How to Make 2020 the Best Year Yet!

Alright friends- we are one month in to 2020. Have you set any goals for this year? Started a new routine? Made resolutions?  I know I have. Goals and plans anyway.  Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the term “resolution”.  To me a resolution fixes a problem and is more permanent and inflexible. Whereas “goals” are attainable, measurable, and can be modified as needed.

This year, 2020, is not only a new year; it’s the start of a new DECADE!  So how can we make it the best year and decade yet?!?! I have a few ideas and I’m going to share them with you!

I have to start by saying 2020 is going to be even more the best year yet for me because…I’m getting married!! And not only am I getting married, one of my sisters is also saying “I do” this summer! There is so much love going around in our family, I just can’t contain all the joy it brings me. And I’m so excited to share lots of wedding related inspo and tips with you along the way.

First, lets get organized! I always feel so much better and like I’m in the “right head space” when I keep organized. The best way I have found to get and stay organized from day-to-day is keeping a planner/calendar. Chances are, most people already have their 2020 planner but I have used and loved the Emily Ley Simplified Planner and Erin Condren planners in the past.  This year I have a cute little pink Day Designer Planner I found at Target. So far I love it, but it may end up not having enough space so I may need a bigger one.

Keeping a planner/calendar is so helpful in being organized because it can be an easy, one stop place to keep track of your appointments and to-do lists. I am a HUGE fan of making myself a to-do list and crossing things off as I finish them. It helps keep me from forgetting to do something important.

This also brings me to my next tip on being organized. WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN. Or keep a memo for yourself in the notes on your phone or computer. Either way, when there is something you need or want to get done, write it down so you don’t forget. I have little pads of paper all over my house that I jot notes on as I run around. Then when I have a second, I grab my planner and add to my checklist or calendar.  I also like to get a planner with a least one little folder for any loose notes.

There are SO many other ways to get organized on a larger scale. Start the decade off by purging your closet and getting rid of anything you haven’t worn in the past ten years (or maybe even just the last year).

While we’re purging, lets clean out that fridge and pantry. Start by tossing everything expired. Now, get rid of all those snacks/foods you tried once, were gross, and got shoved to the back of the cabinet and forgotten about. How bout this same process but the bathroom cabinet? Throwing out the old, expired, or things you honestly will never use again will free up so much space and make your life feel so much less cluttered!

Second, spend some time reflecting and set 5-10 attainable goals for self-improvement. No one on this planet is perfect; therefore we all have room for growth and improvement! Here are my personal goals for 2020:

• Read the whole Bible. I have never done this before but it has been on my heart for a long time. I have a One Year Bible that has already been divided into daily readings. Each day includes a passage from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a Psalm, and a Proverb.

• Read two books per month. I really love reading but honestly haven’t read as much as I would like the past few years. This year, that changes! Last month I read The Stranger in Our Home by Sophie Draper and The Lake House by Kate Morton. They were both SOOO good. Both were mystery/suspense/thriller type reads about family secrets. The Stranger in Our House started out a little slow, in my opinion but then picked up and I couldn’t put it down. The book was a little dark, and creepy at parts but the end was a total surprise. The Lake House was a little lighter and told from several points of view. The descriptions were so detailed and beautiful you could really picture yourself at the Lake House. There were at least 3 or 4 times I knew I had it figured out, when out of nowhere it all changed again. It was so good! I would definitely recommend both if you like that genre.
• Workout 4-6 times per week. Currently, I am taking classes at Pure Barre Monday through Friday and I am loving it. I started attending Pure Barre regularly when we moved to Columbus in December and I can definitely tell a difference in my body. Pure Barre offers three types of classes, all based on the same philosophy, but with different choreography and focus. I have been taking the classic classes for the past two months but am starting to switch up my workout routine by adding in the other classes, Empower and Reform. I also love when Brian and I can take the dogs for family walks.
• Be kinder to myself. I. Am. So. Hard. On. Myself. And I really struggle with my self-esteem. I will sing the praises of everyone else in the room until I’m blue in the face and I love giving compliments to others, but I seriously struggle when it comes to extending those to myself.  This year I am trying to give myself more grace, more love, and more acceptance. Lets all be as kind to ourselves as we are to our friends and practice positive self talk!
• Eat more fruits and vegetables. If I’m being honest, I don’t always eat my fruits and veggies every day. But they are SO important for maintaining good health and for our bodies to be able to function properly. Right now I am trying to eat at least 3 cups of vegetables and 1 cup of fruit each day. I’m trying to keep fresh produce in the house so I can reach that goal more easily. But truthfully, some days that apple or celery with peanut butter is just not the afternoon snack I’m wanting…but I have been eating a lot more veggies than I used to…so still definitely a work in progress.
• Travel more. This is actually something Brian and I have been working on for the past couple of years. We are both super passionate about seeing and experiencing the world! We have a trip to New Orleans the end of this month and then Las Vegas/Grand Canyon later this spring. I would love any and all activity and restaurant recommendations! There will also be lots of traveling for family wedding festivities- there are four of us cousins on my dad’s side getting married this year.

