5 Things I’m Trying To Do More Of

 

It might be late November (nearly December!), but it’s never too late to reset your goals and create a few new resolutions for the end of the year.

I feel like I’ve learned so much this past year and so much has happened behind the scenes that I really feel like I’ve changed quite a bit as a person – and I hope know it’s for the good!

Maybe in a future blog post I’ll muster the courage to talk about the big changes I’ve made this year, but for the moment I thought I’d share 5 things I’m trying to do more of – not including eating multiple mince pies and seeing as many Christmas lights as possible over the next few weeks!

Stop comparing myself

I’ve spoken about this quite a lot lately, so I won’t go on about it too much, but I’m really trying very hard to compare myself less to other people. It’s true that comparison is the thief of joy, and I’ve found that stopping myself in my tracks as soon as I find myself comparing has been one of the most useful skills I’ve learned this year.

Maybe it comes with age (how old do I sound right now?!) and I definitely still have a long way to go, but I’m coming to realise that life is too short to spend it comparing myself to other people.

Spend more time offline

I think this is something pretty much everyone is trying to do more of this year. Because of my job as a digital editor and journalist, I think it’s true to say that I spend more time online and on social media than the average person. My job is to know what’s going on in the world, and when I finish my shift I spend my own time on social media and on my laptop because that’s what I enjoy.

But having your eyes glued to a screen all day isn’t good for anyone, so I’ve made a conscious effort to step away from my laptop and phone for a few hours each day. Sometimes I spend two or three hours offline, and other times it’s only an hour, but every bit helps. I try to use that free time doing things I’ve always wanted to do but ‘never had the time for,’ like reading, seeing friends or cleaning out my wardrobe.

Say ‘yes’ more

I’m a total homebird, and there’s nothing I love more than sitting on the couch snuggled up with a blanket and a cup of tea in the evening (or, let’s be honest, at any time at all). I’m someone who’s pretty much always tired thanks to low iron levels, so combine that with my love of staying indoors and it can make me a bit of a ‘no’ person.

I love routine and amn’t fond of plans changing, but I’m really trying to become more of a ‘yes’ person. While it sometimes means changing plans and messing up my routine, nearly every time I say ‘yes’ to something, I don’t regret it. Whether it be going on a walk or going out for drinks, I’m trying to do more things I’d usually turn down. What I’m saying might sound ridiculous to some people, but I think any introverts out there will understand!

Manage my money wisely

Oh Lord. Do I really have to talk about this one? Money management isn’t my strongest point. Don’t get me wrong, I can save and I by no means throw my money away on anything, but there are definitely ways I can improve my money management.

For example, buying lunch every working day of the week is a very easy way to see €50 go down the drain that I could have saved or put towards something I’ve wanted to do for ages. Buying another dress I don’t need or a pair of shoes that is very similar to a pair I already have is another example. They might not be groundbreaking, but all of these little purchases add up to a lot of money over time, and I think I can spend my hard earned dolla on something better – like a holiday!

Step outside my comfort zone

This ties in with saying ‘yes’ more, but I’m really trying to step outside my comfort zone in a little way every day. Like standing in the middle of a busy street in town while I convince my boyfriend to take an outfit photo of me and ignoring any insecurities I have instead of shying away.

Being more confident goes hand in hand with this and, again, it’s something I’m still learning. While my natural instinct can be to keep quiet and miss opportunities to speak up, whether it be in my personal or professional life, I’m trying to use my voice more and know that what I’ve to say is valid. It can be terrifying, but it’s always worth it.

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Let me know what you think of these 5 things in the comments below, or tell me any of the things you’re trying to do more of!

PS I haven’t missed a Monday blog post in 12 weeks and I’m loving blogging more than ever – woo!