Hello, my beautiful friends! I hope you all had the most beautiful holiday with family and loved ones! It was a sunny Christmas here in Melbourne! Who is excited about 2018?! I’ve always loved New Year’s Eve because once that ball drops, it is game on! I truly feel that it is a time to start over. A time to let go of whatever didn’t go your way the previous year and a time to create a fresh, clean slate. If New Year’s had a theme song I think it would be Ellie Goulding “Anything Could Happen,” because that’s truly how I feel about each start to a new year!
With that being said, I’ve never been very good at creating and sticking to New Year’s resolutions! I think of them quickly before the ball drops and they’re pretty much out the window once morning arrives (pathetic, I know!) But this year, I am making a resolution to stick to my resolutions! Perhaps 2017 was the best year yet. Perhaps you are counting down the hours for that ball to drop. Whichever you can relate to, here are my ideas to get 2018 rolling in the right direction!
1. Write down your goals
There is something about the act of writing your goals out on paper that is different than typing them in your “notes” section on your phone. I find that when I physically write out my thoughts and see them on paper, I am more inclined to remember them. There is also something intensely satisfying about checking off tasks on your “to do” list, am I right?! The same can be said for goals! Make a list of the things you want to achieve this year and keep that list somewhere visible. Out of sight, out of mind so make sure you are seeing those goals every single day!
2. Go big or go home (but also be somewhat realistic)
I am ALL for going for the gold! I’ve always set my standards very high when it comes to achieving my goals. I come from a performance background so I have that natural (somewhat competitive) mindset. My husband and I are adventurists. We are constantly trying new things and making new and exciting plans for our lives. Set your standards as high as you can dream! Now, here’s where the boring “realistic” part comes into play. Try to avoid setting goals that will most likely be unachievable in the desired time frame. Weight loss always pops into my mind with this one. Don’t set a goal of losing 40 lbs in a month. It’s an unhealthy and unachievable goal that will leave you disappointed and unmotivated. Instead, try achieving that goal in increments. Try for 4 lbs this month. Once you start seeing results, it will motivate you to continue working towards your goal!
3. Have an accountability partner
This is a fun one because it gives you the chance to share your goals and dreams with a friend! Having someone to keep you accountable with your goals is a fantastic way to not get sidetracked (story of my life.) Let’s say you want to land a job as a makeup artist this year. Involve one of your friends, peers or family members in this idea and have them check in every once in awhile to see what progress you have made. It’s always worse letting a friend down than letting yourself down. You can cancel your dinner date with yourself but when you cancel dinner with a friend, that’s when the guilt sets in! Your loved ones want you to succeed so let them become a part of the journey!
4. Kick fear in the butt!
How many times have you avoided a situation due to fear? It makes me frustrated just thinking about the number of times I’ve let fear get in the way of achieving my goals. We need to keep in mind that fear is a natural part of life and sometimes it’s a good thing! How wonderful it feels to conquer a fear and try something new. Try to face your fears with your head up and guards down. Be open to exploring the unknown and not worry about failure. Failure is a beautiful, beautiful thing, my friends. It keeps us grounded and it is one of life’s greatest lessons. You can’t learn to fly if you don’t leave the nest. So, get out there and kick those fears to the curb!
5. Give yourself grace
This is one that I absolutely need to work on in 2018. We are our own harshest critic. We expect so much from ourselves (which is a great thing because we are incredible creatures!) Just remember that you are allowed to fail. You are allowed to be sad if things aren’t going as planned. Didn’t pass your exam with flying colors? Who cares?! Study a bit harder for the next one. Didn’t lose the weight this month? No biggie. Blend up some greens, make yourself a smoothie and start writing out your plans to achieve next month’s goal! Do not beat yourself up over mistakes or the past. You cannot change the past but you can change what you do tomorrow. So pick your head up, be thankful for the life you have and get excited about the amazing things you’ll achieve tomorrow!
There you have it, my friends. I hope these ideas gave you a bit of inspiration for the exciting year to come! Let me know in the comments below what you’d like to achieve in 2018! I can’t wait to see what amazing things you will all get up to! Now, throw up your hair, put on your lipstick and get ready to kick 2018 in the butt!
You were built to do incredible things. You have all the power inside of you to create a life you love!
Happy New Year!
Love, Carrie xo
Happy New Year, Carrie! May 2018 be filled with many treasured moments for you and family.