Tag: New Year's Resolutions

October Goals | Autumn 2023

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Hello, everyone! The leaves are falling and the days are getting colder to the point where I find it difficult getting out of bed in the morning. I apologize for the delay in this blog post. As you can imagine, my main priorities have revolved around family and work obligations. Lately, I’ve been swamped with responsibilities and haven’t had the chance to dedicate much time to my blog. In fact, I am contemplating downgrading my WordPress plan when it’s time for renewal next month.

Moving forward, I am not sure if I will have enough time to upload more designs to my #Redbubble shop. Sales have experienced a slump, and I am not receiving the level of engagement I used to. In an effort to improve this situation, I recently subscribed to Twitter/X, hoping it would enhance engagement and increase overall exposure. While I am enjoying the perks, I have yet to witness significant changes in this department. I am not giving up or anything, I am just confused as to where I should put my focus. Should I prioritize writing informative articles for Medium, focusing on digital art designs for Redbubble, or finishing up the 50+ drafts I have on WordPress?

♡ Quick Link: Sereneluna.redbubble.com

♡ Quick Note: Apologies for the oversight, everyone. I didn’t realize that the video I posted had sound, which is quite embarrassing on my part. Rest assured, I will upload a new version of the video at a later time. In the meantime, please refer to the link provided for your convenience. Thank you for your understanding and patience. 😂😭

𝒜 𝒞𝑜𝓏𝓎 𝒯𝑜-𝒟𝑜 𝐿𝒾𝓈𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒪𝒸𝓉𝑜𝒷𝑒𝓇 🎃🍂

I’ve Just Been So Busy

I often feel stressed and anxious these days, as there is oh so much to do! Like the lyrics from Peppa Pig go, “Miss Rabbit is busy. Busy, busy, busy. Miss Rabbit is busy, she’s got so many jobs to do!” I often feel like I have multiple responsibilities, which can become overwhelming at times. Lately, I have been decluttering my house and letting go of items that no longer serve me. This has helped with my anxiety to an extent, but now my anxiety is in overdrive. I have a significant amount of work to do this month, including unanswered emails, cleaning and organizing my house, and helping my daughter with her homework. Additionally, I have forms to complete, invitations to write, and appointments to schedule. It can feel overwhelming to have so many tasks to juggle at once. How does Miss Rabbit manage to do it all?

OCTOBER GOALS 2023

Career Goals:

  • Figure out the orientation dates for work
  • Print and review orientation notes + reply to manager’s email
  • Catch up on work emails + attend workshop on Oct 12
  • Work on side hustle if there’s time

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap
  • Publish 1 article on Medium
  • Complete and mail a paper copy of international form to Gov.
  • Update planner with due dates, appointments, etc.
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Complete and submit Application B
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪 → keep the streak going

Health Goals:

  • Exercise every day (hula hooping, treadmill, chores, etc.)
  • Finish Kool-Aid and Nuun drink mixes
  • Leave the house once a day and get some sunshine☀️
Does anyone actually like this stuff? Image source: https://www.runnersworld.com

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

I started falling back into the pattern of calorie restriction, and it’s something I know is not beneficial for my well-being. This behavior usually stems from the overwhelming stress and feeling powerless in this turbulent world we live in. As a potential solution, I am contemplating a social media detox, even though it may seem like just another item on an already overwhelming list. However, acknowledging the importance of prioritizing my mental health is paramount in overcoming these challenges.

Next week, my daughter has picture day and I must admit, it’s adding to my stress levels. On top of that, her birthday is this month and I want to throw her a party. As if that isn’t enough, Halloween is also just around the corner, and I genuinely want to ensure that the kids have an enjoyable experience. It’s quite a busy month you guys. October is filled with numerous commitments. I am curious to know how you handle an overwhelming to-do list. Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment below ↓ Your suggestions are most welcome.

Halloween 2022 with the kiddos!

