My New Year's Resolutions

I'm not really one for New Year's Resolutions but since I started my blog I've been making them more and more. Have I actually stuck to them? Well, that's a different story but considering that I'm entering 2017 in a totally different place to where I entered it, I feel like I need some resolutions and goals to keep me motivated after a particularly crappy year. I've achieved some wonderful things in 2016 and visited some truly amazing places but I've also left an unhealthy relationship, left university and ended up in the "what the f do I do with my life" phase and it's been a pretty shitty time in my life. I want 2017 to be about me, about allowing myself to grow and evolve and most importantly, being happy. Here are some of my resolutions that I'm trying to stick to to bring more happiness in 2017.

STOP CARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK

I've always been someone who's torn between "do what you want and screw anyone else's opinion" and "oh no you can't do that imagine what people will think!" No matter how much I try to hide it, I care what people think. I don't like being embarrassed, I don't like when people think bad things about and I think it actually holds me back a hell of a lot. I want 2017 to be the year that I do things regardless of what people think and if they don't like the choices I make or disagree with the direction my life takes they know where they can go. At the end of the day, the opinions of other people don't matter and as long as I'm happy, why should I waste time worrying about what others think?

STOP GIVING SO MANY FUCKS

So recently I started reading The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving A Fuck and it made me realise that I definitely give too many fucks. I waste so much time worrying about unnecessary things, about people who don't give any fucks about me in return and about things that have no impact at all on my life. It made me think: do I actually give fucks about these things or do I just think I have to in order to be a "nice person" and I think the answer is definitely the former. My resolution is to stop this, to actually listen to the book and stop wasting time and energy on people and things that don't deserve my fucks. They are precious things to give out after all.

BE KINDER TO MYSELF

I'm definitely my own worst enemy. I tear apart anything I do and convince myself it's not good enough and whilst being critical of yourself can actually be a good thing, it's way too easy to take it too far and end up really holding yourself back. In 2017, I want to celebrate myself more and have a "well done that's amazing" attitude instead of a "you could have done better" one. I put too much of a burden on my shoulders and does it make me do any better? No probably not but it does take away my happiness.

LEARN TO COOK

I am a terrible cook. Don't underestimate the truth of this statement and since living alone, I've realised just how bad of a cook I actually am. I mean, a few weeks ago I totally messed up making tomato soup. Yep, I screwed up making tinned tomato soup in the microwave. I made macaroni cheese from scratch the other day and it was absolutely amazing and I'm not exaggerating when I say I was prouder than when I got my degree and if that doesn't show you how dire my cooking situation is, then I don't know what will. I want to learn how to make actual meals with substance because at the moment, I'm a snacker and I'm in need of some food that I'll actually enjoy.

STAY OUT OF UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

I mentioned at the beginning of this post that the end of 2017 also marked the end of an unhealthy relationship for me and I'm hoping that this year can be the year I focus on me and what makes me happy. I want to stay away from people who aren't good for me, whether it's a relationship, a friendship or just someone who's negatively impacting my life. Life is too short to be dealing with people who don't care about you and if I've learnt one thing from 2016, it's that sometimes, things just don't work out and that's okay. Giving up is not necessarily a bad thing and in fact, I've learnt that it's sometimes essential to give up on something so you can move on instead of being stuck on the same page. 

So there are my New Year's resolutions for 2017. I do have a few more (including not buying any more coats and petting more dogs) and I'd love to know yours or if you can relate to any of mine! Let me know in the comments.

Also I'd like to say a huge thank you to anyone who has read my blog, liked a photo, followed me on social media or supported me in any way at all during 2016. Salt and Chic wouldn't exist without you guys and I can't tell you how grateful I am for every share, every retweet and every page click that I get. I've achieved some amazing things this year that I could never have even imagined this time last year and I can't wait to see where I am in 12 months time!

Amy x