2024 Resolutions
2023 was a complicated and difficult (again) year.
I traveled a lot, changed jobs, read quite a few books, thought about life, career and where I want to go, and I meditated and focused on my own feelings, after some difficult events.
I also bought a Nintendo Switch and played some games solo and with my girlfriend, hosted a lot of friends in our house for extended stays and spent time playing the guitar and “working” on hobbies.
I liked the idea of measurable and broken-down goals, so I will continue with that in mind this year, trying to make it a year of sustained growth but also of big leaps forward.
I also want to be mindful of the things that bother me and cause me anxiety and also of the things that help me stay relaxed and be happy.
So: sustained growth and big leaps forward are the themes to keep in mind, and also don’t stress and be happy.
Let’s go 2024!
Life
“The days are long but the years are short” is a wonderful phrase. As I like to say, “don’t let life steer you, you have to steer life and go where you want to go”. If you let time pass and wait for things come your way, you may wait for ever. Be bold, be decisive, be deliberate. Take a leap forward.
Resolution #1
Get married.
Buy a house.
Get a permanent contract at work.
Complete a course to learn Ruby.
Read 3 psychology/philosophy books.
Wellbeing
Athletics and weight were also last year’s resolutions. This is all about health and it is a recurring theme and one that will never go away. This is good, and as it should be. I am lucky enough to be able to eat what I want and have time and energy for exercise. I should keep this up, and build on it, as it is also proven that good health reduces stress.
Resolution #2
Do weight lifting 3 times per week for 20 minutes.
Walk, run and/or cycle at least 4 hours total every week.
Keep an exercise log.
Meditate every morning.
Take 2 15-minute breaks every working day to rest my eyes, one before lunch and one after lunch. No smartphones allowed during these breaks.
Go into nature at least once every 2 months.
Do not talk about work after 9pm. Recognize what work things make me stressful and angry and filter them out of my life.
Contribute
Donating and giving back to your community are ways to improve your happiness, ,self-esteem and environment. I want to invest in my environment, as it naturally means that my environment becomes better. I want to make my friends happy and thus be happy that they are happy.
Resolution #3
Stay in regular touch with friends and family. Write down a list of names, and how often I would like to connect with each of these people. Set reminders.
Contribute to 3-6 charities that have immediate impact to local communities.
Invite and host at least 3 friends.
Give a meaningful gift to 6 different people.
Discover a volunteering opportunity that I like and join in.
I think these are more than enough to keep me going on a happy and proud path.
Happy New Year! :)