(っ◔◡◔)っ FYI: If you’re not already following me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), you can get real-time updates about my day-to-day life there.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

September Goals | Autumn 2023

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Hello, everyone! As we find ourselves well into the beautiful month of September, I am thrilled to finally take a moment and share my goals with all of you. It has been quite the productive month for me so far, although my focus has primarily been on the responsible aspects of life – those adulting tasks that we all must conquer. Yes, I have fully embraced the art of adulting!

Lately, I haven’t been feeling very energized when it comes to writing, even though I have been more active on my blog. In a perfect world, I would have all the time in the world to work on designs for Redbubble, but adult life doesn’t work like that, especially one with responsibilities. To date, I have 54 designs available in the shop, and I plan on adding a few more before the end of the month. Initially, I had hoped to have 100 designs by the end of September but I would be lucky to have 60 designs in the shop by the end of the month. Due to my busy schedule, I won’t have much time for hobbies, and it may be challenging to meet that goal.

♡ Quick Link: Sereneluna.redbubble.com

♪·♫ 𝒜 𝒮𝑒𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝑅𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 ♫·♪

Image: https://www.thisisourbliss.com

Summer Drink Days Are Over

As the summer days at MCDs came to an end, many other things bid farewell with the start of a new school year. Gone are the days of sleeping in until 1:00PM, staying up late unless it’s a work night, and being scatter-brained 24/7. Okay, the last one is still mostly true but I have been improving. September is the month to embrace structure, discipline, and a renewed focus on responsibilities. September brings an opportunity for growth and success – so let’s make the most of it!

Summer treats at MCDs

SEPTEMBER GOALS 2023

Career Goals:

  • Bid on shifts as they become available
  • Catch up on work emails + finish CCP requirements → due this month
  • Work on side hustle → goal is 60 designs

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap
  • Scan paper documents → turn into digital copies
  • Start habit tracking using Posh Planner
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Complete and submit Application A
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪

Health Goals:

  • Exercise every day (hula hooping, treadmill, chores, etc.)
  • Finish low-cal lemonade and Kool-Aid drink mixes
  • Leave the house once a day and get some sunshine☀️
Becca enjoying the sunshine and her cats.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

I have decided to adopt a more mindful approach to eating, going back to the days when I trusted my body’s natural intuition. It’s time to break free from the unhealthy habit of turning to food for comfort or out of boredom.

As you can see, my health goals for this month are quite modest, mainly because I am extremely busy with various life responsibilities. Last week, my daughter started school, and this week she will begin tutoring three days a week, in addition to her weekly piano lessons. Hopefully, my son will be starting daycare later this week.

Baby Aaron says hi! 🙂

(っ◔◡◔)っ FYI: If you’re not already following me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), you can get real-time updates about my day-to-day life there.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

Belated August Goals | Summer 2023

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Although I am very late writing August Goals blog post, rest assured that I have been diligently working towards achieving my goals this month. In fact, I have them written down on my phone. If you haven’t had the chance to catch up on my latest blog post explaining the reasons behind my absence, you can easily find it here.

It should not come as a surprise to you that I have not been able to maintain an active presence on #Medium. As a result, I have unfortunately neglected the platform for the time being and haven’t had the chance to provide fresh content by adding new posts. However, I still prioritize engaging with my readers by responding to their comments, despite being a bit slow in doing so.

Lately, I haven’t been feeling very energized when it comes to writing. I much rather work on designs for #Redbubble. To date, I have 52 designs available in the shop, and I plan on adding a few more before the end of the month. Initially, I had hoped to have 100 designs in the shop by the end of September. However, due to my busy schedule, I won’t have much time for hobbies, and it may be challenging to meet that goal.

♡ Quick Link: Sereneluna.redbubble.com

𝒜𝓊𝑔𝓊𝓈𝓉: 𝐵𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒, 𝓈𝓊𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉!

☀️ Hello August Image from https://www.thisisourbliss.com ☀️

My Blog Posts Can Wait

Lately, I have been giving my full attention to my children, who require a lot of my time and energy. Additionally, I am striving to improve my skills as a housewife, and household chores consume a significant portion of my day. I have also taken up cooking more dishes, which is enjoyable but can be time-consuming. I have great ideas for blog posts, including recipes, but unfortunately, I lack the time and energy to write these blog posts . As a result, these ideas remain stuck in limbo….

