At the tail end of last year I had the incredible Synaesthesia treatment at the Lush Spa in Edinburgh, which I cannot recommend highly enough. And one of the parts that stayed with me was the process of selecting an intention for the treatment and myself more generally. So, when the new year came around, instead of thinking about making a resolution or resolutions, I decided to set myself a word/intention for 2024 and that was; joy.
I don't know about you but I feel like the years are whizzing past and when New Year's Eve inevitably comes around I often wonder if I've made the most of the year. I mean, don't get me wrong I did so many incredible things last year, like travelling solo to New York for the second time, seeing Harry Styles and having my best freelance year yet. But I really want to focus on celebrating the joy in the little things this year and going forward.
So, here are just a few of the ways that I'm hoping to add more joy into life in 2024.
Planning something special (however big or small) for each month of the year
Sometimes I feel like I blink and we're halfway through the year. So, this year I've decided to have one thing to look forward to for every month in 2024. It doesn't need to be something huge, like a holiday (even though I'm planning a few trips). But even something as simple as going on a solo cinema date or taking a long weekend just gives me something to look forward to.
Here's what I've come up with so far:
- Going to the cinema in January
- 3 nights in London for my birthday in February
- 2 nights in Edinburgh for mine and my Mum's annual birthday trip in March
- A spa trip/day of some sort in April
- Seeing Olivia Rodrigo in May
- 7 nights in Rhodes in June
- Exploring Leith and Portobello in July
- A possible city break to somewhere like Copenhagen or Amsterdam in August
Not beating myself up for spending money on little things
For some reason, when I book a holiday I don't beat myself up for spending hundreds of pounds. But I do feel like I'm frivolously wasting my money when I pick up a bag of fancy sweets or an indulgent donut or cookie. Instead, I really want to appreciate the little things that can give me joy on a daily basis. I have to realise how lucky I am to be able to have money left over each month that I can spend on things to bring me a little bit of joy. So, if you see me stocking up on Candy Kittens at the shops (their Wild Strawberry flavour is just so good!) that's why.
Spend less time scrolling before bed/read for at least an hour every day
Who else feels a bit queasy when they get their screen time notification each week? It's not too bad during the day but when I curl up in bed at 8pm and scroll until 11pm, that's 3 hours straight away where I could have been doing something else. Scrolling for that amount of time definitely doesn't bring me joy. So, I'm going to make a conscious effort to read for at least an hour before bed or to watch a bit of a movie each night instead of mindlessly scrolling for hours. Who else is hoping to do the same this year?
Going on my very first completely relaxing holiday
As I mentioned above, I'm going to Rhodes this June. And I cannot wait to just lounge by the pool, stroll along the beach and simply take it easy. Every other holiday I've been on has been jam packed with things to do, with me walking 20,000+ steps a day and getting up at the crack of dawn to do so. I'm very much a full itinerary kind of girl. But this time I'm making no plans other than to relax and bask in the hopefully warm and sunny weather.
Doing dance workout videos/classes
I've never been a fan of exercise. I think it all started with me hating PE at school. However, I have improved my fitness by walking for at least an hour every day since lockdown. I'd love to dedicate the time to doing a class but the winter weather keeps giving me the excuse to stay home. So, I want to try out a few fun dance routines - the Taylor Swift ones are definitely calling my name. Again, this is something that I could do at 8pm, instead of scrolling on my phone. If anyone has any videos or fitness creators that they recommend, let me know.
Go to more book and beauty events
Books and beauty products are definitely two of my biggest passions, so I really want to make an effort to go to more book and beauty events in 2024. I loved the Rare Birds Christmas party at the end of last year and I want to go to more author signings and talks this year, at the likes of Waterstones, too. The same can be said for regional beauty events both here in Scotland and when I'm down in London. I always enjoy getting to meet people who have similar interests to me, so fingers crossed that there are plenty of events I can sign up for this year.
Did you make any new year's resolutions this year? If so, what are you hoping to achieve? And what do you think of my idea?
Image credits: Pinterest
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