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4 Personal Goals that Don’t Involve Losing Weight
Setting goals is a really important practice that I think everybody should do.
It’s important to make your goals achievable, but I think that goals should seem a little out of reach because a lot of personal growth happens throughout the process of trying to reach your goals.
All over the internet I see people setting goals like “I want to lose 20 pounds this year” or “I want to cut out sugars in my diet”. I think these goals are awesome and honestly I’d love to achieve these things, too. But this year I’m making the conscious decision to set goals that will push me out of my comfort zone, but will also benefit me directly.
As a teacher, mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend I always put others before myself. This year I decided to work to take care of myself. Of course I will still support those around me, but this year I’m putting myself first because if I don’t prioritize myself I don’t have the capability or emotional capacity to take care of others. I worked hard to set goals that are achievable but will really take a conscious effort to reach.
Work during work hours and that is it
In the past, I’ve been known to arrive to work an hour early and stay hours after. I even worked more when I got home. As I prepared for my maternity leave, my school nickel and dimed every hour that I used to prepare for things like parent teacher conferences that I would miss, etc.
I started to realize that I am giving too much of myself to a system that doesn’t appreciate that hard work. I was sacrificing personal time and family time to get work done and I will no longer be doing that.I have to let go that not everything will be perfect, but it will be okay.
In other occupations, if you work passed your scheduled hours you might make it overtime, bonuses, or be able to use that time throughout the year as vacation time. In education you don’t get that. You get a salary, but that is determined by the number of hours that you work. We are given two personal days to use throughout the year (but have to ask permission to use) unpaid maternity leave, and for every hour that I need to take off, I am charged down to the minute.
If I’m going to put my so much of my life into a job, I personally feel that it should go both ways. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do and the kids are so important to me, but my mental health and my family is important too. And if I can’t take care of those things, I can’t be the best that I can be at my job.
This year, that means I may work through a break or two to get thing done, but I am going to leave when it is my scheduled time to leave. I’m not going to bring work home if I can help it and when I leave I’m going to keep my email closed until the morning when I return back to work. My family deserves to have my full attention and I deserve to take a break.
Say no
Again, as a person with a very giving personality, it is really hard for me to say no. Enneagram type 2, can you tell? In my family, we were raised to do whatever he could to help others but sometimes that takes a huge toll on me. We were also raised to be kind and respectful, no matter what. I agree with that, but as I have grown I have realized that the negativity that some people bring to my life is very detrimental to my mental health.
When somebody does something that makes me uncomfortable, I will stand up for myself and ask that it stops. I will say no to things that I don’t like or d want to do and set boundaries in all relationships if I feel necessary. I won’t be afraid to hurt others feelings by doing this because I deserve to feel respected in my relationships, too.
Look up
I am so guilty of sitting on my phone while in the waiting room, waiting in the drive-through, or even just taking a break at work. This year I’m going to put my phone down, have less screen time, and take in the world around me. I miss so much because my nose is constantly in my phone and I go to bed feeling guilty at night because of that. I will pay attention to my own life rather than to the life others are living online. I vow to always be honest on social media and use it to spread positivity.
Appreciate my body
When I look in the mirror, you will most likely catch me judging myself. You can catch me looking at my body from every angle, up close, and far away. I’m picking at myself and every emotional wound that is attached to my body.
This body has gotten me through so much.
This body has carried me through 26 healthy years.
This body has helped me grow two beautiful and healthy human beings.
This body has gotten me through many friendships and relationships that have taught me so many things over the years.
This body has taken me across the country and it has taken me to many parts of the world.
This body carries me through every day where I get to touch the lives of others. I want to appreciate it and give my body the grace it needs. I want to enjoy my life and not worry about every little thing I eat and drink, but I also want to take care of myself so that I can be healthy for my family.
I will continue to set goals for myself as a lifestyle blogger, teacher, etc. I will continue to adjust my goals as I meet them. But I felt it was important to share how I am going to prioritize myself in the year 2021. What goals did you set for yourself this year? I'm excited to have you here to hold me accountable as I grow!
Until next time,
Erica