There is so much I still want to do which is why I haven’t given up on blogging completely. No, I am not going to abandon my blog. Is it worth the renewal fees? Probably not, but if I need money, I can simply work more hours. Money is not the main concern here. You can always earn more money. What I truly need is more time and time is limited. Moving forward, here are my goals for the rest of August:

AUGUST GOALS 2023

Career Goals:

  • Go back to work on August 27
  • Catch up on work emails + look at CCP requirements → due sometime in September
  • Work on side hustle → there are currently 52 designs available

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap
  • Transfer appointments to my Posh Planner
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Phone call with social worker Aug 25 → be prepared with questions
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪
  • Watch the Barbie movie in movie theaters

Health Goals:

  • Track steps on Pikmin Bloom app
  • Track water intake on Water Llama app
  • Use new water bottle once it arrives (2000mL bottle)
  • Hula hooping for 35-40 minutes daily for a minimum of 30 days
  • Leave the house once a day and get some sunshine☀️

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

As you can see, I have decided to give up on the Pikmin Bloom app. While I do love the app itself, I have grown tired of counting steps and using the treadmill without seeing noticeable results. I am the type of person who needs to see tangible progress in order to stay motivated. Rather than walking, I have opted for an infinity hula hoop instead. So far, I am really enjoying it! My objective is to strengthen my core and reduce the excess weight around my midsection. The spare tire needs to go.

I am currently engaging in targeted exercises to assist me in achieving this goal. I’ll check in with you guys after 30 days, but in the meantime, you can follow me over on the #Twitter/X platform for daily updates. Let me know in the comments below ↓ if you have ever tried an infinity hula hoop or use hula hoops to work out.

(っ◔◡◔)っ FYI: If you’re not already following me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), you can get real-time updates about my day-to-day life there.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

July Goals | Summer 2023

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Wow, can you believe how fast time is flying? Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana. Anyways, it’s hard to believe that it’s July! Guess what? My husband’s birthday is just around the corner, and although I’m uncertain where I’ll be for his birthday, chances are I’ll be out of province.

These days, I am contemplating where to put my focus and energy. Right now, it’s not in writing. However, I am feeling rather defeated with Redbubble and will probably slow down a bit with uploading designs. To date, I have uploaded 46 designs which is crazy considering that I only started beginning of June 2023. Due to their new “tier” system which takes an additional 30-50% from my already modest earnings, I am left with no option but to increase profit margins by 5%, which is less than ideal. That being said, my goal is to still add 100 designs to the shop by the end of September 2023. You can check out my shop via the following link:

♡ Quick Link: Sereneluna.redbubble.com

𝙷𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚘 𝙹𝚞𝚕𝚢! 𝙱𝚎 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚠𝚊𝚕.

Everything is Awesome Exhausting

Lately, I have been experiencing extreme fatigue and a lack of motivation. It feels like every aspect of my life has become overwhelming and mundane. While I am not clinically depressed, these constant feelings of exhaustion and frustration are taking a toll on my overall well-being. Even activities that used to bring me joy now feel like burdensome tasks. When starting new projects, I often find my initial motivation fading away after a few weeks. The excitement and satisfaction I used to get from accomplishing tasks no longer gives me the same rush of dopamine.

This change in my approach to blogging doesn’t mean I’m quitting, rather it’s a decision to take a break during the summer. It could actually be beneficial for me to prioritize my creative energy and only write when inspiration strikes, without feeling obligated or guilty for not producing content consistently. Furthermore, I only have 2 shifts this month, which aligns with my need to slow down and recover from whatever this is.

