Happy New Year Everyone!
As the year’s go on, I find that some of my old resolutions have now become habits which is great because it means I have one less resolution to try and keep. It’s something that I have been coming across a lot lately. To make things you want to do and learn a habit because it takes out the reliance on motivation. Motivation can be fleeting but when things become as automatic as brushing your teeth, it’s so much easier and requires less inner talk about whether you want to do something or not. Of course, some are easier said than others.
Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash
This year, I have a mix of resolutions which will vary according to how the year goes but I’d like to share the ones below with you.
1. Declutter
This has honestly been a year in and year out resolution. But in light of my new experience of living with 2 suitcases for an entire year, I have a renewed frame of mind. More clarity you could say. I’ve been holding onto things that are now from 10 years ago (and more!) which seem to be a time stamp of a particular time in my life. Which is fine except when these things don’t add to my life in anyway other than taking up space in a box or are tied to people or/and moments that actually make me feel sad in the present day because those people are no longer in my life. I think it’s fine to feel sad that you are no longer friends with so and so but to have these reminders don’t serve me or future me in anyway. I’ve come to now think that it’s best to also make room for people, memories and things to come. This year, I plan to let go more, work on keeping things that I use and love.
Photo by Ed Robertson on Unsplash
2. Replace phone scrolling with reading
When I got a phone health notification recently and saw what my average daily phone use was for that week, I let out a squeak. I’m one of those people who are always ranting off about how people shouldn’t be using phones when eating with others and that our whole society has been taking over by mindless scrolling. I should take a look in the mirror! I’ve recently read a book too detailing how all these social media apps have been designed to keep us scrolling and I’m saying no more! I have a target time that I want to be on my phone for per day (is it an achievable target? maybe not) and I always have my kindle on me (or a book nearby if I’m at home) so I think I can work towards this goal this year. I know I might not reach it but I want to try and improve on my phone use habits. Last year I completed a 48 hours without internet experiment and loved what I gained from it.
3. Take some italki classes
I’ve used italki before for Korean classes and found it to be so fun and flexible enough so that you can work lessons into your schedule rather than the last minute homework you do before your weekly scheduled class. I’m hoping this year to take some lessons to supplement my own learning in French and maybe Spanish. It does take some time to find a teacher you like but there are reviews and different styles of teaching that you can choose from. If learning a language is one of your goals this year, why not give italki a try? Here is a referral code if you decide to give it a try! Once you spend $20, you’ll get an extra $5 credit and I’ll get $10 credit.
Are any of these also on your resolutions list?
Lingo in Transit 
Declutter should be one of my goals too, even though we did get rid of lots of stuff when we moved, that is still more stuff that should go.
There’s always more stuff that can go, especially as we potentially bring new things into our lives.
I’m definitely trying to do more of #2! Although I admit, I still use my phone to listen to audiobooks (which still counts as reading!). Very admirable resolutions, and I hope you achieve them this 2024. 🙂
It definitely still counts as reading! Thank you so much!
These all are such fantastic resolutions as they can enrich your life. Five years ago, when we moved from Dublin to Sligo, we decided to get rid of the TV and spend more time exploring the outdoors. I didn’t think we gonna last a year, but five years on, I can say that it was one of the best decisions we made. Happy New Year to you and best of luck with your resolutions. Just remember to be patient with yourself. Understand that working toward your resolution is a process. Even if you make a misstep or two, you can restart and continue on your journey towards your goal. Cheers, Aiva xx
I’ve also lived without a TV for a few years now! I find I don’t even watch a TV when I’m around one….but I do watch things online. Thank you for your kind words Aiva!
#2 is a feature of our times, and it’s good to be aware of its negative aspect, both individually and collectively. All the best for 2024.
Another option would be to get a old school phone which seems to be back on the market these days. Thank you!
A lovely selection of resolutions – decluttering is my favourite thing to do to clear my mind. It’s so mentally rewarding.
It really is. Sometimes I find it draining though particularly on items that are sentimental but have no use.
I don’t make resolutions but decluttering my closet is a goal this year. If I haven’t worn it in a year, it is getting donated.
I haven’t been brave enough to go by that measure yet! But it is true, if I haven’t loved it enough to wear it within a year, probably not a piece I’m going to get a lot of wear out of.
I definitely need to declutter and replace my screen scrolling with some proper reading!
Happy New Year!
All the best with it this year!
I have put a limit of how much time I can spend on Instagram per day – after 10 minutes, my phone gives me a notification saying that I’ve reached the time limit. I can extend it for 15 minutes or even ignore the limit for the day (and I have done it), but it’s helping me to be a lot more disciplined!
These resolutions are all great and I congratulate you for working through them 🙂
Oh I wonder if my phone can do that. I will investigate. Thank you!
I have similar goals too! I am in the middle of a January-decluttering and tidying up challenge, and I have to tackle the hardest part now, which is my “digital life”, so I’m deleting hundreds of pictures but it takes such a long time! Though it is also nice to revisit some memories! I should definitely declutter my closet too, but I sometimes find it too hard!
Ooo, what is the challenge (if you don’t mind me asking)? I’ve also gone into my photos to do some deleting. I have such a habit of retaking photos but then I don’t delete the bad ones. I am decluttering under the goal of if I had to move next week, everything coming with me needs to be useful/currently used.
Wow that sounds like a great way to declutter a lot!
The challenge I’m doing is basically something I designed for myself with some areas where I really want to declutter and tidy up. It is divided by “physical stuff” and “digital stuff”. The physical stuff are mostly things to tidy up or get rid of and I looked at 3 different things: printed documents and paper lying around (basically admin stuff), all of my skincare/bathroom stuff and sorting out the drawers in my desk. Since I moved in not so long ago they have just been used for random stuff and storage but now they all have a purpose ahah!
And for the digital stuff I want to clear out my email inboxes and sort things in different folders, delete all of the useless pictures I have, sort out my Notion board and sort out my folders of admin documents… I was a bit ambitious and I am now realising that I will not finish by the end of January so I’m carrying it out to February ahah
Oh ok! So much to declutter, so little time. All the best into February.