Hey everyone!
This is my first time trying out this blog thing, but I'm hoping writing in it will keep me accountable for all of the things I want to do this year. I have a few new years resolutions. The biggest one is being healthy: physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially.
Physically - I want to exercise regularly and eat healthy (like everyone...boring). I plan to make a meal plan each week and follow it. This doesn't mean I'm crash dieting, but rather making healthier meals that I like. For example, I love turkey... and burgers... so a turkey burger would be a healthy alternative to beef. Currently, my eating habits include chicken, pasta, pasta with chicken, grilled cheese...and then I get bored and go out to dinner. So the meal plan thing is very important in getting healthy physically (and financially, but I'll get to that). I also plan to follow a close workout regimen. Not only am I going to follow Kayla Itsines' BBG guide, but I'm going to make my more unhealthy habits healthier. For example: lifting weights and/or stretching while watching TV.
Emotionally - I want to move on from past destructive behavior and better myself. I broke up with a long-term boyfriend last year. It was an emotional roller coaster (during and after the relationship). I don't want that this year. I want to be happy. I want to do things for me, not because someone else does or doesn't want me to do them. I want to be happy with myself, independent of others. I want to find who I am (regardless of how corny and cliche that is). I have been part of a pair for so long, it is hard to know who I am as a single person. I am going to work on finding myself. This blog is part of that exploration.
Mentally - I recently graduated from UCSB with a bachelor of arts in psychology and a minor in applied psychology. I have applied to graduate school for clinical psychology. I want to work with people with mental illness. My current job works with these individuals in a life goal setting, but I want to work as a therapist. I hope to hear back from a few schools soon and be able to start working towards my PhD in the fall!
Financially - I have terrible spending habits. I won't spend money on "expensive" (over $4) bread, but I can easily go into Starbucks and order a $5+ drink. So that needs to change. I spend money on eating out more than anything else. This takes away from my savings and money towards other important things. I am going to start a spreadsheet with my monthly budget and spendings to help me limit my spending. I have a large credit card bill at the moment because of expensive graduate school
application fees ($1,800 at the end of applying). So budgeting and watching my spending is going to be very helpful to my financial health.
Another new year's resolution is to start saying yes more. I have had pretty low self-esteem in recent years that has prevented me from making my own decisions and doing things for me. I want to get back to the strong, independent person that I know myself to be. If I want to dye my hair, I'm going to do it. If I want to go downtown, I'm going to do it. If I want to take a trip, I'm going to do it.
I am going to try to write in this as much as I can. I will always have a "Day _ of striving for health" paragraph and also a quote. I will probably add other oddities throughout my adventure with this new blog. I hope to keep this up for at least the whole year.
Day 1 of striving for health:
I worked out my arms testing out my new medicine ball and weights. I had fun with it and know I'm going to be sore tomorrow but also that it'll be worth it. I made a smoothie today (way out of my element) with yogurt, fruits, and spinach. I also had carrots as a snack (also unheard of for me). Tomorrow is going to be a big day!
Quote of the day: "They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." - Andy Warhol
Love,
KayJay