JULY GOALS 2023

Career Goals:

  • Possibly bid on available shifts (optional)
  • Catch up on work emails + look for upcoming MLL courses
  • Work on side hustle → have 60+ designs by the end of July
➤ Click here to visit my Redbubble shop 🐈‍⬛💕

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap
  • Transfer appointments to my Posh Planner
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪
  • Finish photo album for my dad → due July 12
The 2023 Posh Planner that I’ve been neglecting 🙊

Health Goals:

  • Track steps on Pikmin Bloom app → advance to Level 45 🌸
  • Track water intake on Water Llama app
  • Leave the house once a day and get some sunshine☀️

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

As you can see, my Redbubble side-hustle falls under Career Goals even though there is a lot of overlap between this and my Personal Goals. I am determined to make more sales this month and I refuse to give up, despite the frustrations I have with Redbubble. Even though I haven’t been actively posting on Medium, I have no intentions of quitting that platform either. It can be challenging to find a balance, but I am determined to figure it out. If necessary, I may consider a dopamine-detox reset to help me feel better. Do you struggle with low-energy? Have you ever done a dopamine-detox? Let me know in the comments below ↓ and we can talk about it.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

June Goals | Summer 2023

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Oh my goodness, it feels like time is flying by so quickly and it’s already June! I feel like I just blinked and now the calendar has changed to Summer 2023. It’s been abnormally warm here in Alberta with temperatures higher than normal for this time of year. On top of that, we didn’t get any snow during the month of May which is highly unusual. In the past, snowfall was still a common occurrence during the month of May, but this year that wasn’t the case. Thus, the warm weather is likely here to stay for some time. That being said, the wildfires in northern Alberta are causing smokey skies, which makes it hard to enjoy the nice weather.

That’s my life offline; online is a different story. These days, I’m having a blast creating anime-style artwork using a cool AI generator I discovered on #Twitter, which has forced me to learn and understand the basics of how Discord works. When I’m not tweeting anime art, I post poetry, blog posts, Medium articles (Good Lord, am I still going on about this?) and pics of my cat. Unfortunately, my cat is ill so any prayers would be appreciated. You can follow me via the following link:

♡ Quick Link: https://mobile.twitter.com/serene_hilz

🅷🅴🅻🅻🅾 🆂🆄🅼🅼🅴🆁 🅷🅴🅻🅻🅾 🅹🆄🅽🅴

I Just Had an Aha Moment and It’s Wild!

In fact, it’s so wild that I am making a major pivot and wholeheartedly embracing the entrepreneurial life….yikes! But let me explain. After giving it a lot of thought, my biggest realization is that no matter how much I enjoy writing for passive income Medium, writing for the sole purpose of earning money isn’t enjoyable for me. Honestly, I have no desire to become a freelancer, do affiliate marketing, write product reviews (I am naturally inclined to live a minimalistic lifestyle), copywrite, create eBooks, and so on – it’s undeniable that success in these fields is deeply rooted in blogging and networking. Sorry, but I won’t compromise my happiness for the sake of earning a few more cups of coffee.

This deep realization has caused me to pause and truly ask myself the question: what am I truly passionate about? The answer came to me in an unexpected way last week. It was almost as if it had been there all along, buried deep within my subconsciousness, and was just waiting for the right moment to present itself. My childhood experiences have had a lasting impact on me, and many of my interests today stem from things that I enjoyed as a child. Although I had many hobbies as a kid, writing wasn’t one of them.

Now I am going off on a tangent, so I digress. Here are my upcoming goals for the month of June:

JUNE GOALS 2023

Career Goals:

  • Plot shift availability for the rest of June to August
  • Catch up on work emails + look for upcoming MLL courses
  • Start working on a side hustle → add at least 5 items to my catalogue

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap
  • Find my Posh habit-tracking planner → I need to start using it
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪
Photo by Miesha Maiden on Pexels.com

Health Goals:

  • Track steps on Pikmin Bloom app → advance to Level 45 🌸
  • Track water intake on Water Llama app
  • No buying junk food from Walmart, Dollarama, etc.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

After careful consideration, I decided to include my new side-hustle under Career Goals even though there is a lot of overlap between this and my Personal Goals. It is quite possible that in the near future, I may need to create an entirely new category specifically for my side-hustle goals depending on how things go. After all, I have a history of beginning new projects only to eventually lose interest and abandon them.

