Crafting a Purposeful Year: Resolutions for Growth, Balance, and New Adventures

As the new year dawns, it’s a natural time for reflection and setting intentions. For many years, the idea of “resolutions” felt a bit daunting, even restrictive. They often carried an implicit pressure – a looming deadline to achieve a specific outcome, with the risk of disappointment if targets weren’t perfectly met. This external pressure often overshadowed the genuine desire for positive change, making the whole concept feel somewhat “icky” and prone to fostering self-criticism rather than true growth.

However, this year feels remarkably different. A recent website redesign and a fresh new name have brought a revitalized energy, much like moving into a new, spacious apartment with endless possibilities for expansion. This fresh start has surprisingly ignited a newfound enthusiasm for embracing resolutions, not as rigid tasks, but as exciting pathways for personal development and enriching my daily life.

The pivotal mental shift has been redefining resolutions as a profound re-prioritization and a commitment to continuous personal growth, rather than a race against the clock. While achieving some or all of these aspirations within the year would be wonderful, many of these goals are designed to extend far beyond a single calendar year. They represent fundamental shifts I wish to embed more deeply into my day-to-day existence, alongside a few delightful “bucket list” items I’m eager to try. The beauty lies in the journey and the sustained effort, not just the destination.

Experience has taught me that the act of writing down goals dramatically increases accountability and the likelihood of achievement. There’s a tangible power in committing thoughts to paper, transforming abstract desires into concrete plans. So, that’s precisely what I’m doing today. While some of these resolutions naturally intertwine with my work, my blogging, and the evolution of this online space, many are deeply personal aspirations, things I’ve genuinely been hoping and wanting to integrate into the coming year and beyond.

Explore Chicago + Do More Things By Myself

Since making the vibrant city of Chicago my home last June, I genuinely feel we’ve made significant strides in exploring its diverse landscape. I’m quite proud of how quickly we’ve acclimated to the city’s unique rhythms and layout. Chicago truly is a pedestrian-friendly city, from its iconic skyline to its well-structured street grid. I now feel confident stepping out of our apartment and navigating to almost any destination I desire without the fear of getting lost, a testament to its approachable design.

Yet, despite our explorations, an enormous wealth of experiences still awaits! While the current winter chill and shorter daylight hours present a temporary challenge, I confess to falling into the habit of staying cooped up indoors for days on end, venturing out only for essential grocery runs. This inertia means I’m not fully leveraging the incredible opportunities just beyond my doorstep. Therefore, a core resolution is to embrace more active exploration: to walk further and more frequently, to immerse myself in the city’s world-class museums, and to discover the unique charm of different neighborhoods. Crucially, I want to cultivate the habit of doing more things independently, even if it’s as simple as a mindful stroll to a local coffee shop to dedicate a few hours to work, appreciating the city’s energy as I go.

Expanding on this, I also aspire to integrate more narrative and journalistic elements into my blogging. While sharing delicious recipes remains a passion, I truly miss the spontaneity and less-structured nature of earlier blogging days. I’m hoping to rekindle that aspect this year, sharing more personal observations, discoveries, and slices of everyday life. This could manifest as simple photo essays capturing a moment, short recaps of a day’s adventures, or reflective pieces inspired by my solo explorations. It’s about sharing a broader spectrum of experiences and connecting with readers on a more personal, less prescriptive level.

Value My Time More

I openly admit this is an area where I notoriously struggle. Perhaps it’s a generational trait, a lingering sense of guilt, or a deep-seated desire to please others; I’m not entirely sure of its origin. What I do know is that, more often than not, I tend to prioritize monetary savings over the immense value of my time. For instance, if a particular task demands a significant chunk of my week, week after week, my initial inclination is to continue doing it myself, even if it consumes precious hours that could be far better allocated to more impactful or fulfilling endeavors. It’s a classic trap of false economy.

The adage “time is money” rings profoundly true, yet I find it incredibly challenging to consistently remind myself of this fundamental principle. This resolution is about actively confronting that inclination, recognizing that my time is a finite and incredibly valuable resource. It means learning to identify tasks that drain my energy without offering proportional returns, and then consciously choosing to delegate, automate, or even eliminate them. It’s about making strategic decisions that honor my time, allowing me to focus on activities that truly move the needle, both professionally and personally. By valuing my time, I empower myself to invest it wisely, leading to greater efficiency, reduced stress, and ultimately, a more fulfilling existence.

Be More Kind to Myself

This resolution is deeply intertwined with the previous one, forming two sides of the same coin when it comes to personal well-being. As I’ve reflected before, cultivating self-kindness is a universal challenge that many of us could benefit from addressing. Whether it’s an inherent personality trait or a learned behavior, I possess a strong tendency to be overly hard on myself across most facets of my life. This was a theme I explored last year in a post concerning work-life balance and my ongoing struggles to achieve it.

While this self-critical drive has, at times, been a peculiar blessing – fueling a relentless pursuit of improvement and a refusal to settle for mediocrity – it can also be incredibly taxing and, frankly, counterproductive. The constant internal pressure often leads to burnout, diminishes joy, and doesn’t always result in genuinely better outcomes. My resolution, then, is to consciously foster a more forgiving and compassionate inner dialogue. This means giving myself permission to ease up when needed. If that translates to attending the gym only twice a week instead of my ambitious four, or simply declaring that a bowl of cereal is a perfectly acceptable dinner choice after a demanding day, then so be it. The goal is progress, not perfection, and recognizing that there’s always an opportunity to recalibrate and try again tomorrow. It’s about embracing imperfection as part of the human experience and prioritizing my mental and emotional well-being above relentless, often self-imposed, expectations.

