Since my birthday was a week ago, I was wondering if I should make a “turning 23” post. But I wasn’t quite sure what that would/should be. Since its finally October and the official start to fall, I was thinking about all the fun things I want to do this season and what I need to change in my life to reach my goals. As the leaves change and fall away, I think some of my bad habits should as well. But instead of focusing on only the bad, I want to focus on the good too. Change is good! This time in my life is very unique but I also think 23 is a good year to start getting in the habit of doing certain things to maintain a healthy body and mind. So at the moment, here are the 23 things I’m working on:
- Handling Stress: I like to think of myself as being pretty laid back with most things, so when I get stressed I am a mess. Just last week I had something come up with work that had me almost to the point of tears. Of course everything worked out, because it always does, but at the time I wanted to crawl under a rock. I hope this year I can be better at handling the stress that life throws at me and learn to handle it with grace.
- Writing Letters and Thank You Notes: I love hand written notes. I think its so personal and thoughtful. I need to write some thank you notes to some people who were kind of enough to give me a present for my birthday. I also have a bunch of friends in far away places who I’ve been meaning to send letters to. I just won 10 free TouchNote postcards on Instagram from a contest Kate on ClassyAndKate did. So excited to use them!
- Taking Walks: I want to make it a point to start walking just a few blocks a day. Whether I drag my mom along with me or my dog, I think it will improve my health and mindset. I also think this is a good time in my life to make this a habit, so I can keep it up when I’m old and grey.
- Vitamins: Speaking of being old and grey, at 23 I feel old! I know I shouldn’t feel old, but I do! I know now is the time I should start taking a bunch of vitamins. I don’t know which ones yet, so I’ll have to do some research. I hear fish oil is good!
- Exercising after work: I really don’t think I have an excuse not to. I sit at a desk all day. I don’t have kids or a husband I have to rush back home to. I have the time and energy to work out and get in shape, so I really need to start now.
- Flossing: I just had a dentist appointment and of course the dentist told me I need to floss more *shocker*. Since I went through all of that braces-surgery-mumbo-jumbo, I really want to take care of my teeth. That begins with flossing (unfortunately).
- Cleaning my room: Just out of respect for my parents and my 90 year old Oma who likes to tidy up the house everyday, I need to keep my room clean. My life is a lot more organized when my room is clean. I also feel its pretty juvenile to leave my clothes all over the floor.
- Ordering healthy food out: Since I work 40 hrs a week, I will go out to each with my coworkers pretty often. I think this is fine, but only if I try to be as healthy as possible.
- Taking fashion risks: I feel like I wear the same things every week. I can be lazy sometimes when I’m getting up for work because I have to dress in business casual. But I have the closet that I can take risks and dressing up makes me happy, so I think I should more often.
- Putting money in my savings: Since I am fortunate enough that I am living with my parents and I don’t have a lot of excessive bills to pay, most of that money should be put away for a time when I actually need it.
- Listen to Understand: Something I realized that a lot of people do (myself included) is listen to people talk, just so they can respond and talk about themselves. I find myself doing this a lot so I want to start listening to understand people.
- Read more: I have a giant pile of books that have been neglected for too long. I love the feeling of finishing a good book. I love losing myself in a book. So the question is…why don’t I make it a priority?
- Journaling: I used to be really good about writing about my life and documenting certain things that were very pivotal and important at the time. I tend to write a lot when I’m going through heartbreak or feeling lost and alone. Since life is going really well lately, I don’t really feel the urge to write everything down, but I want to remember this unique period in my life.
- Plan better: My agenda book used to be my best friend. Now I barely write anything down and tend to accidentally forget when I said I was going to hang out with someone or double book myself. This is preventable, if I only planned out my life better. Its also time to get a new planner!
- Pray more: I have been seriously lacking in this department. Whether things or good or bad or in between, I want to talk to God more. I need to talk to God more. At my best moments and my worst moments, God is always there with me and I need to acknowledge that more.
- Take more risks: Life is very comfortable right now…to the point where I feel like I need to do something to mix it up a little bit. I need to stop playing it safe all the time, and take more risks. I’ll keep you updated on what that means exactly when I figure it out.
- Spend less time on my phone: THIS NEEDS TO BE A TOP PRIORITY! When I wake up, I’m on my phone. When I have a free minute at work, I’m on my phone. I waste literally so much time each day just scrolling through social media. I think I would have so much more time to do more things that are important to me if I cut off the screen time.
- Better skin care: Everyone I work with tell me how important this time of my life is to start taking really good care of my skin. I can get really lazy at night and not want to take off my make-up, but mature 23 year olds don’t do that, now do they?
- Go to church: Back at school I had an amazing church that I loved going to. Now that I’m back home with my parents, I’m struggling to find that same connection and togetherness. I hope that if I do a little church hopping or go back to the church I was baptized in, I’ll find my community.
- Say no: This has always been such a problem for me. Even in high school, if two groups of friends invited me to two separate parties on the same night, I would split the time between the two. Seems pretty normal to me these days, but I can run myself ragged trying to please other people. Sometimes you just have to say “no”.
- Drink more water: This should be a no-brainer, but on days when I’m running around or exhausted, I forget to drink water. I’m a firm believer that drinking water can solve 99% of your problems. Have a headache? Water. Acne? Water. Heartbroken? Probably water.
- Go to bed earlier: Even when I know I have work the next morning, I will stay up until 2 a.m. and end up super tired in the morning. Since I’ll most likely be in the 9-5 grind for the rest of my life, I should stop going to bed at the time of a college student on a Thirsty Thursday, don’t you think?
- Stay focused: I have a lot of goals and ambitions. Even as I finish writing this list, I want to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. I may not have it all together right now, but I have a pretty good idea of who I want to be and how I want to live my life. I just need to stay focused.
Did I miss anything on my list? Comment below!
Thanks for reading!xx
Thanks for sharing Kim!
I would add, love myself more everyday!