New Beginnings

January 11, 2021

Last week was the first week back from our winter break. It was also the start of the first week of a new calendar year. We all know that 2020 had its fair share of difficulties, and we are all excited to welcome a new year in the hopes that 2021 will change for the better.

During one of our first classes in ISM, we watched a video about New Year's resolutions and then we talked about setting smart goals. I have never been one for New Year's resolutions, but I decided to give it a shot this year. So here is my New Year resolution: be more happy. It sounds simple, but it's much more difficult in practice. I recently came to the conclusion that I had been living the past seventeen years of my life in a state of what had to be done, instead of what I wanted to do. Everyone has responsibilities, but I am prone to overworking myself and then taking no time to do the things I love. Therefore, I am going to set aside more time to do the things I love — like reading, painting, journaling — even if it cuts into work sometimes. I think it's important to have a balance, but it's even more important to engage in self-indulgence sometimes.

One of the main components of smart goal setting is being specific. Thus, my plan is to read a book of my choice for an hour each night before I go to sleep. I am also going to invest in a structured journal, that way I can't cite writer's block as an excuse. Ultimately I believe that these little things will add up, and I will become a happier, more content version of myself.