2013 Goals

So, when I first sat down to write this post, it was going to be similar to last year's post on my 2011 goals and 2012 changes, where I vowed to "give up" goals in 2012. But then, I thought about my life, and realized that I have a lot of things I'd like to accomplish, especially because halfway through 2013 I will celebrate my 25th birthday, something that always used to feel so far off. I looked back on my 2010 goals for fun, and then came up with a list for this year.

Without further ado:

2013 Goals

Health & Fitness:

• Schedule yearly check-ups for Dentist, Primary Doctor, & Gynecologist (I have been putting this off, and it is not good!)

• Add more fresh fruits & veggies into my diet (I tend to go for frozen/canned because they are easier and often cheaper, but there are so many fruits & veggies I enjoy, and so many new ones I’d like to try!)

• Sign up for (and run!) a 5k (I have been wanting to do some sort of race for years, and my 25th birthday this June is the perfect motivation to just DO IT)

• Work out more regularly, incorporating yoga, strength training, & cardio (I do some yoga & strength training, but I have fallen off the cardio bandwagon big time…and it shows in how my clothes are getting wayyy tighter)

• Get more sleep! (I struggle with this one. I tend to stay up too late, and I need to remedy this stat!)

• Drink less alcohol and more water (This has been particularly hard because of all of the holiday shenanigans. Between Thanksgiving, birthdays, Christmas, and New Year’s, my liver is NOT happy with me. It is sooo easy to have a glass of wine—or three—after a long day. But it is a habit that I need to break, at least during the work week.)

Educational & Professional:

• Make it through my first year of Grad School alive! (That’s about it…not that I want to set the bar low, but I truly just want to give myself a chance to re-acclimate to the whole “school” thing again after 2+ years off.)

• Start looking into Human Resources internships while maintaining my full-time nanny position

• Set more solid goals about what specific aspect of Human Resources I am interested in (which will likely become easier once I start exploring courses in the program)

Personal:

• Spend more quality time with Sean and be the best partner I can be (A lot of times we’ll be on our various electronic devices, and we need more face time. The Scrabble board game he got me for Christmas has helped some, as we have been playing several times a week and just chatting. We also tend to eat dinner on the couch, usually at different times. I’d love to do at least 2 sit-down meals together per week.)

• Be more patient, kind, and understanding of others (I tend to get frustrated with little things like getting cut off on the highway, or someone taking too long in line at the grocery store…I need to slooow down a bit.)

• Spend more time with my friends (Life tends to get in the way, and I want to make it more of a regular thing than once every couple months like it has been lately.)

Financial:

• Pay for school without taking out a loan (I already paid for the first semester out of pocket—go me!)

• Manage to save at least $100 each month (This seems feasible to me, though it may be more or less depending on what’s going on each month.)

• Go out to eat less often so that we have more money to save or spend on other things (We get lazy and eat out or order carry-out, so even substituting one meal out with a meal in will remedy this one.)

• Have enough money to take a small trip (we are thinking a 4-day weekend somewhere fairly close, unlike the week and $1000+ we spent last summer at Cape Charles, even though it was awesome) this summer 

So, there you have it, We'll see how these all go. If I can improve in half of these areas, I'll be happy!

How do you feel about "New Year's Resolutions?" Do you set goals each year? If so, what are some of your goals for 2013?

October Yoga Challenge Recap: Week 1

Last week, I posted about the October Yoga Challenge I decided to join when Courtney mentioned it on her blog in this post. Read more about it and grab a button for your blog!

Basically, my goal is to spice up my fall workout routine with 3 yoga sessions per week. There are no rules for this challenge--I don't want to put too much pressure on myself because I am moving in a week, have alot of family and personal stuff going on, and am just all-around busy at work and in my home life. But yoga is a great way to work our bodies and calm our minds, so I decided to give this challenge a go.