Third, get in control of your finances. This one is a little tricky to cover in broad terms but is so important for every one. It could also tie back in with your 2020 goals. 

If you have debt of any kind, make a plan to get it paid off. Brian and I are going to try to get my student loans paid off this year and then focus on making extra payments towards our mortgage after that. Of our loans, my student loan has the highest interest rate so we want to get that paid off first.

Maybe you need to boost your savings. Most financial advisers will recommend having at least 3 months of expenses worth of money in your savings account at any given time.  Try cutting out one trip to Starbucks each week and putting that money into your savings account instead. Maybe you need to put your blinders on when you go to Target so you only get the things on your list (this will be sooooo hard for me). Or any time you get a $5 bill for change, hold on to it, and put it away in an envelope.

If you are thinking about getting a credit card, choose wisely. Really compare annual costs and what you get for that fee. Also, choose a card with rewards that line up with your interests and the things that are important to you. Our credit card has pretty awesome travel rewards and we have gotten several plane tickets and hotel rooms for nothing just by redeeming our points.

Fourth, learn/do something new this year. How can we grow as individuals if we aren’t trying and learning new things? This year I am starting and learning about blogging! There is really so much more that goes into blogging than just writing a post and sharing pretty pictures. I’m learning SO much!

I am also going to try my hand at rock climbing! As in, the indoor, secured to a harness rock climbing. Indoor rock climbing is something Brian really loves. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a climbing gym near where we lived before but there is here in Columbus. We tried out the local climbing gym last weekend for Brian’s birthday and we had a blast. And I was so sore the next day but didn’t really think I had worked that hard. Climbing is actually terrifying for me because of my fear of heights…the actual climbing isn’t the hardest part for me, it’s getting past my fears and nerves to start making my way up the wall and then come back down. I’m starting slow and just going a little ways up with each climb. If I can get out of my own head, I think rock climbing will be a great activity for Brian and I to share and do together to get out of the house and stay active!

Lastly, but possibly most importantly; enjoy your life, just how it is, where you are now. Lets be content in this season of our lives. Stop wishing your life away and find the value and importance in where you are right now. I’m not saying you can’t look forward to something fun coming up. But don’t put your happiness off until you do X or until Y is complete or until your scale says a certain number.  LIVE right where you are today. LOVE your life. Keep moving forward, growing, working, and accomplishing your goals. But while you are, remember to love yourself and your friends and family today, don’t put it off for tomorrow or until after X, Y, and Z. There is a purpose and something special in each stage of life if we can stop and appreciate it. Right now, I don’t have a job. I have two masters’ degrees in the medical field and I can’t find a job. Not working has been a HUGE adjustment for me in many ways. But I know there is a reason; God has a purpose for me here, now in this season. And I’m trying to be open to it and follow His leading. Maybe you are in a season of singleness and are feeling frustrated and rejected and lonely. Spend this time focusing on yourself and your family. It may not feel like it now, but the season of singleness is giving you the time and experiences you need to make that right relationship the best it can be. I know, I’ve been there. Wherever you may be today, and this year, make it the best ever by finding the purpose, the good, and the joy in your season.

XOXO Jaye

P.S. I’d love to know what your goals are this year! How are you making 2020 your best year yet?