The 5 New Year’s Resolutions I’m Determined to Keep in 2022

Every year we go through the same song and dance. First, the holidays full of drama, cheer, alcohol, and pies. Then, the New Year filled with drama, cheer, alcohol, and New Year’s resolutions. Man, we

I can hear you cynics, sighing in the background. We all know the cycle: make resolutions with determination and follow strong for a few months, then by the time spring begins to blossom, move on to greener pastures — most likely spring break shenanigans and Sunday brunch mimosas.

But this time it’s different. Seriously, just hear me out.

I have made some awesome self-progress in the last decade, and even more so in the most recent handful of years. In the last two years, I’ve significantly advanced my professional career, my dream career, and my education. Further, I’ve become calmer — my road rage has completely nullified — and I’ve improved in personal communication (say hello to my deep, sensitive side).

The progress I’ve made in recent years has been awesome, and it has motivated me to keep going.

Now, in light of my newfound status as a Personal Goal Killer, I’ve realized the opportunity granted me during the dawning of the New Year: a chance for a final purge of the hackneyed, quick-tempered, lazy Old Me and a full rebirth of the composed, dream-driven, motivated New Me.

So here I am, to share with you my New Year goals in hope that by doing so I might be able to help you make *and keep* your own New Year’s Resolutions.

1. Write Daily

This is an annual goal, and one I have yet to maintain, but if there’s ever been a year in which I will maintain it, 2022 is the year. I can feel it in my bones. I know, because I’m already off to a fantastic start. I’ve been writing every day for the last two weeks, and almost every day for the last month.

Honestly, I would have been writing daily for all of the end of 2021, but I’ve been hard at work with my publishing businesses (which I love to death). And while I have no plans to slow my roll with those, I do have plans to ensure I carve out at least 30 minutes to an hour each day for my own personal writing, whether that be in my journal, here on Medium, or a little fiction here and there.

The thing is, as much as I love publishing, I don’t feel complete unless I’m writing.

2. Be More Mindful

I zone out. A lot. I would hesitate to say I’m ADHD, because I lack the energy. That being said, talk to me longer than 35 seconds and chances are I’m only picking up on two out of five words you’re saying. It’s completely unintentional. I just can’t stop thinking about all the shit I need to do.

In fact, my attention span has gotten so bad lately that a typical two hour movie takes me anywhere from five to six hours to watch because of how often I’ll pause it to go do something “real quick.”

It wasn’t always like this. I remember I used to be able to zoom in my focus with the calculating ease of a terminator zeroing in on their target. Now here I am, blindly living life through vast clouds of brain fog. But it doesn’t need to be this way, and that’s why I’m ready to change things.

We’ve all heard of Mindfulness — it’s the new mainstream self-help trend. Yet, it’s also so much more than that.

Research has shown mindfulness can improve various ailments from chronic pain to (you guessed it!) short attention span (source). And if nothing else, mindfulness can help teach me to slow down, and that’s something I desperately need to relearn.

3. Zero in on My Health

Previously I wrote an article titled, “I’m Happier Now, Even Though I’m Chubbier.” Based on this, my resolution may surprise some readers, but it shouldn’t. I’m still happier now, in spite of my extra blubber. That being said, I still want to live a long and healthy life, even if I am carrying a little extra junk in the trunk.

So, like the responsible adult I like to pretend to be, I used the Amazon gift card I received for Christmas this year to purchase a yoga mat, some yoga socks, and some extremely cute yoga hair bands (because why not?).

My simple New Year’s health goal? Eat less sugar while eating more fruits and veggies, and get my daily Zen on in the living room.

Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to be posting an update on my yoga journey here on Medium, so be sure to follow me so you don’t miss all the laughs!

4. Spend More Time with Family

I’m not going to lie, I love my alone time. In fact, one of my favorite things to do is to sit in my bedroom with my laptop while writing (or editing) and drinking a hot cup of tea with honey. During these times, I enjoy the quit calmness of my solitude (or the sole company of my cats), because the world is such a noisy and crowded place.

Yet, I also love spending time with my family and it’s something I would like to prioritize more. Especially when it comes to my growing son, who, to my dismay, turns ten in less than two weeks. I’m no fool, I know my time with him is on the countdown. In a couple more years, he isn’t going to want anything more to do with Dear Mommy. And eventually, I’ll just be that old lady he’s forced to visit during dysfunctional holiday gatherings.

In fact, he just recently stopped calling me Mommy. That’s right, I’m Mom now. Plain, boring-ass “Mom.” I’ve already been downgraded from the golden pedestal of mommy-hood.

So before all is lost, I’d like to squeeze in some more memories to pull me through to end of life (or at least to the grandkids). Maybe another Disneyland trip or two, or perhaps even a family trip to the Grand Canyon.

5. Let Go of the Small Stuff (and it’s all small stuff)

You got to the part where I’m going to start spewing off cliché quotes and self-help advice, but don’t run yet. You’ve already read this far, so you might as well see how it ends, right? But for real, I have a tendency to get wrapped up in details. I like to be in control. I’m used to being in control and feeling like the whole world will crumble if every single little detail is not in perfect harmony…

But I need to Let Go.

The truth is, it probably doesn’t matter if the dirty dishes are placed in the left side of the sink versus the right side of the sink, or if the toilet seat and lid are closed completely after every flush. And I probably would be okay if we didn’t make the bed to perfection every day, or if the utensils aren’t stacked neatly in the utensil drawer.

In fact, worrying about these small details likely causes me extra stress that I don’t need in my life, and for what gain? I’m sure my family doesn’t mind if we let these things go (considering they’re the ones who usually don’t follow the rules anyhow). So maybe, this year I will loosen up a little too.

Just a little.