18 before 2018

When I was reading through new posts from the blogs I follow the other day I spotted a post that intrigued me on www.sittingintheclouds.wordpress.com and it inspired me to start thinking about what I wanted to achieve before the year is up. I looked at my life and what I’m unhappy about and I looked at my bucket list and goals that I had set out at the start of the year and I compiled a list of the 18 things that I want to achieve before 2018 rolls around.

1. Move out

I have already moved out of my childhood home where I lived with my family and I’ve moved to my boyfriend’s mums house in Essex, however, its getting to the point where we really need our own space and more of it. I can’t think of a better goal than to be in our own place in time for Christmas!

2. Start (and maintain) a gratitude journal

I have tried and succeeded in starting a gratitude journal so many times now, it’s just the maintaining part that I’m struggling with! I want to make time every evening to sit down and think about my day, what was good and what I could work to improve.

3. Work on my handwriting

Some days I look at my writing and I love it and other days I can barely read a word! I want to work on improving my handwriting, especially for the sake of making my bullet journal look more beautiful!

4. Experiment more with makeup

I go through phases where I love makeup and phases where I just can’t be bothered with it. I don’t wear it on a day to day basis for work so I want to experiment a little bit more at the weekends and up my game. All of the blogs that I’ve read recently have told me that autumn’s the time to experiment so that’s the goal!

5. Complete the Disney classics list

One of the things on my bucket list this year was to tick off every classic Disney movie. I have watched quite a few but I still have a few more to tick off so I really want to get that completed before the year is up!

6. Decorate for Halloween

Something which I consider every year is decorating the house for Halloween, so far I’ve not bothered because it’s just one night and it’s quite a bit of effort but then I thought about it and how much effort I put into Christmas which is also just for one day. This year I have decided I’m going to make the effort for the spooky season!

7. Read at least 5 more books

I set myself the goal to read 25 books this year, it was ambitious considering I also had set the goals to complete my childcare level three and to get my brownie camp license. I know that since I’ve only read about 10 books so far, there’s not much chance of completing the challenge but I would like to read at least 5 more books. Maybe I can give the challenge a better go next year!

8. Visit a new city

I love to travel but since I plan to move out before the end of the year, I am under no illusions that I am going to get to visit a new country, instead, I will settle for a new city. I think I’m going to aim for either Brighton or Bath.

9. Send gratitude cards

You may have spotted in a recent blog post that I made gratitude cards as a part of my autumn bucket list, however, I haven’t gotten around to writing and sending them yet so that’s on the list!

10. Get more consistent with planning

As I mentioned before I want to dedicate 15-20 minutes each night to planning, filling in my gratitude journal and what not. I love planning but it takes up so much time that some days I do a load and then other times I won’t touch my journal for a month! I want to be more consistent and make sure I’m always making time for it.

11. Burn at least 2 candles

I love candles and I have accumulated quite a lot over the years, I want to burn at least two candles up completely, of course, it’s coming up to Christmas so I’ll get through quite a few tea lights as well!

12. Reach 100 followers on my blog and Instagram

I love blogging and Instagram and I really want to put more time into them in order to grow both platforms a little bit. I know that 100 is nothing to most people but it would be about double my current following and it would be so exciting for me!

13. Write thank you cards for every Christmas gift

I plan to do this every year but I just text or call to say thank you instead but this year I plan to send a handwritten thank you card to everyone who gives me a gift.

14. Donate to a women’s charity

I’ve been thinking about this for a long time and I don’t want to donate money because not only is it too easy, I don’t have a lot to be donating! I also can’t donate much time because I already work full time and volunteer a bit. I have decided that I want to create some gift bags with a range of essentials and little luxuries in them for women in need. If anyone knows of any women’s charities that would accept donations like this, please let me know!

15. Clean out the car!

I’m one of the worst people for dumping and leaving things in the car. This tends to include anything from shoes to crisp packets to hair bands. I really need to get the car cleaned out and try and keep it a bit tidier!

16. Do Blogmas!

I used to write a blog a few years ago which no longer exists however on that blog I joined in with the festive hype and wrote a blog post every day of december for ‘blogmas!’ I want to try and do that this year on this blog so if anyone has any ideas of posts that they would like to see definitely let me know!

17. Have a proper clear out!

I don’t know how many times I have said that I’m going to do this but let’s be honest I can’t remember the last time I had a proper clear out of everything I own! It’s probably long over due and we need to try and get it done if we’re going to move out soon!

18. Double my current savings

I’m the worst at saving, I 100% have the mindset of ‘you can’t take money to the grave with you so you might as well spend it now.’ Whilst I don’t think it’s the worst mindset to have, I do think it’s important to have a better balance and whilst I love making memories and everything I do need to save a bit better as well.

What’s the number one thing you want to achieve before we move into 2018?

Love, Alice x

Advertisement