Happy New Year 2014!
I know we don’t like waking up to a brand new day in a brand new year and have people ask “What are your resolutions for this year?” I used to make them and break them all the time. And then what I did was just pick one. One thing I wanted to do in a year that would make myself better, one way or another.
This was my pick in 2013 and I must say that for the most part, I kept it up as best as I could. I know some of you shared your one resolution in 2013 you hoped to keep and if you did, I’d love to know if you managed to stick to it. Remind yourself if you’ve forgotten.
But for 2014, I’d like to not call it a resolution. I’d like to call it self-improvement. How are you looking to improve on yourself in 2014?
As much as we think we’re perfect (heh!) we all could probably do with one or two areas of improvement. I most certainly do and there are in fact 2 things I want to challenge myself to keep to this year.
How about you? Did you manage to keep to your 2013 resolutions and are you ready to take my 2014 challenge? Come on – give it a go! 😀
The 2 things I want to improve on myself this year are:-
- To take better care of my oral hygiene
- To waste less
Embarrassingly enough, I hadn’t gone to the dentist in about 2 years. I didn’t even realise it until towards the end of the year when my teeth started feeling very sensitive and uncomfortable. I was worried it might be a cavity or a worse problem and finally went to the dentist.
Fortunately, there were no cavities but it turned out that I’d been unconsciously grinding my teeth and wearing out the enamel which explains the sensitivity. If I had been visiting the dentist regularly enough perhaps he might have caught it and I could have done something about it. But for this year, I’m resolving to take better care of my teeth, floss more regularly and I’ve already keyed in a reminder for my half yearly dental visit so I don’t forget this time.
The second thing I want to do is to waste less. Not of just one thing, but for everything.
Locally, prices of many essentials are going up but that wasn’t really my impetus although it is as good as any. While we can’t help inflation, we can help ourselves waste less, be it money, food, beauty products etc.
So here’s what I’m doing:-
- I’m cutting back on buying stuff unless I absolutely need something
- No more hoarding
- No more “back ups” because realistically I never get round to them unless they’re essentials like cotton pads
- No more buying too much perishable food that I can’t get finish before they go bad
- No more buying food items that I “may” want to eat but live in my fridge for months
- Clear out the fridge more regularly
Mostly, I’m aiming at having less food wastage because I often feel awful when I have to throw out expired food or wilted vegetables and fruit that I forget to eat. But as I’m intending to have more homecooked dinners next year I think it’ll be easier to control.
Plus I’m also going to look for some sort of phone app that helps me take control of my pantry. If you do know of a good one, please share! 😀
So that’s what I want to improve on this year. I’ve already started actually so I’m just keeping the momentum going through the new year 😀
How are you looking to improve on yourself in 2014? Did you manage to keep your 2013 resolutions?
If you weren’t sure what you resolved to do in 2013, refresh yourself here. Hopefully you managed to stick to your promise and turned out to be a better you. If you didn’t take my 2013 challenge, take my 2014 one. We’ll revisit this at the end of the year – good luck, peeps! 🙂
Paris B
Efrain says
Happy New Year even though I think in Malaysia is now 3rd January.
This year my improvements are:
-Eat healthier.
-Exercise three times a week at least.
-Take more care of my skin.
-Improve as a blogger.
Hope 2014 will be your best year.
Paris B says
You’re right, it’s the 3rd here now but Happy New Year all the same Efrain! You have some very good achieveable goals there so get out there and do it! 😀
jk says
I actually had to rack my brains to come up with “resolutions” because historically, all good intentions (and resolutions) ultimately came to a big fat 0 by the middle of the year (if lucky..)
Arising from the aching brains, I guess some of my intended improvements are as follows:- (not in any specific priority and not conclusive – there’s room for a lot more improvements at my end)
a) Sleep earlier (instead of mooching about the house and sleeping at 1.30 a.m. or beyond)
b) Clear out my wardrobe and dispose of the clothes which I had hoped to slim back into (ha ha ) or those which I think I might one day wear after sitting neglected and unworn for the past 2-3 years or so.
c) Cook more home cooked meals for my family instead of just eating out every weekend.
d) Break away from the rut of working and not getting home until 8.30 or 9 pm almost every week night.
e) Get even fitter. 2013 was good start to the getting fit regime for me. Now to keep it up and get better.
.. and the list goes on.. 🙂
Happy New Year All!!
Paris B says
Happy New Year JK 🙂 Hey that’s not bad, you picked out 5 areas of improvement! 😀 As for #4 I made this one a while ago. I told myself the latest I’d leave my office unless it was an urgent matter that needed completion, by 6pm. It allows me to go home, wind down, cook and enjoy dinner and get a few household chores done before I go to bed at a more reasonable time 🙂 I know it’s hard because I spent a lot of time working late at the office for many years before I decided enough was enough and I needed to take back my life. Hopefully you manage to stick to that too 🙂 x
Sam Still Reading says
Happy 2014 all!
I agree with less hoarding…use the things I’ve got before buying new ones.
I also want to delete Candy Crush off my tablet (it’s hard!) and turn it off by 8:30pm each night so I can…read more!
Paris B says
Haha you know, I never played Candy Crush and once, when I happened to be introduced to it, I wasn’t taken by it. Thankfully, I might add because I know what it’s like to be addicted to phone games. I used to be once and physically deleted it so I wouldn’t be so obsessed. It works!
Ting says
Hello Sam! I have Candy Crush issue as well!! I have books all over the house but I hardly read last year (because of C. Crush)!! Shame shame! It’s going to change this year!
Isabel says
At the start of 2013, I made a resolution to go embrace a more minimalistic lifestyle and I’m glad that I’ve achieved that to some extent. I purchased a lot less stuff (including beauty items!) and threw out some that I was hanging on to for no good reason. I intend to take that resolution through to 2014.
I also want to consciously cultivate more empathy and be less of a control freak. As a child, I used to be one of those who got trampled over all the time and it came to a point where I said “No more!” and adopted a distance from others. I also began to take control of many areas of my life and stopped allowing others to have a say in them. I don’t regret taking on that attitude because it helped me cease being a pushover and learning to be independent. In the process, I learned a lot more about myself, my capabilities and my weaknesses because I didn’t allow other people’s opinions of me or of what I should think / do influence me. But I might have taken it a little to far …. and now, my aim is to backtrack a bit and hopefully, find the right balance.
Happy New Year to you and may 2014 be a fruitful one for you!
Paris B says
Happy New Year Isabel! I’m going to adopt your 2013 resolution and hopefully take it through successfully this year 🙂 I do tend to overdo things hence the need to consciously cut back 🙂 Also I have curiously empathize with your new resolution 😉 I’ve had to be conscious about it and while I have managed to strike some sort of acceptable balance, holding on to yourself is a strength not many have so don’t lose it completely. It’ll help stand you in good stead when you need it 🙂 Wishing you all the very best this year x