This week, I ended up only completing 2 yoga sessions at home. But you know what I realized? That is okay. I did the first one after a really stressful day at work last week. I got home and was about to plop on the couch with a snack (or a drink!) and zone out in front of the TV, but instead, I mustered up the energy to throw on my yoga pants, unroll my mat, and just...do it.

And you know what? It felt amazing. Not only did it feel great to stretch and move my body after sitting at my desk all day, but by the end of 30 minutes of posing, breathing, and stretching I felt rejuvenated. Calm. Happy.

I did the same thing a few days later with a routine I found in my latest copy of Yoga Journal (which I highly recommend--lots of great at-home practices and inspirational articles), and it felt fantastic.

This week I learned that exercise, particularly yoga, is about way more than just keeping in shape physically. A yoga practice is a great way to keep our minds focused and aware. It is a wonderful outlet for me and I am so glad I decided to join this challenge!

Check out Courtney's weekly recap here.

Happy Monday, friends! Today has been the craziest work day I have had in awhile...I'm sensing more yoga in my future ;-)

Have you joined the challenge yet?

Change. Embrace It.

Not sure if anyone follows the blog Not Salmon, by Karen Salmansohn, but it is filled with inspirational phrases, photos, and quotes to brighten each and every day. I highly recommend it.

This one really caught my eye:

Not only does it fit the "autumn" theme and the coming of the new month of October, but it rings very true to me. The world is constantly changing, you and I are constantly changing, and everyone around us is constantly changing. Change is scary, but it can also be a good thing.

This image is also a great accent to the October Yoga Challenge I am participating in with Courtney. To me, the challenge is not only about evolving physically, but also mentally. Yoga is very much a mental and spiritual experience, which is why it is called a "practice". I intend to do a follow-up on Friday about a few things I have noticed thus far (last night was my first yoga session of the month!), most of which are mental rather than physical.

But more of that on Friday. For now, think about the changes you have made in your life, and the changes you have yet to make. Some may be positive, some negative. But no matter what, accepting--and embracing--change is when the beauty can come in.

What changes have you made so far this year?

What changes would you like to make by the time 2013 rolls around? (3 months remaining--go make it happen!)

October Yoga Challenge

So, around this time of year, my "fitness" routine (if you can even call it that) gets a little stale.

You know, the weather is getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and my life inevitably gets busier. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do. Working out before work is tough, and after work it is sometimes already dark to do anything outside, and since I don't have a gym membership (gotta save those dolla bills!), my options are limited.

Ok, I know...excuses, excuses.

Well, when I popped on over to Courtney's blog this morning, it was as if she read my mind. Courtney (the incredible blogger behind Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life) is spicing up her fall fitness routine with an October Yoga Challenge, and we're all invited to join.

Courtney's goal is to incorporate a yoga sequence into her routine at least 3 days per week, no matter how intense or how long. I have decided that 3 times a week sounds like a reasonable, attainable goal, and I am going to join along. However, if you want to join, your goal can be 5 times a week, 1 day a week, etc. As long as we are getting our bodies moving and enjoying the calming and cleansing aspects of yoga, that's all that matters!

Courtney will be doing a recap every Friday (beginning this Friday, Oct. 7th!) on her blog, with the opportunity for other bloggers to link up their recap posts as well. So, every Friday from now on, expect a short recap on Hot Coco(a) and also on my Twitter page about how my Yoga Challenge is going. Hope ya don't mind ;-)

If you want to join in on the challenge, or get more info, check out the snazzy new button on the right side of my blog. Or go to Courtney's page to get one of your own!

Here's to a month of fitness, fun, support, and encouragement!

Namaste.

Yoga, I need you!

I think I pulled a muscle in my back attempting to shave my legs in the shower.

Has it really been that long since I've done yoga? I thought to myself.

Um, yes... Yes, it has.

Good thing I bought a Groupon the other day for 5 yoga classes at a local studio for only $7!

I'll go. Really soon.

Like, as soon as my back heals...

and as soon as I'm done eating this cookie.

Happy Weekend!