Take an Art Class + Start a New Hobby

This particular resolution stands out as one of my most anticipated and significant goals for the coming year, and I am genuinely brimming with excitement about it! While the precise details of “how” and “what” are still being ironed out, the core realization over the past year or so has been the profound void left by the absence of a dedicated hobby or regular artistic outlet in my life. Years ago, I found immense joy and satisfaction in drawing and painting, and it’s an aspect of myself that I truly miss.

Photography and, to a certain extent, even cooking, once served this creative purpose for me. While they still offer glimpses of that artistic fulfillment, I feel a strong pull to pursue something entirely and unequivocally separate from the demands and focus of the blog. This distinction is crucial; it’s about engaging in creative expression purely for the intrinsic pleasure of it, free from any professional obligation or expectation.

Inspired by friends like Adrianna, I am eagerly hoping to enroll in a pottery class, ideally this summer or next fall. Alternatively, signing up for an introductory art class at Chicago’s renowned Art Institute is another exciting possibility. Beyond the obvious benefits of stimulating creativity and offering a much-needed mental break from work-related tasks, a new hobby also presents a wonderful opportunity to broaden my social circle and connect with new people who share similar interests. It’s about nurturing a different part of my brain, learning a new skill, and finding joy in the process of creation for creation’s sake.

Finally Start Meal Planning

Confession time, everyone: I am absolutely the worst at meal planning! [See the third resolution regarding self-kindness.] I know, it’s somewhat embarrassing given that I create and organize recipes constantly. My primary struggle stems from being one of those individuals who has never had consistent luck with traditional meal planning because my cravings tend to shift throughout the week. Inevitably, if I meticulously plan out meals days in advance, I often find myself completely disinclined to eat any of them when the time comes, leading to wasted food and last-minute scramble.

However, a brilliant (or at least brilliant in my own mind!) idea struck me yesterday. My plan is to compile a brief, focused grocery list specifically for each of our tried-and-true, favorite go-to dinners. I’m carefully excluding common pantry staples like olive oil, salt, and spices, which I always have on hand. Once I complete this initial phase, the next step will be to assemble these recipes into weekly meal plans – aiming for five to six reliable options per week. From these weekly plans, I will then generate a single, comprehensive master grocery list for each week, which we can reference consistently going forward. To ensure ultimate convenience and prevent forgotten items or piecemeal shopping, I’ll email these curated lists to both Connor and myself. This way, either of us will always have immediate access to the entire shopping list on our phones at the grocery store, ensuring we buy everything we need for the week in one efficient trip. Many of the recipes I’ll be incorporating were actually featured in my highly-rated ‘Best of 2015’ post, if you’re looking for some inspiration!

Get Organized + Be More Intentional

I am delighted to report that I’m making significant strides in this area! For reasons I can’t quite pinpoint – perhaps the invigorating feeling of starting fresh with a new planner and notebook – I finally feel like I’m converging on a truly effective and sustainable organization system. This system is designed to seamlessly integrate across all aspects of my life: work, blogging, and personal commitments. The goal is not just to be organized for organization’s sake, but to create a framework that is easy to maintain and genuinely boosts my productivity and intentionality.

More than ever, I’ve come to a profound realization: I am fundamentally a paper and pen person. This preference might ironically be a side effect of spending so much time immersed in the digital world, but it is unequivocally my truth. When faced with a looming deadline, a multitude of tasks, or a complex project, I absolutely *need* to visualize everything physically laid out before me. This allows me to grasp the entire scope at once, preventing the overwhelming feeling that often leads to procrastination or mental paralysis. The tactile process of writing, crossing off, and physically moving through my tasks provides a clarity that digital tools alone cannot replicate for me.

This year, I’m adopting a streamlined, less rigid interpretation of the popular bullet journal methodology. I’m applying it to both my personal and professional life, drawing inspiration from insightful resources shared by Kristen and Jessica. Complementing this, I’m also heavily relying on my Day Designer for daily planning and time blocking. Recognizing that some aspects of organization are inherently more practical online, I also recently discovered Trello, a fantastic free online organization tool, thanks to a tip from Kara. I have a strong feeling that this synergistic combination of analog and digital tools will be extraordinarily helpful in managing my workflow and achieving my goals this year. If there’s interest in a more detailed dive into how I’m setting up and utilizing these systems, please don’t hesitate to let me know – I’d be more than happy to share some dedicated posts on the topic as I continue to refine my approach.

Travel + Family Time

While we enjoyed a considerable amount of travel in the previous year, I am genuinely looking forward to prioritizing even more adventures in the coming months. These don’t necessarily have to be grand, international excursions; even a simple weekend trip can be incredibly restorative. I envision more frequent visits to places like Washington D.C. to spend quality time with my parents, or venturing to New York and San Francisco to reconnect with my sisters, brothers-in-law, and my delightful nephew, Arthur! One of the unexpected side effects of moving to a new city, far from immediate family, is the heightened appreciation and value placed on those cherished moments together. As much as I often find myself preoccupied with looming deadlines and the demands of my work, I am committed to becoming better at consciously disconnecting and making family time an undeniable priority.

Beyond domestic trips, I am also holding a deep hope that I can finally make it to England next fall to visit my beloved grandmother. It has been far too long since our last visit, and the thought of reconnecting fills me with immense warmth. Traveling is not just one of my favorite activities to experience, but also one of my favorite subjects to write about and share. The opportunity to explore new cultures, savor different cuisines, and witness breathtaking landscapes enriches my life in countless ways. I am resolved to keep this spirit of adventure alive and well throughout the next year, seeking out new destinations and cherishing every journey, big or small. It’s about feeding my soul, broadening my perspective, and creating lasting memories with the people who matter most.

What are your personal resolutions for the year ahead? What are you most eagerly anticipating in the coming months? I would genuinely love to hear your thoughts and aspirations!