I love this time of year. It’s full of possibilities that can be thought about whilst still over-indulging. Hurrah!! The new priorities, the tighter waistline (oh irony), the tidy house, the better skin… the list of New Years Resolution ideas I have running around my head, would, if executed, make me nothing short of a domestic goddess (don’t panic, we both know that ain’t happening any time soon!).
2015 New Years Resolution
You must be sick of me banging on about my resolutions by now but I genuinely LOVE making New Years Resolutions. I love thinking back over the year (here are last year’s resolutions), analysing my resolutions; what worked, what didn’t work, what have I learnt from the process about myself, how can I do better next year, etc. etc. You can read my lessons from last years Resolutions in this Daily blogging tips post, my last post of 2014!
And, what I identified this week, post Christmas/pre New Year, was that the ultimate reason for previous resolution failures boils down to one thing: a failure to plan. That old adage fail to prepare then prepare to fail, is ringing in my ears!
I have proven time and again that I am incapable of planning anything in my life. Everything happens as it is needed. This has its benefits – I can do things really quickly when I need to! Dinner in 15 minutes with very little ingredients? Boom. But generally this ‘trait’ causes arguments, stresses me out and leaves me feeling shattered and often like a failure.
I want 2015 to feel less rushed. When you’re less rushed you actually get more done (as per this pretty cool podcast from Tim Ferris – episode 51 – which goes into his daily schedule); thus leaving me more time to be present and enjoying time with Reuben, more time to learn (and read a lot! A regular feature in my new years resolutions 2013 and 2014), more time for what is most important to me.
New Years Resolution – To become a Planner!
If I were to choose a single word for 2015 (as inspired by Annie’s wonderful 2014 round up, which I loved), one word that I would embrace and live every day, it would be PLANNING!
Just think what you can achieve if you plan…
- If you plan your meals on a Sunday – you could lose weight AND save money and time;
- If you plan your workload – you could get everything done in the time you have AND not have to stay up half the night THEREFORE spending more quality time with your loved ones
- If you plan your days off – you get to do fun things instead of wasting half the day deciding what to do and/or doing something you wish you weren’t doing (just me?)
- If you plan nights out with your friends – you get to see them more often
- If you plan your house chores – you can have a clean and tidy house (I know, this is really good stuff. You’re welcome)
- If you plan and schedule time to read – you will actually read some books
OK, I think I’ve made my point. I don’t know what this says about my personality (other than I wish someone would just tell me what to do) but you know when you say “I need to find time to do X”? Well, I spend a lot of time thinking that and actually the only way I will, for example, read more books is if I make time to read more books.
So while I have lots of things I’d like to achieve this year (read 3 books a week, visit every castle in Northumberland, lose 2 stone, just a few, small ambition!), I don’t want to bore you with all the details here, but rather say my overall New Years Resolution is to become a planner.
Mike (and every goal setter out there) tells me this is far too ambiguous and I’ll never achieve it in that case. So, more specifically I will be looking at each of my specific measurable goals for the year and setting time aside every day to plan them properly. I’ve never done this before and I’ve even started using Evernote (thank you Michelle!) to store ideas, recipes, book suggestions, etc, so this year I hope to, firstly, achieve my goals and secondly, be able to keep track and measure my achievements!
That’s it… wish me luck and a very Happy 2015 to you all!
Ooh this makes me happy. As you may be aware I am a planner! Although I feel I need to do more planning, be more organised at home and plan so I have more free time, rather than just working super hard to ensure everything gets done. I have quite a few goals for this year, yikes! xxxx
LOVE goals, and I’m not even bothered if I complete them all, it’s far more important to give it a go then to not bother at all! Believe me I have you in mind throughout all of this – you are my inspiration to get my blog world under control!! xxx
I love planning, though I am a very unorganised planner! I try and plan,and for the most part do, but not in a manner that makes sense except to me! My New years resolution in a fitness one I am implementing a minimum of 1 run a week as I managed every other day over summer but as it got colder it just kind of tailed off. hopefully I manage it 🙂 good luck to your planning xx
Happy New Year! I have made a similar resolution & even asked for a nice notebook for Christmas so that I can start writing down ideas and lists etc to be a bit more organised. My life is chaos and I think planning is the way forward…. it’s just finding the time to do that planning!!!!
It’s a good plan! I didn’t make any new year resolutions as I never stick to them but to be more organised is a good one to have. Need to become more organised and learn to stick to a budget (how dull and adult!)
BTW where would you even lose 2 stone from?!!
Happy New Year love 🙂 xxx
High five to planning….I have 2 new planners (I don’t know why I need 2 new ones along with the 2 existing BUT) I will be using them in 2015, oh wait that’s now and my planners are still empty.
This is the year I get organised! Byeeee I’m off to plan…plan…and plan some more!
I have a family diary which I have started to fill in, but not finished, and a wall calender… which is still in the under stairs cupboard, is it really 2015 already???
