It’s about that time for me to do a bit of an early check-in now that the year is nearly halfway over, and revisit the goals I had set for myself around New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day to see if I’ve accomplished any, or- at the very least- come anywhere close to accomplishing them.
Some people might think this could be considered a form of self-punishment. We are still in the midst of a pandemic, after all- even if said pandemic seems to be inching towards a gradual end now that more and more people are getting vaccinated and things are starting to open back up to full capacity again (I return to my office at some point in July, I think.) Regardless- accomplishing a lengthy list of goals during a global health crisis isn’t exactly easy- and it can be disappointing to look back on the past few months and realize you aren’t where you hoped to be by now.
But I remain optimistic in my own growth- not only because the goals I set for myself for 2021 were tailored specifically to take the COVID-19 crisis into consideration- but also because I know myself well enough to have noticed, in real-time- that I was accomplishing things I had set out to do this year. I’ve celebrated the small and big victories alike since this past January- and I’m hopeful and striving towards being able to celebrate even more of those victories by the time December rolls around.
As a reminder to myself and anyone elese reading this right now, these were my resolutions for 2021:
- Continue Getting More Healthy/Fit
- Save More Money/Pay Off Bills
- Cross A Few Things Off of My Travel Bucket List
- Blog Better
- Find “Me” Again
I’ve continued to lose weight, look better (and feel more comfortable) in my clothes, have visibly healthier skin, hair and nails- and overall more energy thanks to ongoing dedication and decisions I’ve been actively making since 2020. By continuing to eat better, exercise often, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, using proper skincare and hair care products and taking daily vitamins to sort of fill in any gaps within my self-care regimen- I feel and look the best I have in years- which only pushes me to keep sticking with it.
That’s not to say I don’t allow myself a “Cheat Day” once or twice a week for special occasions or just to give myself a break- but I make sure not to go overboard with it- and it makes maintaining my routine all the much easier since it gives me something to look forward to every week.
2021 has seen me pay off some bills and lower some previously staggering loans- again because of ongoing dedication and decisions I’ve carried over from last year. My weekly/monthly budgeting plan, which is accurate down to the penny- has helped me to continue to pour cash into my savings account while simultaneously pay down/off things like credit card bills and car payments. Although I’m going to have to tackle my student loan when it reactivates in the Fall- I think I’m prepared to take it head-on.
And, much like my “Cheat Days” with my fitness regimen- I allow myself an occasional splurge, too. Makeup. Clothes. Maybe a weekend away- it’s what keeps me feeling good and motivated in difficult times- and everyone deserves to treat themselves now and then.
Although I haven’t scratched locations off of my Travel Bucket List just yet (Summer 2021 or bust!)– I have been able to go to new places I’d never been before this year. With two trips to Vegas these past couple of months- I visited the Hoover Dam for the first time and dined/shopped/marveled at places I’d only ever read about on and off the Strip.
This year has seen an overall improvement to the quality of Coffee & Chiffon. I feel like my posts are better written, the photos are clearer and more professional-looking- and I’m not struggling to generate content now that things are opening back up and I have access to better equipment and am able to work with other professionals again. I was genuinely worried that in 2020, only a couple of months after launching this blogging endeavor- I’d have to shut it down due to the pandemic.
Fortunately, I stuck with it- kept going- and am having so much fun writing and collaborating again! I have so many wonderful plans for the coming weeks/months here and am so excited to share them all!
And finally, and probably the most “obscure”- but I really wanted to rediscover myself in 2021- including my talents, my interests, etc. Being in quarantine for as long as we have sort of skews our perspective about things we enjoy/want to do- and I’d hoped this year would bring me some much-needed clarity.
It’s still a work in progress- but I credit therapy, meditation, practicing better communication (instead of just bottling things up or ignoring growing problems in the hopes they’ll go away or resolve on their own) and daily journaling for bringing me so much closer to attaining that goal. I feel so much more calm, collected and at peace these days- even if the world around me is in a state of chaos- and it’s been a life-saver.
Although there’s still plenty left to accomplish in the second half of 2021- I feel like I’ve made great strides in this first half to reaching a healthier, more financially stable and clear-headed version of myself. I’m proud of what I’ve been able to do- especially with everything still going on in the world- and I’m only motivated to work even harder for the remainder of the year so that I can set new goals/resolutions for myself for 2022.
So here’s to progress- no matter how big or small our accomplishments may seem.
But also to not forgetting to be gentle with ourselves, too.
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 