NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS 2019

Happy New Year everyone! Though 2018 has been filled with many ups and downs for many of us (I know mine did), may 2019 be a fresh start and that you are given the opportunity to experience much of what life has to offer.

This is my first time creating New Years resolutions, prior, I never found setting goals at the beginning of the year appealing because I thought, why not set them in the moment? But this year, I really wanted to achieve some things and I felt like writing goals to make myself accountable, and giving myself a timeframe would really push me even harder to complete these. 

Creating these goals, there really is no "end" where once something happens I'm done and move on. These goals are I guess, more lifestyle goals where even after the year has ended, I'll (hopefully) continue to do these things moving forward in life.

2019 GOALS

1. to do things for my own self-interest and happiness, rather than to seek/receive validation

Okay, okay, let's take a step back for a second; just to let you know, I never did things JUST to seek/receive validation. However, I have done things for my own self-interest and I guess expected and wanted to receive some sort of validation or compliment in the form/s of awards and/or praise. I know it is something I most likely won't accomplish in 12 months because this will take a lot of time, but this year, I hope and will work towards pursuing interests inside, and outside school without wanting or expecting to receive awards and praise. Rather, I want to try and continue to do things for myself - my own interest.

2. Be healthier 

This is the elephant of New Years resolutions, the one many pursue but fail to accomplish. 

(subgoals - my goal broken down)

- As a lover of sweet food (especially chocolate - I'm pretty sure I'm a borderline addict) I want to limit my intake of sweet food.

- exercise. the word my mum constantly tells me to do. For this sub-goal, I aim to exercise in morning before breakfast every weekday. This one is going to be the struggle because I wake up late on school days hehe - but also because I'm very lazy and can never be bothered like most teenagers. However, I am willing to take that extra step and put in the extra effort to not be lazy and wake up a teeny-tiny bit earlier on school days so I won't be one of those many who pursue, but fail to accomplish. 

3. Commit to the languages I'm learning

For a long time, I really admire people who are fluent in multiple languages and I've always aspired to be like that but as a current language student at a school where the LOTE (Language Other Than English) curriculum isn't the best, occasional Duolingo user, and English speaker at home, I haven't really reached the stars yet. 


(subgoals)

- I'm currently learning Mandarin on HelloChinese and Spanish on Duolingo. I find that I don't learn as much (or retain the information well) compared to a classroom setting. I plan to continue to use these apps every day and save up to invest in some textbooks and/or find websites to help me. 

- At school, I'm currently learning French (and I really miss my French class at my previous school *cries*) and I haven't been learning as much because of the set-up of the lessons. I also haven't been resourceful (considering I have a French cousin-in-law who also happens to live 10 minutes away). I aim to gain confidence to converse with him more than once a year in French and use tools like Language Perfect (I was addicted to that in year 8) and others to help me continue to develop my skills.

- Sadly I'm one of those kids who don't know their home language. My parents have been trying to convince my sister and I to learn it and after visiting family, I am inspired to make the effort to really commit to learning my home language.

4. to be more conscious of my decisions

This goal is very hard, and I'm not sure how exactly I should go about this goal (mum, I know you're reading this and yes, I'll be more conscious of my posture and that thing I do with my thumb). But after doing some things that have really opened my eyes about how my decisions effect the world, I want to make more conscious decisions about what and how I spend my money, as well as the decisions I make about other people and myself. 

Ultimately, I'm not sure how I'll go about this goal but I have some ideas to minimise my environmental impact on the environment. 

I know these goals require a lot of effort and time, but this year I am aiming high and let's see where this year takes us.