A Fresh Approach to New Year's Resolutions 

2018 was a fab year - I met so many lovely families, photographed hundreds of children, edited thousands of images and trained with some of the best photographers in the industry. 

I’m hoping 2019 is going to be an even more amazing year with yet more beautiful babies and hopefully a new venture (fingers crossed I can expand on this point in the near future).

I’ve spent a lot of time recently reminiscing about the past and dreaming about the future (Christmas always does this to me) and I decided it was time to set some New Year’s resolutions that are unlike the ones I have set in the past. 

A new year is the perfect time for a fresh start and a new approach but most New Year’s resolutions have been abandoned before the end of January which is why I’m rewriting last year’s resolutions with a more sympathetic twist. 

Lose Weight vs Put Myself First

This is going to be a tough one for me. I always put my needs at the bottom of the pile but I’ve learned that you can’t pour from an empty cup so it’s time to factor in some time for myself which will include meal planning, exercise, early nights, mini pamper sessions, alone time and the occasional treat. 

Keep House in Show-Home Condition vs Get a Cleaner

I’m happier when my house is clean and tidy. I get a warm and fuzzy feeling when everything is perfectly in its place, the carpets are hoovered, there’s not a spec of dust in sight and my worktops are gleaming. But there are only so many hours in the day and if I plan to put myself first a little more often that means the housework is going to get bumped down the list which will give me endless amounts of anxiety. The solution - get a cleaner. It’s at the top of my 2019 to do list. 

Limit Social Media Usage vs Try Not to Use Social Media to Relax

I love social media. I like seeing what my friends are up to, I love reading posts in Facebook photography groups and the Kardashians are my guilty pleasure so I often stalk their Instagram accounts but I have a really bad habit of mindlessly scrolling through Facebook and Instagram as a way of winding down. Before social media I would have watched a TV show, read a book, done something creative etc and most of those activities have a an end point which social media is lacking so it’s hard to know when to stop. I’m not going to limit or restrict my social media habits but I will make a conscious effort to find alternative ways to relax in 2019.  

Be a Better Mum vs Deal with Mum Guilt Issues 

Mum guilt is the worst. For me, it started the moment my daughter was born and has only got worse with time. I’m not sure I’m ever going to overcome this one but instead of worrying about what I might be doing wrong it’s time to focus on what I’m doing right. My daughter is kind, compassionate and smart - I must be doing something right. 

Be More Productive vs Ask for Help When Needed

I’m terrible at asking for help. I’m not sure why - maybe it’s because I don’t want to seem incapable or maybe it’s because I don’t like being an inconvenience to people. But in 2019, instead of trying to do everything myself I’m going to accept help when it’s offered and try not to feel guilty about it. 

Reading the above, it looks like I’m planning on taking things easy next year but that’s honestly not the case! Resolutions are totally different to goals and I think that’s another reason why so many of them fail. 

I have some pretty big goals set for next year and some extensive planning in place to help me achieve them. I want 2019 to be a year of big dreams and even bigger achievements for both me, my friends and family and my clients. Nothing makes me happier than seeing other people happy, whether it’s my lovely friend successfully launching her jewellery business, my parents finally visiting Thailand, my client’s beautiful home being featured in a magazine or my neighbour getting the car he’s been wanting for 30+ years. 

Let’s make 2019 special. A lot can change in a year! 

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