Where on earth has the year gone? It legit feels as if I’ve blinked and the last twelve months have vanished before my eyes... oh well, that can only mean it’s time to bang out the Harry Potter boxset and to welcome the new year with a bang (staying in watching boxsets may not be your thing but this is definitely something I would rather do than go out out).
Over the past week leading us up to the new year, my twitter and Instagram has gone crazy with threads of everyone’s 2017 highlights and when it came down to actually putting my own together, my mind went blank and I couldn’t pull any specific moments out that made my year. That could be because I have a new phone and zero pictures saved but, I still struggled to come up with at least 3 memories.
I know this is a bit of a cliche but I keep thinking back to that Kylie Jenner meme where she said ‘this is the year of realising things’, 2017 for me has definitely been a weird one for me and I know deep down so many great things but negativity has certainly been a burden against me in the last few months. This is why I want to start 2018 with a positive attitude and I want to share my goals and hopes for the new year, let’s be done with the shitty attitude and kick this year in the ass.
GO FREELANCE
This one is a big one for me and if I’m being completely honest, it’s 80% unachievable. I know that you’re probably thinking that I hardly blog and I have zero chance of going freelance with the lack of effort that I put in but... I’m actually on about my photography work. I’ve been in my retail job for 4 years now and as much as I love everyone and I’ve had a ball there, it’s just my time to step away and move on. Obviously, I could just get another job and see how that goes but part of me is screaming out to take the risk and make my little photo taking adventure and make it into a career. Call me irresponsible and ridiculous but hey ho, not everything will work out and I’m pretty sure I’m gonna have more than a few quiet months but I actually don’t care. It just means more time for me to spend on blogging and it may result in a new YouTube adventure... who knows!
GO OUT MORE
Pursuing photography has truly made me realise that I actually need to get out more, not just out of the house but actually out of bed. I had no motive other than work and uni for me to actually want to get out of bed and no joke, I spent days laying down and doing jack shit. It’s so unhealthy and my mental health suffered horrifically this year because I just saw no reason to move, uni finished and yeah, that was fab but I had no other reason to leave my house. I started doing blogger shoots really late on into the year but it gave me the motivation to get up, get dressed and get the fuck out! Shoving on some makeup and wearing clean clothes for an hours shoot was all I needed to make me feel as if I had some sort of purpose, the more shoots I did and the less time I spent in bed, the more I started to value my time and health a lot more.
LEARN TO LOVE MYSELF
I started 2017 on a mission to reinvent myself. I started slimming world in hopes of losing a tonne of weight and having that perfect bikini body that every girl wishes for, it was one of the hardest but one of the easiest things I've ever done and I know that makes absolutely no sense but hold up, let me explain. I ate a lot of shit, I would have two chocolate croissants for breakfast, KFC for lunch and Dominos for pizza and I had to cut all of that out. It wasn't hard to cut the food out because I had made myself so unhappy with my appearance that I didn't mind cutting out the foods I liked to get the body I would (hopefully) love. The difficult part was when I lost the weight, I lost over 2 and a half stone and I felt amazing and my clothes actually started to fit me again but, I still wasn't happy. I then realised that I had more of an issue with who I was than I did my weight. I want 2018 to be the year that I focus on myself and myself only, I want to finish 2018 knowing exactly who I am, where I want to go and where I want to be. Whether that be treating myself to spa days and days out or just a cheeky 2-hour hot bath with some Netflix (is that too long to spend in the bath?), I want 2018 just to be about me, myself and I and I want to learn to sorta, kinda love myself!
LEARN TO LOVE MYSELF
I started 2017 on a mission to reinvent myself. I started slimming world in hopes of losing a tonne of weight and having that perfect bikini body that every girl wishes for, it was one of the hardest but one of the easiest things I've ever done and I know that makes absolutely no sense but hold up, let me explain. I ate a lot of shit, I would have two chocolate croissants for breakfast, KFC for lunch and Dominos for pizza and I had to cut all of that out. It wasn't hard to cut the food out because I had made myself so unhappy with my appearance that I didn't mind cutting out the foods I liked to get the body I would (hopefully) love. The difficult part was when I lost the weight, I lost over 2 and a half stone and I felt amazing and my clothes actually started to fit me again but, I still wasn't happy. I then realised that I had more of an issue with who I was than I did my weight. I want 2018 to be the year that I focus on myself and myself only, I want to finish 2018 knowing exactly who I am, where I want to go and where I want to be. Whether that be treating myself to spa days and days out or just a cheeky 2-hour hot bath with some Netflix (is that too long to spend in the bath?), I want 2018 just to be about me, myself and I and I want to learn to sorta, kinda love myself!
