this year.

  2. Maleigh, agh, you inspire me so much. This post means business but in a colorful way (like you). I enjoyed reading about all of your goals and plans for the new year, and I definitely believe that you will succeed in accomplishing them. The pictures were quite fun, also. I have never made a vision board, but yours make me want to change that. You are a lovely person, and I appreciate getting a view into your head. I aspire to be as put-together as you, honestly. I enjoyed all of your points, especially the one about driving. I myself am not a fan of it, so I wish you luck on that. Thank you for sharing your goals and speaking about them in such a way that I feel motivated to actually do something, haha. May 2020 offer only the best for you. (:

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