Even though I am not focusing all of my energy on Medium this month, I am still actively engaged on the platform, and will continue to check in regularly. If I do end up writing anything, it is highly unlikely that articles will be written specifically for Medium; instead, they may be published on my blog first and then shared on Medium.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

May Goals | Spring 2023

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Okay, I know what you’re thinking – I’m so late getting around to this monthly goals blog post for May 2023. You’re right, I am late but let me explain. Last weekend, I was working from Friday to Sunday, so I was M.I.A. It was also my seven-year (marriage) anniversary. At least we had cake, but everything was so rushed that I didn’t get a chance to enjoy it. I wish I could say that May has been a piece of cake so far, but that’s not the case at all!

For those of you who have been following me on Twitter, I will continue to add updates of my progress, such as completing a challenging workout or achieving another Duolingo lesson. Additionally, I may post small pieces of creative work, like poems, pictures of my cat, and photos of my favorite beverage lol Twitter is where I tend to open up and share my thoughts. You can follow me via the following link:

♡ Quick Link: https://mobile.twitter.com/serene_hilz

🌸 𝒜𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓁 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑀𝒶𝓎 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝒻𝓁𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝓈! 🌸

👉Image by pikisuperstar on Freepik

I’m Tired and Grumpy. That’s a fact.

May has so far been exhausting, with mundane assignments and monotonous daily duties. My workload is especially demanding this month to the point where I am completely drained and lack the energy to do anything else. Fortunately, I haven’t experienced burnout yet, but tiredness and lack of interest in things are affecting me. I’ve been feeling quite anti-social lately, but I’m still managing to remain organized and productive. My secret? Writing out my monthly goals lol It has given me a sense of direction and purpose in life that I didn’t have before. Though I’m still trying to figure out how to maintain my productivity on a daily basis, the process of setting goals each month has at least given me a sense of accomplishment and control over my life. Yes, I believe this is something to celebrate! Please pass the cake!

MAY GOALS 2023

Career Goals:

  • Don’t call in sick this month → Stay healthy!
  • Catch up on work emails + check MLL modules
  • Reorganize backpack + print notes

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly recap
  • Publish 1-2 articles on Medium + share articles on blog
  • Announce the winner of the giveaway in a blog post
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪 + finish diamond tournament 💎

Health Goals:

  • Continue to track steps + upload progress on Twitter
  • Track steps on Pikmin Bloom app → advance to Level 45 🌸
  • Track water intake on Water Llama app → 1 Gallon of water per day
  • Simplify my diet and reduce my intake of processed food

And there you have it! I am curious to know what your goals are for the month of May. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below ↓ Also, I would really appreciate it if you followed me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), that is, if you aren’t already a follower. Additionally, I am hosting a giveaway for my Canadian readers to celebrate my 7th blogiversary!

➤ Click here to enter the giveaway

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

March Goals | Winter 2023

17 Comments

You guys, it’s March 2023! I’m feeling excited to see what this month brings, but I’m also a bit overwhelmed. There’s so much I need to do and the days are flying by! It feels like I barely have enough time to check in with everyone and make sure you are doing well. To be completely honest, I’m still unsure if I will continue with these blog posts in the foreseeable future or not, but for now I will try to stay consistent. These monthly goal blog posts go hand-in-hand with my daily updates of what my life is like, which I will continue to post on Twitter. If you’d like to follow me and get a glimpse into what my day is like, please feel free to click the following link:

♡ Quick Link: https://mobile.twitter.com/serene_hilz

ℑ𝔱’𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔩𝔲𝔠𝔨 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 ℑ𝔯𝔦𝔰𝔥🍀

