Two Thousand And Seventeen

Happy New Year!

As always, my intention to blog got sidetracked this Christmas period...

I managed the few odd days but I didn't post everything I wanted to, leaving me with things overhanging into the New Year.

I've literally just been texting my friend about setting goals for the year.

We've both already set our Goodreads one (mine's set for 50 books this year) and I've also just set my running one - 180 miles. That's more than double what I did this year but I'm feeling optimistic.

All that's left really are the standard New Year resolutions.

Now, I haven't thoroughly thought these through but I may come back and add to them if I can think of any more!

Here they are:

✽ To be kinder. I'm not sure why exactly, but I don't feel like I've been a very nice person of late so this year I'd like to stop, take a moment, and think before I open my mouth.

✽To move out of this house. It's been mentioned numerous times on my behalf but I'm determined that that was the last New Years in this house.

✽To visit at least three countries whether that be alone or with someone. I want to break out of my comfort zone and start exploring. Maybe my love for photography will also come back if I don't have any teacher-set boundaries.

✽To spend a bit more time offline. Now that I'm working in an office, I realise I spend the majority of my time looking at a screen of some sort and quite frankly I'm worried I'm wasting my life watching TV or scrolling aimlessly through blogs. It's time to log off a bit more.

✽I hate myself for this one but I would like to eat less sugar. I have a real sweet tooth but I'm worried with the amount I consume. It may not be pretty for my moods for the first little while but I noticed a big difference in my energy levels when I started to eat more fruit and veg and maybe my skin will clear up with less sugar in my diet!

✽To get out more. To Adeel's annoyance I've suddenly always got ants in my pants in the fact that I always want to get out at a weekend and actually do something. I'm tired of sitting in all the time, watching TV. I want to go out for breakfast, I want to go to the top of the Shard (I work right next to it for God's sake!), I want to go on spontaneous road trips whether that be a half hour drive away or an eight hour drive away, I even want to go out in the evenings to a bar maybe or whatever people my age tend to do - I may not like it but at least I can say I've tried it again. This also includes more date-like activities. We did a little better this year but a lot of stuff kept getting in the way. I want time for us to be together.

✽To finish my darn book! I have got to stop writing this as a goal and actually do it. I'm quite close to be fair but I still think it needs a lot of work and I'm terrified of actually handing it over to a publishing company which is probably why I keep putting off finishing it...

✽To stop hoarding. I have so much stuff that I have absolutely no room in this one bedroom I rent. Unless I absolutely love a book or a piece of clothing or an object, I want to give it away. Others are in need of things and I feel awful for having all this stuff that probably goes to waste. I have already started to give my old clothes away but I want to continue.

✽Improve. I've decided this is going to be my word of the year. I constantly want to be improving in myself, my work, my art, my experiences, my relationships, my goals.

Wishing you all the best for the year to come.



∞

How I Fit In My Five-A-Day

Most days anyway...

I always used to think for some reason that five fruit and veg a day meant eating five pieces of fruit and five types of veg a day. I mean what nutter could actually do that? Needless to say, I was relieved when I found out it's actually five altogether. Whoops.

Oddly enough though, since I've begun working a 9-5 day I actually find it easier to eat healthier. Strange, huh?

My mum always told me that she struggled at work with eating too many sugary snacks just because "they're there" or "easier to buy" and whatnot.

Okay, so initially when I started work experience in the summer I was eating biscuits and crisps with a sandwich or roll of some sort. But, seeing others at work constantly eating healthy must've clicked something in me. Plus, I work right opposite Borough Market which is a hugeeeeeeee temptation.

But now, during my weekly shop or at weekends I stock up on fresh fruit and veg - which is super cheap(?!). I tend to chop and freeze down the veg to make it easier to cook up quickly and it also lasts way longer. I also cook in batches so I can just reheat everything!

With fruit I grab 2-3 pieces to put with my lunch. If I get hungry throughout my work day I tell myself to eat these first and then I can eat my cereal bar or get a sweet treat (gotta give yourself a reward for all that good eating, right?)

It helps, as well, that my work place offer free fruit in the canteen every day too!

I'm not one for believing in cutting out a whole food group from your diet. If I were to cut out sugar altogether I would just crave it more, whereas if I allow myself a little a day it keeps the cravings at bay - most of the time.

Simple :)

✌