A Year Later

I wrote this piece on January 1, 2019. Honestly not sure why I didn’t publish it sooner.

New Year’s is my favorite holiday because we’re encouraged to reflect on our experiences and set new goals for the year ahead. It’s incredible how our minds can shift so suddenly and begin building new habits overnight. I wanted to share some of the top realizations I’ve come to this past year, and I hope it’ll inspire you to open up about the imperfect journey to finding your balance for the new year.

1. Invest in those who invest in you. Rather than spending my energy on things that don’t matter, I’ve learned to spend time with my family and closest friends - people who’ve made an effort to be in your life. We shouldn’t feel the need to accommodate those who do not prioritize us in their life. Channel your energy to those who genuinely care about your well-being and growth.

2. Learn to say no. I often caught myself saying yes to social activities even when it was counterproductive to my own goals. Time is your most valuable currency. Establish healthy boundaries and be comfortable with saying no. You have 24 hours in one day, and everything you say ‘yes’ to is saying ‘no’ to something more important, such as the pleasure of getting a full night’s worth of sleep or the peace of mind of not having to rush to work in the morning.

3. Travel with intention. Traveling helps us uncover new perspectives about life and sparks creativity in many, but it’s important to consider whether we are traveling to learn or traveling to escape. When we escape, we are running away from our problems instead of confronting them head on. We’re often looking forward to our next vacation rather than building a life that we don’t want to escape from.

4. Always think long term. Find ways to support your lifestyle or adjust your budget. It’s simple math - never get in your own way when it comes to reaching your financial goals. If you’ve already made mistakes, accept them and move forward with a plan. If you’re looking for a side hustle, don’t be so judgmental and let go of the ego. There will always be a sacrifice and make sure you’re making decisions that your future self would be proud of.

5. Communicate unapologetically how you truly feel. It’s easy to push aside personal issues instead of confronting your doubts or insecurities. I’ve always thought self-care was about seeking the positive in every negative, but it’s not just about that. It’s about accepting every part of yourself - the good, the bad, and the ugly - and taking steps to becoming a better version of yourself.

6. Strive for progress not perfection. Sometimes perfection can get in our way of accomplishing new goals because we’d rather be an expert than a novice. Sometimes the act of achieving small milestones is more important than having the perfect end result. Sometimes we only see the finish line but we don’t see all the steps that have to be taken to get there.