Turning Over a Renewed Leaf

This is not exactly a new season or month for me, instead, it is more of a continuation of the last two months in terms of my monthly goals. I have made some small adjustments to my diet and have been exercising regularly, so I am not making any drastic changes or starting a new diet, etc. In fact, I intend to remain consistent with my current habits and continue to make subtle improvements that will help me ultimately achieve my goals. This month is a particularly busy one for me, as I am juggling my work commitments and parenting responsibilities, while also trying to get ready for an upcoming vacation next month. The pressure of having to finish all of these tasks in a timely manner while still having the time and energy to prepare for the trip is causing me a considerable amount of stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, I cannot provide you with any details about my travels yet, but I can assure you that I won’t be very active on social media while I’m away. All I can say is that my destination is a warm and sunny place! 🏝️

January Goals 2023

Career Goals:

  • Stay up-to-date on my work schedule
  • Attend in-class sessions on March 14ᵗʰ & 15ᵗʰ
  • Request March 26ᵗʰ off as it no longer fits my schedule
  • Complete the Connect Care modules on MLL

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly goals/recap blog posts
  • Publish 1-2 articles on Medium + share articles on blog
  • Sign up for a 1-month Medium Membership trial ✨
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪 → I want to go at my own pace

Health Goals:

  • Treadmill on days I am not working + upload progress on Twitter
  • Limit drinks to water, tea, and coffee → cut back on spending $
  • Track steps on Pikmin Bloom app → continue to plant flowers 🌸
  • Healthy/clean eating 80% of the time
Selfie taken March 17, 2020 🍀

And there you have it! My goals this month are very similar to those of last month, with an emphasis placed on getting fitter and healthier so I can feel more comfortable in my own body and potentially even wear my pre-pregnancy clothes again. My goal is to build a positive self-image, not only in regards to physical appearance, but also for my mental health. It is not only about accepting your body but also feeling good about it and not waking up every morning with self-hatred. Mental and physical health are equally important and should be given priority in order to achieve inner peace.

I am curious to know what your goals are for the month of March. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below ↓ Also, I would really appreciate it if you followed me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), that is, if you aren’t already a follower. Though it is often a struggle to gain traction on that platform, I still find it really enjoyable to establish connections with fellow bloggers.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

February Goals | Winter 2023

8 Comments

It is indeed surprising how quickly February arrived, leaving me with barely enough time to check in with you all. Even so, I recognize the value in pushing forward with my goals and plans, and so, without hesitation, I have created a similar list for the month of January. My mundane day-to-day life has not changed much, but I remain committed to making sure I stick to my routine and achieve what I need to accomplish.

For those of you who have been following me on Twitter, I will continue to add updates of my progress, such as completing a challenging workout or achieving another Duolingo lesson. Additionally, I may post small pieces of creative work, like poems, pictures of my cat, and photos of my favorite beverage lol Twitter is where I tend to open up and share my thoughts. You can follow me via the following link:

♡ Quick Link: https://mobile.twitter.com/serene_hilz

𝒫.𝒮. 𝐻𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓎 𝐵𝑒𝓁𝒶𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒢𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹𝒽𝑜𝑔 𝒟𝒶𝓎!

Different Month, Similar goals.

If you’re curious about the differences between this month and the last, you will find that it is pretty much the same routine (for the most part). Since I will continue to donate to Amref Health Africa, I left it off from my list of objectives for February. It was kind of like paying a phone bill where these things are automatically renewed. A month ago I put it up to send a message to an annoying spammer who kept pestering me on #Twitter. Following up with reporting him and blocking three accounts he had, things are better now. As I have no shifts on the Gen-Med unit this month, I chose not to include it in my goals either.

January Goals 2023

Career Goals:

  • Continue to pick up day and evening shifts
  • Catch up on emails and work on MLL courses
  • Bid on shifts for February as they become available
  • Work on the MLL courses. # of completed modules TBD

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts + monthly goals/recap blog posts
  • Publish 1-2 articles on Medium + share articles on blog
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪

Health Goals:

  • Treadmill on days I am not working + upload progress on Twitter
  • Limit drinks to water, tea, and coffee
  • Track steps on Pikmin Bloom app
  • Healthy/clean eating 80% of the time
Photo is my own. Please excuse the cat hair 🐈‍⬛

And there you have it! As you can see, my goals are similar to January. Ideally, I am hoping to get fitter so I can wear my pre-pregnancy jeans again. I lost a bit of weight last month but I don’t own a scale. I go by how my clothes fit and my clothes are starting to fit a lot better. During the month of February, I’m keeping my focus on fitness, along with career and personal goals (of course). My goal is to shed some belly fat so that I can wear my jeans by mid-March.

