I recently came across this article by Free People entitled: 10 Things You Need To Do Before 2017. I enjoyed the post and wanted to make my own, less about self-fulfillment and cleaning out the cobwebs ready for a new year and more about making the most of this year. So here are 8 things I would like to do before 2017 arrives. Please share some of your own ideas in the comments below, I am open to suggestions. This post isn’t sponsored in any way, I just thought it would be a fun idea.
SEE AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE
Your friends are your friends for a reason, no matter if they annoy, disappoint or even enrage you at times. If you still want to see them and care about what happens to them, let the negativity and the not-so-lovely memories just slip away into the ether and start afresh right now. Plan fun activities together that you actually do instead of just talking about it. I have come to realise how important friends are, because when the shit hits the fan they are usually the ones you turn to for comfort. I truly believe that the people you surround yourself with have a direct impact on your mood and personality, so be sure that they are a positive influence. If they aren’t: walk away.
EXPLORE YOUR OWN COUNTRY
Lately, I have been obsessively reading articles about all the amazing places in the UK, here is my favourite: 14 Unique Things To See and Do in Britain, Genuinely, the best article I have read this year, I found it on Bloglovin’ Travel and am so happy I clicked on it. Before reading, I hadn’t heard of a single one of these places and they look divine. So it is on my 2016 Bucket List to see at least one of these places. I am partial to the Enchanted Forest and skiing in the Scottish Alps. Here are 2 other similar articles I liked with more options: Places You Won’t Believe are in the UK and 18 Places To Visit in the UK. Let me know what appeals to you in the comments or if you have been to any of the places mentioned before too. There is so much to see right on our doorstep: explore.
TAKE/PLAN AN IMPROMPTU TRIP
My impromptu trip is happening in January, after the Donald Trump news came to light. I realise that seeing The White House while he is President would tar the whole experience for me so my sister and I booked a spontaneous visit to the US in January so we can see The White House a week before Trump should be sworn in, we are also going to LA and Las Vegas so I am excited although it’s going to be a lot in a short amount of time so I will probably be exhausted when we are back. For this year, I am going to Iceland in December which will be awesome, this has been planned for a while though. I highly suggest doing some travelling before the year ends if you have the time and the cash, even if it is just a weekend away. You will feel so much better for it.
SEE A PSYCHIC I.E. STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
This one is quite personal to me, I am somewhat of a sceptic but try to be open-minded and this is always something I have wanted to do out of curiosity but have never had the balls to follow through. Mostly because damn they expensive, but I really want to do this and soon. Generally, it is less about seeing a psychic and more about stepping out of your comfort zone. Most people think sky-diving or other life threatening activities when they hear “step outside your comfort zone”, but there is a lot you can do that won’t put your life in danger that will suffice, for instance baking. Who even knows you might discover a new talent, so have a think about it and share with me.
GO TO A CHRISTMAS MARKET/DRINK A LOT OF MULLED WINE
Obviously, it’s obligatory for everyone surely. For me, Christmas markets are overhyped and overpriced but I am still going to go. Most years I skip it, but when I visit London I do go, so I feel it is only fair to visit the ones closer to me too. In London, I like Winter Wonderland and the South Bank Festival. I live closer to Birmingham so that’s another one I can go to. Generally, just do as many Christmassy things as possible. Bring me all the mulled wine.
THINK ABOUT YOUR RESOLUTIONS AND START DOING THEM NOW
Probably the only person who still makes resolutions, but I think they are awesome. You should never stop trying to improve and be a better version of yourself. So to people who scoff at me and say what’s the point, they are a waste of time: I don’t care. At least I am still trying, I would hate to feel like I have given up on myself so I urge you to make at least one. Even if it is something little or silly. One of my resolutions will be to start writing a journal again. I used to do this when I was younger but every time I have tried to since it can be such a downer when I read back what I have written. It tends to be mostly negative so writing consistently in a journal would be great for my writing skills and also a way for me to work on my mindset which can skew on the negative side occasionally. Plus, it’s an excuse to buy another notebook or put one of the many I own to use.
TREAT YO’SELF AND BUY SOMETHING SUPERFLUOUS
I have wanted a fancy camera for eons now, for blogging, for life, for potentially making videos, but I have perpetually talked myself out of it because they are expensive, confusing and I have no actual space in my home to dedicate to photography. I take my pictures in the garden at the crack of dawn because my Dad doesn’t even know I blog, I just don’t feel like explaining it to him. It is something I constantly think about so I am hoping to make the plunge this year, I might try a “vlogging” camera as they seem to be more portable, but if you have any recommendations please let me know. A camera is still, for me, technically for work and not myself. So I would still buy something I want just because I want it and I work hard and am fortunate enough to be in a position where I can buy myself nice things. I haven’t decided what I want, but that’s half the fun.
MAKE A CHANGE
Cue Michael Jackson song. This is probably the most la-dee-da (yes, I stole that from Homer Simpson) out of them all, but it takes 21 days to make or break a habit, allegedly. Last time I checked we still have more than 21 days left until the clock on 2016 runs out so this could be your shot to get into the habit of anything. See that sunrise, start yoga or reading the news, take up knitting, so many options. There are so many changes I want to make that I don’t know where to start.
Thank you for reading this post, I hope you liked it. I will have a beauty post for you on Friday, in case you are missing them. It will be a review of the Tarte Shape Tape concealer. Please follow me on Bloglovin’ if you like my posts, I get quite a lot of visitors on my blog (I have been using Google Analytics) but I need you guys to actually follow me so I can see who you are and make more posts that you like. It would help me out a lot, I work so fucking hard on my blog. Seriously, it takes up so much time but I love it. I just want to know that you all love it too so please follow or sign up to Bloglovin’ if you haven’t already and follow my blog, not my profile, or both. Thank you. Take care.