Josie This weekend was my 28th birthday weekend. It was also the opening weekend of the South Florida Fair so of course that’s where I wanted to celebrate. Neither Marc nor I had ever been and I needed to check it off my South Florida Bucket List. We spent the afternoon eating all the deliciously fried fair foods and spending entirely too much money on games that were impossible to win. Being 28 at the fair is realizing that you can lose money faster than if you were at the casino just for a dollar store prize that you don’t even want. But obviously that didn’t stop me from playing all of the games until I won a giant stuffed corndog and having fun doing so!
Turning 28 also made me realize that I am officially deep into my late 20s. My birthday had me reflecting back on Year 27, which was a particularly weird and challenging year for me. It was the first time I spent an entire year married and being a wife (which is totally awesome!). It was the first time I spent an entire year working full-time in a 9-5 job (or more accurately a 7:30-6 if you factor in South Florida traffic and commute time). Year 27 really felt like a transition year into full-blown adulthood. It was a year full of adjusting and learning how to best manage and juggle of all life’s demands. It was a year where I put my health on the backburner and neglected myself a little bit while focusing on everything but myself.
So with the start of Year 28, I’ve decided to compile a list of 28 things as my own personal new year resolutions. I think my overall mindset for Year 28 is wellness. Where there was neglect in Year 27, there will be nurturing and nourishment in Year 28.
1. More blogging
I decided I wanted to start blogging last year and then completely neglected it! This year I want to spend more time learning how to blog and less time worrying about if its perfect or not.
2. Morning devotional/prayer journal
For Christmas, Marc got me this Daily Prayer Plan Journal. It’s laid out with a scripture, a short devotional prayer, free space to journal, and space to write down prayer requests, praises, and answers to prayer each day. This year I want to prioritize my quiet time in the mornings and use my prayer journal as a tool to grow in my faith.
3. Wake up earlier
I am very much not a morning person. I literally set 8 alarms that are in 15-minute intervals and I snooze every one of them multiple times so it ends up that I have alarms going off continuously for an hour in the mornings. Yes, I recognize that this is very obnoxious so I want to do better. This year I want to push myself to get up with my first (or 2nd) alarm and dedicate more time in the morning to my quiet time.
4. Read the Bible
At the end of last year, I treated myself to this Hosanna Revival Study Bible. This year I want to go more in depth with reading and understanding The Word. I’ve seen a lot of people recommend The Bible Recap reading plan to read through the entire Bible in a year, so I think I might try that!
5. More plant-based
I’ve started to become intrigued with the concept of a plant-based diet. My boss does plant-based and is always talking about the personal health benefits she’s experienced because of it. My diet is not the best because I cannot resist a treat and I love fast food. This year I want to eat a healthier diet and incorporate more plant-based meals.
6. More cooking
I hate cooking. I probably hate it because I feel like I’m no good at it and I never really learned how to cook. Marc does most of the cooking in our house. When I get home from work in the evenings, I’m just too tired to even entertain the idea of cooking dinner. This year I want to push myself to try new recipes (& incorporate more plant-based) and cook something new at least once a week.
7. Teas over treats
Like I said earlier, I cannot resist a treat. I’m not saying I’m going to cut off sweets and treats entirely, but I definitely should cut back to a reasonable moderation. I always like to end my night with something sweet. This year instead of nightly sweets, I want to try to wind down with a hot tea.
8. More beach walks
As much as I love the beach and as close as I live to the beach, I don’t take advantage of it nearly enough. This year, I want to spend more evenings walking the beach.
9. Take more pictures
I love having pictures to look back on, but I’m always so bad at taking them. I even have a Canon camera but I never use it because I’m intimidated by it. I’m scared to take it off auto mode because I don’t know how to work all the settings. This year I want to start using my camera more and get comfortable with it.
10. Learn how to sew
Marc got me a sewing machine for my birthday! I’m so excited about it but also very intimidated by it. I don’t know the first thing about sewing. This year I want to learn how to sew and become decently proficient in how to use my machine. And also learn how to make bow ties for Mr. Moose!
11. Learn how to juice
Marc also got me a juicer machine for my birthday! This year I want to learn how to concoct some healthy fruit and veggie cocktails.
12. Fold my laundry when it’s done
I’m notorious for leaving my laundry sitting in the dryer for days after it’s finished. Sometimes I even just forget about it. A lot of the time Marc ends up folding my laundry for me when he needs the dryer. He doesn’t mind doing that for me, but I always feel bad. This year I want to be more mindful to fold my laundry when it’s done.
13. Declutter
I have a tendency to be a little messy. I currently have no floor space to even walk in my closet. I’m not super organized and I leave stuff out. It takes me at least a month to unpack my suitcase when we get back from a trip. My nightstand accumulates a new water cup every night until there’s no space left. My bathroom counter has so much clutter it stresses me out. This year I want to get more organized and declutter all my spaces.
