I typically make the usual New Year’s resolutions. Lose 10 lbs, stop drinking, exercise more, etc. But I’m digging deeper this year because these things don’t change who I am. I’m metaphorically looking at the new year, so today, I open a new book with blank pages and write my own story. I want to be the best Dana I can be – I want to live in a way that makes me proud every day and brings out the best parts of who I am. I’m working more on being intentional with my actions and my time. What do I want to do? How do I want my story to go?
I want to give my body what it needs: nourishment, rest, and self-care. We all have different needs when it comes to our bodies. I feel my best when I sleep well, eat good quality foods (which means lower carbs/sugar), and exercise regularly, so my body is strong enough to handle anything life throws at me! This also means reducing my alcohol intake and drinking more water. I don’t need to drink to have fun, but participating in Dry January isn’t a realistic move for me. So limiting drinking until the weekend seems more approachable. I love wrapping my hands around the bowl of my wine glass while enjoying a good meal, a relaxing bath, or the hot tub.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been guilty of overcommitting yourself at some point. My season as Captain of Team Do Too Damn Much started around Thanksgiving and carried over into Christmas. For real, y’all, if overcommitting was a month, it would be December. I say yes to everything and then end up regretting it. I don’t regret it because I don’t want to be involved. But more because I don’t have the time or the mental capacity to commit to anything. As much as I feel bad for typing that, I feel much better getting it off my chest. So, I’ve been thinking a lot about the word “no” lately. It’s about creating boundaries; if we don’t set them for ourselves, who else will? The term is simple and straightforward but also a powerful tool. I’m consciously changing my relationship with the word “no.”
Going forward, I’ll think of the word “no” as a superpower. The issue is when I say “no” to something, I feel like it leaves a charged space in its wake. Almost as if I don’t follow up with an explanation; it feels like I’m being rude or standoffish. Learning to say “no” and let it hang out alone in its glory is a small victory. NO IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE! I repeat, NO IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE! Periodt! I’ve found that it’s much easier to go back and say yes to a commitment that I previously declined than to say no after saying yes.
I’m going to be intentional about self-growth. The older I get, the more I question if I’m genuinely growing or just marking time? I don’t want the latter, so I’m purposely trying to grow. Eric uses a tool called time blocking, and he swears by it. The few times I’ve used it professionally and personally, it has worked. Time blocking is dividing your day into smaller blocks of time. Lately, I’ve had a lot of idle time. I will never get the time back that was spent doing nothing. When I say nothing, this is what I mean.
Have you ever sat down to do a task only to look up an hour later and realize you haven’t done anything? I can’t be the only one this happens to. Yeah, that’s happening a lot, and I don’t have that kind of time to waste. I need to be more productive. I could be reading, doing devotions (God knows my heart, but I really need to start spending more time with him), and decluttering. I’m not a minimalist or a hoarder, but I can benefit from tossing things that no longer bring me joy.
So, my main focus in 2024 is to say yes less, hydrate with water instead of wine, and be intentional about self-growth.
PS – It takes a village, so I’d love it if someone could check in with me at the end of Q1 and see where Dana 2.0 is. Is she still over-committing herself, is she having drinks every night of the week (probably…she is a work in progress), and is she still being unproductive?
My new book may sometimes make me uncomfortable, but we all have to be uncomfortable at some point, and that’s okay. When I feel like the world is caving around me and that my life isn’t going according to my plan—it’s not my imagination! God is pushing me out of my comfort zone, which means something big is coming my way! I just have to be obedient and listen.
Let’s not get discouraged when this happens; instead, embrace it! Embrace the challenge that comes with being uncomfortable and use it to fuel the fire inside us so that we can grow into a stronger version of ourselves!
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