Last year, keeping up with my resolutions was like this:
I always felt like they were a bit out of grasp in some way, shape, or form. 2013 was a busy year for me, and it was filled with many personal ups and downs. I grew as an individual and was able become more focused and figure out my next life step which was one of resolutions for 2013. Also, maybe I was a bit too specific, and put too much pressure on myself with my goals so this year I’m going to be a bit more open ended, and see how it goes.
In 2014, I resolve to….
- Stay ahead of my assignments for graduate school: I am a queen of procrastination but I’m determined to learn some time management skills. Especially since I’m still going to be working while taking classes online. I also know that the online system will be different for me and will take time for me to adjust to it so I want to do as much as I can to make sure it all works out in a positive manner.
- Write one to two reviews for Good Books and Good Wine a week: Going back to graduate school, I know my time is going to focused on my school work but I still have to keep writing for the blog. Now April has put absolutely no pressure on me so this is something that I want to do for myself, and I can already hear her telling me “Don’t worry about it!” but, I feel as if setting aside time to write a review might actually be relaxing for me.
- Respond to comments on my reviews: This was a resolution last year as well, and last year I started out good and then proceeded to fail miserably. This year I’m going to try it again, and I think I’m going to approach it in a manner as to a way to continue to interact with the blogging community even though I’m going to be busy with school work.
- Listen to more audiobooks: I have a feeling that a way in which I may be able to keep up with my reading while in school is through audiobooks because while I do housework or if I need a break but don’t want to pick up a book, I can just put in an audiobook and relax as I listen to the scenes play out in front of me.
- Re-read more books from my childhood: I really want to be able to continue with my new feature that I started at the end of last year Saturday Schoolyard. I also think that if I’m able to read shorter books that may be less taxing on my brain when I’m busy reading textbooks and articles for class.
- Keep up the my Netgalley requests: I have a bad tendency to request books on Netgalley, and then wait until the last minute to read them before they get archived. I really need to stop doing this because it’s just so much pressure, and I know that I won’t be able to keep up with it while trying to do school work as well.
- Avoid snack foods and soda when I’m stressed because of school work: I know from previous experience that I am one of those people that goes directly to junk food when I’m stressed especially when it comes to school work. I would really like to try to avoid this if I can because I’ve become much healthier and actually been able to lose a bit of weight. I would like to see this trend continue even if my stress levels escalate.
- Keep up with my laundry: Guys, I have a confession. I’m horrible at keeping up with my laundry. I usually wind up having to do a bunch all at once because suddenly I’m running out of clothes or my clothes are taking over my room. I know it’s ridiculous and a bad habit so that is why I would really like to be able to change it in 2014.
- Keep reading and stay connected with the book blogging community:I want to keep you all in the loop as to what is going on with me. So be it twitter, or the blog, or perhaps even g-chat or emails if anyone would like to keep in touch that way, I’ll be doing my best to update you all on life and books.
- Have a life outside of graduate school work: One of the things that happened when I went to graduate school the first time was that I forgot how to have a life. I became completely dedicated to doing school work and attaining good grades that I kind of forgot what it was like to do other things. I would love not to do that this time around. I would love to be able to see friends even if it’s just to grab something to eat or spend time with my family for more then five minutes before I shut my bedroom door again.
What are some of your 2014 resolutions?
As always Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke And The Bookish.
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Allison is 27 years old. She is always looking for new books, good music, quality/epic adventures, and a normal sleep schedule. She currently works with the elderly.
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Good picks, I totally feel that gif myself. 😀
I have to be better with galleys, too, and tackle my giant TBR at the same time, but doing both is just gah! :L
Happy reading!
My TTT
Listen to more audiobooks is definitely one I want to do as well! Good luck with your goals!
That GIF perfectly describes what it feels like to be overwhelmed. I know exactly what you mean about chasing after your goals. I have the tendency to make too many goals, which makes it impossible to maintain any of them. Hopefully, neither of us will do that this year! It looks like you’re off to a good start. And I sympathize with trying to create a life beyond school, as well. Papers and assignments can really take up all your time, so it can be hard to allow yourself to spend time doing other things. Good luck with your goals!
LOL! I love the laundry thing goal and also: I do the same thing 😉 And there never seems to come an end to the pile of laundry… Every time I think I’m all caught up, the basket is overflowing again…
And yeah, being better at reading the galleys from NetGalley and Edelweiss is one of my goals as well!
YES TO AUDIOBOOKS!! I love them forever and ever and ever!!!
Also, I am forever amazed at your dedication to school and your career.
And hooray for a healthier lifestyle! I’m a stress eater so when I changed my eating habits earlier this year, I had to kind of change what I kept around the house and I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. I still stress eat, but I’m eating the things I need instead of what I don’t, like fruit and nuts. Anyway, that’s probably more than you care about. Great list, Allison. Good luck with all of it. Every single bit of it! You deserve all of the good things!! (:
Nice list. I can see you put a lot of thought into it 🙂 I’ve never listened to an audio book — maybe I should.
My TTT
All great goals, Allison! I think many of us struggle to find that perfect work/school/life/blog balance. It’s definitely hard and I know my own blogging suffered because of it. At the end of the day it’s about doing what’s right for YOU and not letting the pressure of it all bring you down. I know you can do this! So cheers to a happy, productive and healthy new year!
I love the idea of rereading childhood favorites. I used to be very good about it, pre-blog, and I miss them!
Ha ha ha good luck with the laundry! I am terrible at that too!
I used to listen to a lot more audiobooks than I do now, and I’d like to get back to listening to them again. I have a problem reviewing them, though, because I’m not always paying attention as well as I do when I’m the one doing the reading.
Oh my goodness to number 8! I am so bad at laundry. THE worst. 🙂 And, my husband is okay at washing but hates folding, so we just end up with washed clothes in baskets that remain unfolded for a couple weeks. I am so proud that I finally cleared up our room this weekend – it only took an hour and a half to fold and put it all away. Good luck with your goal!!
I love the fact that you want to re-read books from your childhood! I’ve found that since I live in New York now, and far away from my childhood library, I rarely go back to the books I used to read OBSESSIVELY when I was younger. That might have to change if I’m inspired/reminded of books in your feature!