To say 2021 was a whirlwind year would be an understatement. I got married in the beginning of 2021, and even though we postponed the reception we still had to organize a micro wedding. We held the reception at the end of 2021, so it was an entire year dedicated to planning essentially two weddings. While they were both beautiful and I will treasure those memories forever, I am relieved for 2022 to be a year where I can dedicate my time and energy elsewhere. This year, my intention is to set myself up for success in the future, specifically in my health and finances.
Goals and Intentions
Health and Wellness
I have been consistently going to the gym and weightlifting for five years now, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come in my strength. After having to switch to at-home workouts during 2020 and then going back to weightlifting, I started to notice a plateau in my progress I felt like I couldn’t get myself out of. I felt like I needed that extra oomf to my workouts that would also reignite my excitement.
I decided to sign up for circuit training classes at my gym three months ago (most similar to OrangeTheory and F45), and I am so happy I did. I noticed a significant difference in my body, and felt stronger than I ever have before. I am not a health expert or a doctor, but from personal experience I believe that there is no “one size fits all” in terms of fitness. Everybody has different bodies and goals, and that’s amazing! You should find what makes you excited to move, and if it doesn’t suit you anymore, try out something else. I alternate between circuit classes and weightlifting throughout the weeks, and sometimes go to a spin class on the weekends if I feel like it. I try to walk 10,000 steps a day, and my goal for the year is to maintain this activity level.
Fitness is only a piece of the health and wellness goals I hope to accomplish this year. One of the main things I hope to address is my stress and anxiety. I was more stressed last year than ever, and I know that contributed to my fitness plateau as well as other health issues I faced. I put my mental health on the back burner, and it made the year more difficult. This year, my intention is to better manage my stress and anxiety in order to live a truly full and happy life. I’ve implemented meditating, journaling, and reading every morning to put myself in a positive mindset. Setting my intentions like this in the morning has helped my mood immensely, and if I start letting my stress overwhelm me, I gently remind myself to try and go back into my positive mindset I started the day out with.
Finances
After moving into my first “real” apartment in 2020, I knew I would have to keep my finances in check. But month after month, I found myself spending my whole paycheck (sometimes a little more) and not putting any money aside for my savings. After a full year, and a hard look at my savings account, I’ve decided that I need to seriously get my ish together. We want to buy a house in a couple of years, and right now is the time I need to be saving for that if we don’t want to be completely in debt.
My goal for this year is to save $15,000, and while this number looks astronomical now, I’ve taken the time to break it down into monthly goals and systems to get me there. I plan to focus on having a low-buy year, where you list out parts of your life you plan to spend little to no money at all. I plan to buy no clothing this year, and if I need something to try and find it secondhand first. I also want to stop impulse buying items I see on Amazon, and to use up what I have (makeup and skincare-wise) before buying any new product. A huge goal, and probably the hardest one for me, will be to limit my spending on eating out and food. Food is one of my favorite ways to socialize, and I love trying out new restaurants. This year, I’m going to try and socialize through other (i.e. free) outlets, and to limit eating out to only once a month. I plan to do more blog posts as I continue this financial journey, and will keep you updated on my progress, challenges, and reaching my goal!
My Planner
It’s probably the writer in me, but I love physical planners. I treat it almost like a journal, and taking the time to write in it clears my mind while also setting me up for success. Because my main goal for this year is to save $15,000, I invested in the Masterplan planner, which is a yearly planner centered around helping you manage your money. I love how you can write down your monthly budget plan, and then weekly sections for you to write any expenses so you can stay on track. I make a point to write in it everyday, and to write down every single expense, even if it makes me feel guilty. I know it’s for the best, and it’s the only to really get a grasp of my finances.
2022 to me is the year of planning. It’s the year I create systems, and stick to those plans to set up my future for success. It will be a quiet year, but in that quiet I will be aiming my arrow and preparing to propel myself into what awaits ahead, fully ready to succeed.
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