This seems to be my forever goal, to plan everything out and get organised. Last year was the same and in some ways it worked great, I now couldn’t do the weekly shop without a meal plan, I seriously cannot work out how I used to shop without planning the meals, how did I know what to buy?!
I also started a housework planner last year planning what would be done when, in the hope of keeping it under control in smaller chunks rather then having a huge blitz, this didn’t last as long, not sure why, it just didn’t become a habit I guess.
What I need is someone to give me the plan that works then ill stick to it lol, its figuring out what works that I struggle with.
#thelist
We have a very similar mindset when it comes to the new year. Planins is so important. Wish you luck on all you have “planned” for the new year. 🙂 x
I agree, planning is so important, as are lists. But since having N, I’ve become a bit vaguer about things that aren’t so important, and mostly they’ve not got done. But losing weight is definitely on my list. I’ve got 4 stone to get to a reasonable weight and 5 to get to an achievable and maintainable goal. I’ve been pants this year, starting and stopping, but must do it this year because it’s my 40th next year and I’m going away with my skinny best friend. I’d like to at least look my best for turning 40.
Oh i don’t even think I made 2014 resolutions, Boo was about 2 weeks old and my brain was mush!
My resolutions this year I hope are achievable and definitely will be aided by planning, planning and not eating mountains of chocolate… I just have to eat all the leftover chocolate from Christmas first right… hehe
Sounds like you’re pretty much set for 2015 with your ‘planning’ resolution. Good luck! I’ve never really set resolutions, maybe I should this year… #thelist
Yay welcome to Evernote! Love this post – it smells of positivity and makes me want to write lists! (Sad I know but I’m a planner by nature and have to remind myself to be spontaneous sometimes too.) Thanks for the mention and glad you found my tips post on Evernote useful… now did you see the one about planning social media and blog posts using Co-Schedule? *grins*
Good luck with achieving your New Year’s resolutions – planning is definitely the key to a lot of things and I’m hoping to stay more organised this year as a result of planning ahead. Happy New Year! 🙂
Great plan 😉 I need to to learn to plan my days more effectively rather than letting work take over, not to mention planning for exercise and housework (although not sure I really want to plan to clean to be honest!) and for what we’ll do on the man’s days off so we aren’t stuck for things to do when they come around. Good luck with planning to be a planner and happy new year!
Can I just say- LOVE the photo! I really love it when people use photos of themselves in posts!
Anyhoo, I love lists, I love planning (and as I said on my other comment on linky I am making a blog/life planner) and intend on making meal plans every week and getting more organised with everything I do! Just makes you feel better doesn’t it?
O dear … I’ve got my comments mixed up. A lesson in comment immediately after reading a post; otherwise, it’s very easy to get muddled up!
My comment on your list 17 post should be for this post; sorry.
Resolutions doesn’t quite work for me either; it’s so easy not to keep them!
I’ll like to read more about the ‘Evernote’ do you have the link?
All the best with your blanket resolution; a wise principle to implement in the different things you get up to this year. SMART targets tends to yield satisfiying results; so I hope we’ll be SMART-er in our living this year.
Happy New Year Hannah. I love your tips for 2015 I really need to try them. I wish you lots of luck in achieving your resolutions. Thanks for hosting.
I do love a good plan!
I must admit my resolutions did pan out better in 2014 than I was expecting and I think it has something to do with being more specific (It was also half luck as I lost my list, but I get that just shows they were good ideas that stuck!!).
I’m still planning my goals for this year – starting to feel like a bit of a slacker as it’s the 2nd now but I guess it’s all in the planning…!
Great post. Xx
Hi Hannah, I’ve just discovered your blog, and am loving it! Planning and getting more organised is also on my list for 2015. Baby number 3 will be arriving in April, so I’ve got to get on top of it before then! I’ve started well, but it is only the 2nd of Jan! I hope you have an amazing 2015! x
I’m such a procrastinator, I’m going to give some of this a go!
Awesome – thanks Hannah! I’m the same as you – such a planner 🙂 although I still haven’t decided on my resolutions yet and its stressing me out lol. Mim 🙂 #TheList
Love this! Planning is my thing. I am organised but want to try to be even more so this year and have started off well. So far so good. Also love the comment about feeling less rushed … also what I would like to achieve! Happy New Year!
This should be mine! In fact I think I’m going to add it to my to-do list. I can’t make resolutions as it just sets me up for failure as I’m so unplanned. I like the idea of becoming a planner though and this in theory should help me to complete my to-do list for this year.
Happy new year gorgeous and I hope you have a wonderful year ahead of you!