I am curious to know what your goals are for the month of January. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below ↓ Also, I would really appreciate it if you followed me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), that is, if you aren’t already a follower. It is so hard to grow on that platform but I really do enjoy using it to connect with like-minded bloggers.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

January Goals | Winter 2023

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As the new year approaches, I have made a promise to myself to make setting monthly goals a priority and I am excited to start off with January 2023. Writing out a list of achievable goals that I can work towards has always been important for me, and this is an opportunity for me to start fresh and strive towards making real progress in achieving my aspirations.

For those of you who have been keeping up with me on Twitter (@serene_hilz), I am currently in the process of holding myself accountable for my exercise regimen. To do this, I have been using the treadmill to stay active on days where I am not occupied with work commitments. Keeping myself motivated and challenged on a daily basis by setting goals and achieving them has become an invaluable habit for me. I love to be able to take a step back at the end of each day and reflect on what I have accomplished, which is especially rewarding when I receive positive feedback from my followers that they find my posts inspiring! This is something that truly makes me proud and never ceases to give me a sense of accomplishment.

♡ Quick Link: https://mobile.twitter.com/serene_hilz

𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕖𝕩𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕁𝕒𝕟𝕦𝕒𝕣𝕪 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕞𝕖!

As I had mentioned in my previous blog post, the beginning of the New Year was unfortunately filled with a few days spent in bed due to illness. It wasn’t until January 4th that I started to feel slightly better and was able to enjoy a meal of sushi. Unfortunately, I was feeling depressed by January 5th. My depression is usually bad this time of year (aka. Blue January) due to the colder temperatures, lack of sunlight and the end of the holiday season which means there’s nothing to get excited about. I am the type of person who needs something to look forward to, so that’s where this blog comes in. If I cannot control my circumstances, then I will create my own goals and routines this year.

Yes, it’s the same template as previous years. 📆

Are you familiar with this template? If you read my March Goals blog post(s) over the years, I can tell you that it’s the same template. Why did I only post during the month of March? Who knows! This template, however, is something that I’m very proud of and I will continue to use it for this blog. Personally, I don’t like creating blog posts from scratch because they often lack organization and flow, which are things that I hold high standards for. If a blog post looks ugly, then I will often scrap it or re-write it so it’s “easy on the eyes.” You might be wondering how this month differs from previous months. Well,, let me show you:

January Goals 2023

Career Goals:

  • Do not miss any work days this month 🙅‍♀️
  • Get comfortable with working on new unit (general medicine)
  • Catch up on emails and work on MLL courses
  • Start bidding on shifts for February as they become available

Personal Goals:

  • Publish 1-2 blog posts per month
  • Publish 1-2 articles on Medium + share articles on blog
  • Keep tabs on doctor’s appointments/pending appointments
  • Monthly donation to Amref Health Africa
  • Daily Duolingo practice 🇩🇪

Health Goals:

  • Treadmill on days I am not working + upload progress on Twitter
  • Track water intake on Water Llama app
  • Track steps on Pikmin Bloom app
  • Healthy/clean eating 80% of the time
My Mii looks constipated lol

And there you have it! As you can see, I have laid everything out in a clear and concise manner and I am very direct about what I do. I’m not an expert when it comes to achieving life goals, but I believe planning and sticking to what you set out to do is key. It’s not always easy and that’s why I remind myself of my goals every day. Even though it can be tough, taking consistent action towards what you want make the biggest difference in the long run.

