Now that January has come to a close and February is here, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the past year and what I want 2020 to look like. 2019 was one of the hardest years of my life. It was the first full year of motherhood which was a time that tried my soul like no other. Despite the occasional anxiety and tears, there was plenty of growth and joy. Truth be told, it’s my faith that kept me going and the blessing of a supportive spouse and family network. 2019 brought new focus though. My role as a parent changed my perspective on everything. All of a sudden my actions are not just my own that may or may not affect others. My actions shape someone else. What I do, she might do. What I say, she might say. What I don’t do, she might not do. How I treat others, she might treat them the same way. How I treat myself, she might treat herself. This is weighty, but also an exciting challenge.
Thus, as I ruminate on all of this, I think about how I can use my resources well in 2020. I have the privilege of having many resources – a family, a job, food to eat, clean water, and a place to live. How can I live in a way that will positively impact another human who is being shaped into an adult? I don’t have the answers and will probably never fully know because I still feel don’t feel like an adult.
As I think about what I where I want to see growth in 2020, a big focus is my health, my environmental impact, and finances. This post is very much for myself as I am wanting to keep myself accountable to maintain these intentions. Here are a few:
Spend more time outside. As an Instagrammer and blogger, I spend so much time in front of a screen. As much as I enjoy going down the proverbial rabbit hole online, it doesn’t make me feel great, but spending time outside does. And besides, there are so many amazing National Parks that need exploring. So I’ll take my America the Beautiful Pass and hit the trails.
Eat more plants. In the last year, I’ve eaten a ton of processed foods, so I want to swap in more plants. I have more energy when I don’t eat so much sugar. I am in no place to do a high-effort diet to improve my eating habits, but I can put more nutrient-dense foods into the rotation. To help increase my veggie consumption, I’m experimenting with some really tasty dips, like this french onion dip that I found at Aldi.
Move more. Fitness fell by the wayside in 2019 and I miss it. In the new year, I want to move more. But having a kiddo at home and a tight budget (more on that later!) means boutique classes and gym memberships are a no-go. Our apartment has a gym, but even making it there is a challenge so I’ll be doing home workouts. Luckily, there are some great tools out there that are free. Right now I’m loving the Nike Training Club! I, of course, use the free version.
More book time and less screen time. I feel less stressed when I’m reading an actual book than when I’m mindlessly scrolling social media. I am a serial-book-starter-not-finisher. I enjoyed reading so much as a kid but also had the benefit of watching my parents read. I hope to provide the same model for my own little one.
Buy less stuff. I want to see my carbon footprint shrink and I think one area that I could use some work is in buying stuff. I’m setting a goal to buy as little clothes for myself as possible in 2020 – or to at least buy second hand when I need to. I have a closet full of clothes that are too cute for me to get rid of so that means I should wear them more. I’ll be challenging myself to be creative with styling what I have in new ways and possibly upcycle a few items. It’s cheaper and better for the environment since textile waste is such a problem. While there are many other areas that I know I could improve, this is a big one. If I buy things I don’t need, I’m only contributing to waste.
Student debt. A side product of graduate degrees these days is student debt. While I do not regret my degree in Museum Studies, I would be lying if I said that I think the debt is 100% worth it. Yes, the degree has opened many doors for me professionally, but the long-term effects of debt weigh on my mind all of the time. The debt combined with the cost of living in the DC area and the state of museum salaries keeps us from owning a home, saving for retirement, and our daughter’s college education. This year our family will be working towards living on a tight budget to whittle down the debt as much as we can. I’m contemplating sharing my progress since I know I’m not alone in this.
That, folks, is where my brain is. Another intention is to write more this year and I’d like to periodically check in with where I’m at with the goals. Here we go, 2020!
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