Xx
I have the opposite problem. I love to plan in great detail but if something doesn’t go quite to plan….uh oh! So perhaps my resolution should be to be more spontaneous. #thelist
This is a great resolution – to become a planner. I love your list of ways in which planning will hopefully help you. I don’t plan much of anything, but maybe it’d help me too. #thelist
Ooh you’ve got me feeling all motivated reading this! But… three books a week?? That would be amazing, but I am yet to achieve my ‘one book per week’ resolution from a few years ago! I totally agree on the planning front, and I love a bit of writing down what I want to achieve and then I MAKE time for it plus get to tick the things as complete (SO satisfying!) Happy New Year and good luck! #thelist
I’m a bit rubbish at planning as everything and everybody just seems to get in the way and I’m terrible at saying no. Perhaps my word for 2015 should be ‘No’!
I love planning! Its the only way I can manage my life with the baby now! Great post, good luck x
A lovely photo of you! I think a balance between planning and spontaneity is good: some things are useful to plan, such as meals – helps save money and weight management, and it’s good to schedule things in to make sure you get things done but you don’t want to plan the life (and fun!) out of everything. All the best for 2015 xxx #TheList
Oh yes, planning is right up there for sure! Amazing how much time is wasted faffing around! I was useless last year with resolutions – this year I’m trying to be more active all round – not going a gym or anything like that – just getting out and about more and trying to do more active things with the kids. Fingers crossed it lasts!! x
Instead of resolutions I’ve written some goals to try and keep me on track because I’m rubbish! I really need to plan more and be better organised, both in blogging an life in general!
You definitely come across as a planner AND we already know you love lists so I think this is a great resolution! x
Still have yet to live up to my resolution of winning the lottery. One of these years… Good luck with becoming a planner. I aspire for sure!
#TheList
Oooh good luck! Absolutely love the picture of you, you always look very happy and lovely, u hope we get to meet some time! Happy new year xxx #TheList
Thanks so much Hannah!! I had some photos done for the new site (coming soon!) and my brief for my amazing photographer friend, Caroline, was “friendly and approachable” (because I am!) so I’m really happy that it comes across – I should be at Britmums but hopefully a few other things too, would be lush to meet!! xx
I hear you! I just need to plan when to implement my plan now. Here’s my big plan for 2015: clean a room a day. Yes! A room a day! Should be easy enough, yes? No. It’s the 6th and I haven’t even planned which room to start with. I’m planning to do a meal planner too …
So many plans, so little time (and too many babies).
Loved your post, by the way, as always x
I hear YOU Lisa!!!! With a move at the end of January, I keep thinking I’ll do the same and clear a room a day…so far I’ve managed two drawers: my knicker drawer and my sock/tight/PJ/leggings drawer! Perhaps you’re aiming too high. Clearing a room is a BIG task (if you’re rooms are anything like mine!) and no-one wants to lose a whole evening to deciding what to keep and what to chuck!! Especially if you’ve been making lots of other decisions all day (inevitable when you’ve got a kid/s). I say start with a drawer or a shelf so it feels less daunting! 2 more drawers and I will have tackled my whole chest of drawers 😉
thanks for your lovely comment xxx
What a great resolution lovely. I am a bit of a planning nut – I just can’t manage without it! There is a list for everyday and without that everything falls apart. I reckon you definitely end up being more time efficient. Looking forward to reading how you get on! x
I have same same resolutions every year- eat less sugar, do more exercise….there is a reason they crop up every year! lol. Yours sound like a winner though! I read an article the other day that the most successful people plan…I guess I should add that to my resolutions then!
oh you sold your house? where are you moving to?? Did i miss that blog post? We just put an offer in for a house yesterday and are putting out house on the market tomorrow! They are coming to take photos!- I’d better get tidying! x
3 books a week! Wow, that is my dream! I usually get through about 3 a month which isn’t bad seeing as I only read in bed as that is the only time I don’t have a child hanging off me! I’m writing mine this week as I haven’t had enough space in my brain to do them yet (although I have started my new diet) so I’ll share next week #allaboutyou
I definitely need to plan better. Give me a holiday, and there are no problems. But my everyday life–messy like my house. I do hope to be more organised this year, when it comes to my blog. I am going to write down ideas for posts on a calendar and then hopefully each month will be less chaotic.
Ooh I love your resolution! I think it shows what a saddo uber planner I am that you talking about the benefits of planning actually makes me a little excited lol! All the best for 2015 lovely and I hope you achieve your goals! xx
Ha! not a saddo at all, love, you’re what I aspire to be like!! xx
I am just like you! I bought two 18-month diaries a couple of months ago, one for personal and one for blogging, and they both lie empty with cobwebs hanging off them, while my bedside table is covered in scribbled notes for urgent things to do the next day. Gah! I’m the same in that my husband is also a massive planner and doesn’t get my last-minute attitude at all. Good luck with your goals, I hope to follow your great example!
At least you have a full 18 months to get into the swing of things – I had a beautiful moleskin diary that I never used and ended up just using it as a notebook, scribbling out the dates!! The shame! Go get your diaries and don’t make my mistake 😉 xx
Aw love this chick, I want and have started as I mean to go on to ensure life isn’t as rushed too, to appreciate all the special moments, to say no to what I don’t want to do workwise and free up time for the family and the work I love. Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts xx