I am curious to know what your goals are for the month of January. Feel free to let me know in the comments section below ↓ Also, I would really appreciate it if you followed me on Twitter, that is, if you aren’t already a follower. It is so hard to grow on that platform but I really do enjoy using it to connect with like-minded bloggers.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

What Do You Hope to Accomplish in 2023?

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Happy New Year! This is a late post because I’ve been sick with a stomach bug these last couple of days, making me bedridden and incapable of doing much. Not the best start to the new year and I don’t know what happened to cause this? Someone may have wished me some bad karma because it came on suddenly. The only good thing that came out of this was giving my body the ability to reset via an unintended extended fast. So yay to maybe lowing a couple of pounds?

Anyways, I am re-sharing my Medium article on the blog. If you use the following link to read this article and you are already a Medium subscriber, I will earn a small commission. It might be only a few pennies but it’s better than earning nothing at all. This article is behind a paywall on Medium but I want to make it available for everyone to read.

♡ Medium Article: What Do You Hope to Accomplish in 2023?

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/

How to make better New Year’s Resolutions

Are New Year’s Resolutions a waste of time? It depends on the types of goals you make.

New Year, New YOU!

It really comes down to the quality of questions you ask yourself. When you don’t think about what you truly want, it’s impossible to know if you’re making progress and can become susceptible to failure. That being said, if you ask yourself the right questions, then it gives you a clear idea of your goals and gives you a sense of accomplishment for achieving them.

Remember, New Year’s resolutions are only effective to the extent they are fully aligned with who you are along with your goals. If you can understand such alignment, then you will be able to create a powerful resolution(s). It is crucial for such resolutions to be about things that are truly important to YOU.

Time for Self-Reflection

Reflecting on the past year, what you’ve achieved, and what you’d like to achieve for the next one is a good start in prioritizing tasks for 2023. To do this, take some time to reflect on your achievements and shortcomings from the past year, and make any adjustments so that you can set yourself up for even more success in the coming year!

As the new year rapidly approaches, your New Year’s resolutions need to be meaningful and serve a purpose that is specifically designed to better suit your needs and wants. This is not the same as following society’s norms or what your parents want for you. It also isn’t the same as doing what your friends or spouse want you to do. It’s important that your resolutions are personal and cater to your individual needs.

New Year’s Resolutions are worth a try. There’s something about them that makes people want to achieve their goals and stop making excuses.

Resolutions are a great way to look into the future, evaluate what you want to see accomplished in the coming year and create a realistic plan for achieving them. Now that 2023 is here, take some time to reflect and consider what your goals for this year should be. Tie resolutions to the goals you want to achieve and write them down so you can track your progress. Once you write down your goals for the year ahead, it becomes easier to do a lot of little things that can help you achieve them.

It is also important to note that writing down your thoughts and feelings releases a lot of emotional clutter, helps you revel in the joys of small moments even more than just putting some New Year’s Resolution ideas on paper, and has even been found to be more beneficial than journaling. But don’t just take my word for it. Why not give it a try and see where it takes you?

Image source: Photo by Lil artsy: https://www.pexels.com/photo/

How do you find your true potential and figure out what you want your life to look like in 2023? By answering the following questions.

Questions
1. What have you learned in the past year?
2. Visualize your life one year from now. What does it look like?
3. What steps can you take to put your vision into action?
4. How are you going to measure your progress?

Smart Goals Graphic by StudyLib. Link: https://studylib.net/doc/25489999/smart-goals-article

For those who want to be successful with goal-setting, it is important that you use a good goal-setting framework. I recommend using the S.M.A.R.T framework for all goal setting because it is one of the most effective frameworks and has been shown to be very useful for many people. Give S.M.A.R.T. goals a try and see if they help you too!

I not only wish you a happy new year, but I hope that all your wishes come true in the coming year. May you find a great deal of happiness, peace, and love in the coming year. I wish you success, too ♥︎

P.S. You can also connect with me on Twitter (@hellokitty8404) and I encourage you to subscribe to my website at http://www.sereneluna.net so that you can receive the latest updates from me.