I hope you are having a wonderful time celebrating the end of this year as we welcome the beginning of a new one. When it comes to New Years everyone starts to share their resolutions, but I instead like to frame them as goals. Resolutions always seem almost unattainable, while goals are things we build upon from the previous year.
So, as we say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024, I want to share with you some of my goals for the next 12 months. I know that many of you are also thinking about how to improve your health, happiness, and lifestyle in the new year, so I hope that my ideas will inspire you and motivate you to join me on this journey.
Goal 1: Eat Better
By this I don’t mean to going on a strict diet or restricting and depriving myself of the foods that I love, but to make more conscious choices about what I put into my body. I want to eat more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains and lean proteins, and less processed and junk foods. I want to nourish my body with the nutrients that it needs, and to enjoy the flavors and textures of real food. I want to feel good about what I eat and what I feed my family.
Goal 2: Bake More
I have always loved baking, but I often find myself too busy or get nervous to try something new. Baking is not only a fun and creative activity, but also a way to express my love and gratitude to the people around me. I love to surprise my family and friends with homemade treats, and to see their smiles and hear their compliments. Baking is also a form of therapy for me, as it helps me to relax and to cope with stress.
Goal 3: Eat local and try gardening.
I have always admired people who can grow their own food and flowers, and I want to learn how to do it myself. I want to find ways for myself and my children to connect with nature. I want to start small and simple, with some herbs and vegetables in pots or raised beds, and maybe some flowers for decoration. I want to experiment with different varieties and methods, and to have fun with it.
So, how do I plan to achieve these goals?
- First, I want to plan my meals ahead of time, and to do some meal prep on the weekends. This way, I can avoid the temptation of ordering takeout or grabbing something unhealthy on the go. I can also save money and time by cooking in bulk and freezing the leftovers.
- Second, I want to look into local CSA (community-supported agriculture) programs, where I can get fresh produce to hopefully encourage me to eat more seasonally and locally, and to support the farmers in my area.
- Third, I want to look for baking challenges to participate in. Or follow along with British Bake Show to help get me out of comfort zone of cookies and cupcakes.
- Fourth, I want to read some books and articles on gardening and small-scale homesteading, where I can get useful information and advice. I found some helpful resources online, such as A Beginner’s Guide to Small-Scale Homesteading, 93 Darn Useful Homesteading Tips and Tricks, and Small Homesteading: The Beginner’s Guide. These will help me to start and maintain my own garden, and to learn from other people’s experiences.
I hope that you are excited as I am about these goals, and that you will join me in making 2024 a year of eating better, baking more, and gardening more. I will be sharing my progress and my recipes with you on this blog, and I would love to hear from you as well.
What are your resolutions and goals for 2024? How do you plan to achieve them? Let me know in the comments below.
I can’t wait to hear from you. Happy New Year, everyone! 🎉