BLOGGING & YOUTUBE
I think this something I'm definitely hoping that I'll start and hopefully stick to this year. Like I said earlier, I'm hoping to quit my job and go freelance at the end of Jan/Feb and this will mean that I'll have a shit tonne of time on my hands. I have a lot of time on my hands anyway with only being part-time at work and my schedule being completely sporadic, but I never utilised the time efficiently and I became lazy. I'm hoping (praying) that I start using those treasured days off to actually start doing more productive things like writing blog posts or maybe starting my own youtube channel. It's a lot to hope for or even ask of myself given that 2017 has been a pretty lazy year for me but, I'm gonna give myself that kick up the bum that I deserve and just try and smash it... pray 4 me plz n thnk u. I'll leave my bloglovin and youtube link here and here so you can go over and share the love and I'll maybe start producing more content in 2018,
I think it's nice to have a few goals set out that you want to achieve in the new year but please don't become obsessed with them, there's always the chance that certain things might not happen and it can be totally disheartening when things go pear-shaped. I know I'm one to give up on a goal completely if it doesn't happen as I planned it and it can put me in the most negative mindset. Just go with the flow guys and embrace the opportunities that come your way this year because if you don't, you'll end up like me and staying in bed, bored shitless for the entire year.
WHATS YOUR GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR? LET ME KNOW DOWN IN THE COMMENTS!
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This was such a great read! I hope you manage to go freelance because you have such a talent for photography! I would love to watch your YT grow, I would absolutely love to watch a vlog all about what it’s like to shoot! Have the best new year!
ReplyDeleteShan | missshanlousie.com x
I really wish you all the luck going freelance with your photography and I am hoping to see more of you on YouTube and here on the blog. Always believe in yourself. It probably wont be easy but it'll be worth it!
ReplyDeletewww.thelisasworld.com
I absolutely loved reading this, and really hope you achieve your goal of going freelance. Your photography is incredible so I'm certain you can achieve this. Good luck and a big happy new year to you.
ReplyDeleteKristy | thevioletblonde.com
I am so so proud of you!! YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT GAL!!!!!! Go for it xxxxxx
ReplyDeleteThis was such a great post to read and all thes goals are amazing! Hope you achieve all of them especially going freelance as your blog and photography are both amazing! Ayse x
ReplyDeleteGood luck! It is always good to have some goals!
ReplyDeleteBridge of Memories
I’d love to freelance full-time... I think. At the moment I hate it because I do it part-time while I also have a full-time job - it’s exhausting and my blog is suffering. But needs must to pay for my wedding.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful and you’re going to do amazing - what a way to start off the year!!! Xx
I agree that it's good to have some goals set - I set myself some blog goals too! Good luck with going freelance Hun - I think you will definitely smash it, and there is no time like the present if you want to go for it!
ReplyDeleteSaira xx
www.throughtheglitterglass.wordpress.com xx
What a great read! 2017 was definitely a year of realising things haha. Going freelance is a big step - but you'll do well, your photography is brilliant gal.
ReplyDeleteLove soph!
insophiesmind.com
This was poingnant - especially the bit about getting your arse in gear, up and out of the house/bed. I feel like I need to do this in 2018 and hopefully this'll give me the motivation I need.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work in 2018! Love your photography work :)
Cass
The PrawnHub
X
This was poingnant - especially the bit about getting your arse in gear, up and out of the house/bed. I feel like I need to do this in 2018 and hopefully this'll give me the motivation I need.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work in 2018! Love your photography work :)
Cass
The PrawnHub
X
I couldn't love this more if I tried. What a bloody inspiration... too many people have these jobs that don't make them happy and don't fulfil them. I have never been more happy to see someone go after what they bloody want. Even if some people do say that makes you 'irresponsible'.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see your work, and hopefully work with you in 2018!
Love, Lorna xo
www.simply-violet.co.uk
Best of luck with your goals! I've gone freelance with my writing and it can be stressful but I love it. I love being able to create my own day, work when I want to and choose how I plan every day x
ReplyDeleteJenny | LuxeStyle
Ahh I wish you all the best of luck with the freelance photography, girly! Go chase those dreams! Also, the rest of your goals are so relatable, really three things I hope to do this year as well. Especially the blogging and Youtube one.
ReplyDeleteLarice x || http://hilarice.com