20 for 2020

Happy new decade, new year, two thousand and twenty!! Yes, I realize the month is officially halfway through, but I wanted to take some time to settle in to the year and think about what I want the next year, or five or ten to look like.
Resolutions, goals, ideas, whatever you want to call them, I always like to have written down things that I am working towards so this year I challenged myself to think of 20 ideas that can make my 2020 better. Good luck to anyone out there trying to be better day by day, whether through one idea or twenty.

1. Meditate: I have an app, I have the time, and now I just need to do it. I feel so much better after the minute of silent meditation we do at work before meetings and I know a regular practice would be so great so I am committed to making mediation a real routine. 
2. Crow Pose: True story, I took my first yoga class 20 years ago and when I am focused I get to at least one class a week, and sometimes two, but I have never mastered this pose. Happy to report that I got one foot off the ground the other day and even put the second one up for just long enough to encourage me that this is my year. 
3. Reading: The (only) downfall of not being a subway commuter any longer is missing out on all the reading time. I was up to a book every 2 weeks and once I started my new job that crashed like the red line at rush hour. I have been finding 10-15 minutes every day, whether while eating lunch, while the girls relax before bed or before I go to sleep to read. So far I am halfway through Just Mercy and have my next book picked out. 
4. Instant Pot: This weekend we made Chicken Pho, it has changed my hard boiled egg game and I have a bunch of recipes in the queue for this new magic vessel I got for Christmas. Excited for more delicious weeknight meals that don't take all my evening time to prep.
5. Date Nights: I am so lucky to still be madly in love with my husband and actually enjoy his company, and although we are lucky to have schedules where we see each other quite often, we do not get much time just us to go out and do fun things. Taking babysitter volunteers now because 2020 is our year. 
6. Home Renovation: We have been talking about redoing our kitchen and bathroom since we moved in 5 years ago and we have started taking some real steps to get it done. It is so overwhelming but I have asked friends who have done it or who work in the biz a million questions and I am excited to get it done.
7. Sub 4 Marathon: Less than 6 minutes separates me from this goal and I have 2 marathons this year to make the attempt. Running has been really good these last couple of months while I prepare to start training and I really think I can do it, which is 70% of the battle.
8. Keep Saying No: I remain a busy human between work, the girls activities, the running club, the other board I sit on, the other other board I sit on and living a city life where all the fun things are always happening. Alas, I cannot be everywhere and do everything and enjoy it all, so I have learned to decline events or ask for time to check my schedule to think through priorities and it is making a tiny difference in my calendar and sanity.
9. But Also Saying Yes: Because I am so fortunate to have the problem of all the opportunities, sometimes saying yes allows me to meet new people, be exposed to new ideas or be pushed out of my comfort zone, which are all good things.
10. Travel: 2019 was a good travel year for the O'Sheas. Matt and I went on some solo trips, I went on an epic girls trip and we had some amazing family travels including out first international trip in Germany. So far this year we are going on our first family cruise, planning a summer trip to Hilton Head and celebrating 10 years of wedded bliss at an all inclusive in Mexico. 
11. Be Bored: Instead of grabbing for my phone or something to read I am trying to just be there, stand in the line, stare out the window, let my mind do as it will. Sometimes the best ideas happen when I just let them come to me.
12. Keep Budgeting: Following some methods from Dave Ramsey we have gotten on track with debt, savings and living expenses and I am hoping to keep that going and keep improving. Great side bonus has been the ability for Matt and I to talk about money in a way that is productive, honest and positive. 
13. Stay Positive: Although I am likely the cheeriest, most positive person I know, my inner voice can go to some dark places, especially when I feel criticized or unliked or I get that awful feeling that I need to compare myself to others when all I need to compare myself to is me.
14. Offer to Help: One of my favorite things about our community is how quick we are to help out anyone in need - through a death, loss of a job, sickness, whatever - but I know not everyone is always good at asking or taking the help, so this year I want to be more aware of when people may need a hand and offering to be that help for them.
15. Buff It Out: Joining my Fitness Studio has been the best decision I have made since I first laced up a pair of running shoes 8 years ago. I feel strong and pushed out of my comfort zone and have made some great new friends. Today, in fact, I was busting out a chaturanga and noticed that I have made some serious gains in my upper body strength. Excited for more of those moments this year!
16. Watch More TV: Weird resolution, right? After we put the girls to bed I often scroll mindlessly through my phone or pour another cocktail and half watch things. Sober January has me putting away my phone and getting caught up on all the shows and I have ZERO guilt for it.
17. Spend More Time in Faith: You will find me in the same pew every Sunday and I love that hour I spend in mass, but I have spent less time in my faith the other 6 days of the week. Helping Maddie prepare for her first Communion this spring has us doing some more prayers together, talking about Jesus and trying to reflect more on what we hear Sundays and I hope to carry that through the year.
18. Listen to Music: I JUST listened to Lizzo, if that is any reflection of how bad I need to listen to new things. Enough said. 
19. Take the Time for Bedtime Routines: If I squint hard enough I can see 40, so washing my face, slathering on the eye cream, using the jade roller and fluffing the pillow are not only necessary but help me transition from going a hundred miles an hour to settling in for the night. 
20. Sleep: Speaking of settling in, that has been happening at quite an early hour lately. Sorry not sorry about that 8:30 turn in the other night, but since I get up at 4:30 most mornings to run or hit the gym, it isn't that crazy and anyways, nothing good happens after 9pm.

Here's to a happy, healthy, fun and memorable year!