14. Keep my car clean
Much like my closet, nightstand, and bathroom, my car tends to get very messy. I also don’t know if I took it through a car wash a single time in Year 27. This year I want to do better about keeping the inside & outside of my car clean and tidy.
15. To-do lists
Every year I get a new planner with the intention of being more organized, but I never use it efficiently. I tend to only use the monthly overview sections. This year I’m trying to do better about planning each day. I’ve realized that having a written to-do list actually does improve my productivity. There really is satisfaction in physically checking things off a list and seeing the demands of the day dwindle away. This year I want to do better about writing out a daily to-do list.
16. Read more books
I love to read. But in September of last year, I started a book and I just could not get into it. It was so boring to me and it felt like a chore to read it. But I feel like when I start a book I have to finish it. Marc kept telling me so many times, “Stop reading it! If you don’t like it, you don’t have to finish it!”. I did stop reading it. But I never started a new book because that one still wasn’t finished. This year I have officially decided to DNF that book and leave it behind! This year I want to read more books that I actually enjoy, and not feel guilty to quit a book if I hate it.
17. Daily movement
Marc makes fun of me because I feel like a workout doesn’t count unless I’m wearing my Apple watch. I just like to see the proof that a workout was actually completed! This year I want to be more intentional about physically moving my body for 30 minutes each day – even if it’s just for a walk without my Apple watch on.
18. Tone up
My physical fitness was not a top priority in Year 27. I’m on my feet all day at work so I thought that could compensate for not going to the gym. But I lost a lot of muscle mass. I didn’t gain any weight per se, but I definitely got squishier and softer overall. This year I want to tone up to not only look better, but also to feel better.
19. Run
As part of my plan to tone up, I want to try to incorporate a weekly run into my workout routine. I’ve never been a runner. My endurance is horrible and it takes me 12 minutes on a good day just to finish a mile. This year I want to push myself in doing things that are hard for me and improve my mile time. And maybe sign up for a 5k, we’ll see.
20. Stretch
I have some traumatic memories from my middle school/high school cheerleading days involving forced stretching. I was a flyer so I had to be flexible to do heel stretches, bow and arrows, scorpions, and all the other positions that were unnatural to my body. Someone would pin me down while somebody else would stretch me out to the point where I would literally be crying. But I was very flexible! Now I feel myself getting stiffer and achier by the day. This year I want to limber up and start incorporating stretching back into my daily routine.
21. Minimize mindless scrolling
I’m so guilty of getting on Instagram or TikTok and getting sucked into the mindless scrolling. It’s so easy to get sucked into other people’s lives online while simultaneously missing out on your own. I do love making an Instagram reel and posting for my own enjoyment though. This year I want to spend less time scrolling social media and more time posting for myself.
22. Less overthinking, more doing
I’m a chronic overthinker. Something as simple as sending an email is such a daunting task for me that I will put it off. I overthink everything and end up creating unnecessary stress and anxiety on myself. I also tend to seek permission before I do anything for myself. This year I want take more action for myself and stop overthinking everything.
23. Familiarize myself with basic Spanish
I live and work in South Florida and I am absolutely incompetent with Spanish. I encounter a lot of Spanish-speaking patients at work and I feel like I am doing them a disservice by not even understanding basic Spanish. This year I want to learn and familiarize myself with basic Spanish.
24. More outdoor activities
I love being outside. I also love weekends where I can stay home with no obligations. But there have been some days where I have been guilty of not even stepping foot outside if I have no plans. This year I want to incorporate an outdoor activity into every weekend.
25. Try a dance class
I feel like it would be such a fun party trick to break out into a ballroom dance. I recently passed by a dance studio and it got me interested in trying a class, but I have no rhythm and limited coordination. This year I want to convince Marc to try a dance class with me.
26. South Florida Bucket List
This might be Marc and I’s last year living in South Florida. When our lease ends in December, we think we might relocate to be closer to family and pursue a slower pace of living. This year I want to make the absolute most of my time down here and complete my South Florida Bucket List.
27. Visit Italy
Okay this one is actually already planned and I’m going to Italy in April with my mama! Back in 2019 we had planned a trip for 2020, but obviously COVID happened instead and we had to cancel our trip. We’ve been talking about visiting Italy for years and it’s finally happening! I’m so excited for the memories me and my mama are going to get to make together.
28. Visit Iceland
Iceland has been at the top of Marc’s bucket list since I’ve known him. Last year we decided that this would be the year we go. And it just so happens that apparently this year is supposed to be one of the best years to see the Northern Lights there! This year I want to plan our trip to Iceland and experience the Northern Lights with my husband.
I have a good feeling about Year 28. Setting my intentions to prioritize wellness and nourish my mind, body, and soul with healthier habits and behaviors. Making the most of my last year living in South Florida and soaking in every moment. I hope Year 28 brings lots of happiness, growth, and unforgettable memories.
