Saturday 2 January 2016

Hello 2016, Goodbye 2015

Essbeevee New Year reflection sunset

I love the clean slate feeling of a new year. It lies ahead, full of possibilities, and makes me step back and take stock of the year just passed. It's easy to take every day as it comes, and I'm generally up for that philosophy, but sometimes it takes that moment of looking back to see how far you've come.


I opened last year by starting at a new job and moving in with a BOY. I then also caught every cold going for the next three months, which was probably because I was exhausted from moving, being the new girl at work and lots of busy life stuff (there's zero free time when I look back at my calendar from Jan/Feb) and I got really burnt out, really quickly. Ultimately, I wasn't taking great care of myself, and I got to a point in March where I had to sit down and write this post, because I looked awful, felt awful and wasn't myself. It took a while, but now I can run upstairs without wanting to die and actually care about what I look like again.

Throughout the year there were weddings and hen dos and birthdays and fun, and yet more weddings, because I go to a lot. I went to Paris! I learned calligraphy! I did a bunch of local food reviews! I went to Glastonbury! I posted a bunch of recipes! I left my job after just a few months! I went to New York! I - wait, what was that last one?

Yeah, that happened. It was a big turning point, actually. Admitting to myself that a job that should have been perfect for me actually wasn't, and choosing to spend a few weeks in the scary world of unemployment trying to work out what I wanted to do. In between interviews, I sorted my life out. I exercised, I wrote, I ate right and I thought about what I wanted to do. And I got a great job! After working in marketing for 9 years, I've moved to internal communications - still related, but now it's focusing on the part of my job I always enjoyed the most - writing. For a great company, about worthwhile things, and although it's only been two months, it feels really right. I'm actually excited to go back to work on Monday. I'm not sure that's ever happened.

So... I'm actually starting 2016 in a pretty similar place to 2015, but also totally different. New job - but a different one. Moving soon - for totally different reasons. Living with a boy - but a diff... oh, no, wait, same one. He's a good egg.

It's nice looking back on the first post of last year and realising that I didn't set proper resolutions, and that I did what I set out to do. I just made a promise that I'd live a bit healthier and take care of myself. It took almost half the year to make real changes, but I did. I lost a bit of weight and improved my fitness and health. I'm not exactly, um... who's a famous fit person? Is Mr Motivator still a thing? Well, I'm not him, but I'm better than I was.

This year, I want to do the same. I'll be focusing on living healthy most of the time, trying to lose a bit more weight and improving my fitness even more (more exercise than just walking, basically). I've embraced Christmas binging to the fullest, so I'm now at a point where eating freshly cooked food again and green things actually sounds amazing. I've kinda missed you, vegetables.

2016 is going to be a pretty landmark year. We're going to be saving pretty hard as we want to buy our first house this year, and that includes moving in with my parents for a few months from February to save as much as possible. That big goal means we can't make any other big plans until we get there - I'm dreaming of an awesome, expensive holiday, but we'll just see. There are still minibreaks to be had - the Eurostar sale means we already have Bruges booked for March at a bargain price.

That's pretty much it - being healthy and saving a bunch of money. I'm quite the cliche. I'm actually considering writing a longer list of achievable goals for the year too, which I'll report back on - but it's a great way to break down what you want to achieve, even if it's just trying out a new recipe or visiting somewhere new. It all adds up.

Anyway, I'm excited about the year ahead. Lots going on. What have you got planned?

Essbeevee last five years selfies
Thanks to TimeHop for reminding me that I take selfies every NYE. Apparently I've found this hairstyle and am sticking to it. 
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4 comments

  1. Happy 2016! Sounds like you had an eventful year... Glad your new job has worked out well!

    Liz x
    Distract Me Now Please

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  2. Happy New Year Sarah! I'm so pleased your managed to work a lot of things out in 2015, I'm still envious of your New York travels. One of my goals is to save all that I can as well, stop with the silly spending, yadda yadda. When did I become a sensible 'let's look at buying a home' girl?! Here's to an even happier and healthier year! xx

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  3. Happy 2016! Good luck with the saving and house-buying! x

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  4. Happy 2016, can't wait to see what you get up to!

    Maria xxx

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