I received a journal as a Christmas present called “the 52 Lists project”. It’s meant to inspire you each week by giving you a weekly topic to reflect on and write about in list form. I am a lover of lists! Sometimes when I start a list, I even write things down I already completed just so I can check it off! Weird, I know, but I can’t be the only one who does this, right?!

We always aspire to be better versions of ourselves and the New Year prompts us to think about exactly how we might achieve that. It’s a fresh start, a blank page, a new chapter, a new beginning. My friend who gifted me this journal told me to take a little bit of time for myself each week, curl up with a hot cup of tea and be inspired. Well, I had a bottle of ice tea, which I’m pretty sure counts, and I began the 52 Lists project.

The first topic was a big one, “List Your Goals And Dreams For This Year”. I personally believe that having goals and dreams is important as long as you are flexible along the journey to meet them. Which, don’t  get me wrong, is hard for all of us to do, especially for me as I tend to be more of a planner than a free spirit. But the first step, is to know what those goals and dreams are. This journal is giving me the inspiration to really think about them and write them down on paper. Maybe that will make me more accountable for them?! Lists usually do… I can’t wait to check off that little square box! I thought I’d share just a few with you…

1. Take more time out for myself AND don’t feel bad about it. I struggle with feeling like I never have enough time, so taking time out to do things for myself makes me feel so guilty sometimes! Being a full-time working mom, I want to make every minute that I do have with my daughter and husband count, so when faced with the decision to do something for me or do something all together, I usually pick the latter. Which goes with the mom territory, but it’s important to find a balance and take care of myself too. 

2. Focus on my health. This is the one I feel most guilty about! Taking time out to workout. I struggle taking a class after work because I just want to get home to my daughter. I’m exhausted by the time I get Evelyn in bed for the night. And let’s be real, I’m tired in the morning too because Evelyn wakes us up super early to begin with. BUT I know I need to be healthy and it’s good for everyone if mama has access to all those extra endorphins! I am going to take a class once a week at the gym, maybe twice if there’s opportunity over the weekend and I’m going to workout at home in the mornings before work. Last week, I got on my tredmill two mornings and went to one Body Pump class… and I felt great! Baby steps. (Another big motivater is my countdown to Costa Rica… bikinis, shorts, tank tops, you get the picture.)

3. Be a blogger. I started my blog last fall, yet I’ve been thinking about starting one for years. Taking out the time to start one and stay committed was a scary venture for an already busy mom. But then I started to realize that nap-time and after bedtime are great opportunities to blog. So instead of curling up and watching a show, I work on this blog and I LOVE IT. I’m going to continue this journey of blogging and take the time out to do it because it makes me happy and feel good about myself. It’s a hobby just for me. 

There are many more listed items in my journal including having more patience, praying more often, flirting with my husband, being more imaginative with my daughter, owning an old Wisconsin barn, whitening my teeth, taking a cross-country roadtrip, saving more money, reading more books, etc. These are just a few of my goals and dreams. I’d love to hear what yours are or if we share any of the same!