My Very Detailed and Expansive New Year's Resolutions that Totally Didn't Take Me All of December to Create

This year, I put together an epic list of resolutions that I want to happen in 2014.  Instead of just making bullets, I also wrote mini-blurbs under each resolution, so that the focus and understanding really sets in.  I feel that often people will make resolutions such as, "eat better".  See, the problem there is that "eating better" is such a subjective phrase, that it doesn't really have much ground behind it.  What are the steps involved in "eating better?"  Do you mean you want to eat better, as in healthier, or eat better as in better tasting food?  It helps to lay out the details of your resolution so that it is constantly clear to you (and others, so they can keep you on track!)  So, I present my New Year's Resolutions, live on my blog for the entire world to see! (if they magically happen to stumble upon this link...)

1.  Workout every day.

In actual fact, I want to work out everyday of the week, but I say four just because there is always the possibility that some other event will come up.  I really would just like to tone up more and increase my endurance so I don't feel like puking after running 2 miles.  While, I don't focus too much on my weight, I would like to lose about 10 lbs, but as long as I can look in the mirror and like what I see, I will be happy.

2.  Stretch every day.

I used to dance almost every day, so my flexibility was better than what it is currently.  "I'm losing my dancer!", I say to myself as I try to touch my toes from a standing position, and I can barely do it.  I want to keep dancing forever, so obviously, my flexibility has to stay intact.  I will not lose my dancer!

3.  Work on my dance technique at least two times a week.

Once again, I want to keep dancing forever, so I definitely cannot lose my technique.  I want to go to school for dance therapy, which will require some pre-established technique and terminology, so I can't forget all that I've learned.  At least a couple times a week I will work on basic ballet and modern skills such as, positions, jumps, turns, and stretches.  I may even invest in a turning board so I can finally nail my quadruple turns...  Who knows?!

4.  Lay off the snooze button.

For past couple of months I have literally been rolling out of bed at 7:00 am, throwing on clean clothes, brushing my hair, grabbing some coffee (if there's time), and driving to work...by 7:20 am...  I start work at 8:00 am.  THIS MUST STOP!  I don't like rushing, so why do I do it?  Simple.  Because I like sleeping too much.  I get up at the last minute because my bed is warm and it loves me, but waking up later causes me to be disorganized for the rest of the day.  I don't eat breakfast, I don't have a proper morning coffee ritual, and I definitely don't have time to warm my car up if it's icy outside.  If I just give the snooze button a break and actually wake up at an appropriate time, then I will have a smoother morning ritual.  But before I do all that...

5.  I should probably get more than 3 hours of sleep a night.

I need to stop staying up till 3 am watching Under the Dome with the roommates.  I'd be missing out on all the fun, but I can't sacrifice all the valuable sleep that I need.  Plus, I'll probably feel healthier if I got more rest.

6.  Pack my lunches more often.

I don't like eating junk for lunch while I'm at work.  It makes me sleepy, so I drink more coffee, then I get more headaches.  Solution: I should pack my lunch the night before then grab it the next morning.  That way, it will be something good for me that probably won't be deep fried or sugar coated.

7.  Eat healthier snacks.

In addition to packing my lunch, I should eat healthier snacks, like fruit and nuts, while I'm at work, and also at home while watching TV, etc.  It's better than Oreos.  I love Oreos...  But woman cannot live on Oreos alone.  Unfortunately...

8.  Go to the eye doctor.  Get contact lenses.

I don't care if it's at Walmart, I need to get an eye checkup so that I can get a prescription for my contacts.  If I'm going to be working out and dancing more, I'm going to want to wear my glasses less, so I need contacts in order to be free from pushing my glasses up my nose every 10 seconds.  Plus, it's always good to know if you have glaucoma or anything...

9.  Go to doctor for regular checkups.

Let's see, when we were kids, how did we know if we were sick?  Oh yes, our parents would schedule our doctor appointments for us and make us go.  Now, that we have freedom and don't live with parents, what should we do?  Oh yeah...  Shit, we have to do that stuff by ourselves.  Adulthood 101: taking care of your health is a priority.  Don't put it off.

10.  See a chiropractor.

Just because I've never been to one, and now that I have decent health insurance, I would like get check up, because I know for a fact that my back sucks.

11.  Be more expressive.

This actually involves a lot of elements.  First, I need to be expressive in my words to others.  It's never really that hard to say what you mean to other people.  I'm not going to hold back so much anymore, I'll speak up, and I'll work on making my feelings more clear.  Second, I'll be expressive in terms of how I present myself to others.  I want my actions and the way I look to show my personality to others.  Finally, I want to expressive myself artistically.  I want a piece of myself to show through in my writing and also any drawing that I do.  I feel that I've always had a bit of an "artsy soul", and in 2014, I want that artsy-nerd to break out.

12.  Style my hair more.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have one hairstyle lately:  The Poofy Up-Do.  It's fine, but it's also one of my laziest.  There really is much that I can do with my hair, I just need to set aside the time and effort to work with different hairstyles.  I also want to try a new color.  I'm still thinking of the options and what would look best.  The possibilities are endless!

13.  Get a tattoo.

I want a dancer on fire.  I want a dancer on fire.  I want a dancer on fire.  I don't know where I want it, but I want a dancer on fire.

14.  Write something every week.

I always have ideas running through my head, but I never write them down.  It usually takes me less than a day to complete a blog entry, etc.  My new goal is to write a piece every week and either post it to my blog, or another place where it can be viewed.  If not for public viewing, then I'll make private a journal entry.  At least I can say I wrote something.

15.  Get on the path to Grad school.

I've decided that I want to pursue dance therapy as a career, and I'm sticking to that!  Now, I need to follow all the steps to getting into the program I want, so I can start going back to school as soon as possible.  Extra classes, applications, and financial aid are all of the things I need to look at.  I want to kick-start my education very soon, so the goal is to stay focused on completing all the checkpoints on the way to Graduate school.

16.  Take MMA classes.

I don't ever touch people, and I rarely ever get physical or aggressive, but I have the utmost confidence that if it became necessary, I could kick ass.  Why not test out this theory by taking an MMA class?  I think it would be fun to let out some aggression by doing martial arts and also potentially getting ripped in the process.  It's also something I've never done before, so it should be exciting.

17.  Take a pole dancing class.

This just seems like something new and fun, and since I found out there is actually a studio that teaches pole classes in my area, I'm even more inclined to check it out.

18.  Join contemporary and hip-hop dance classes.

If I had to pick one, I'd say that contemporary dance is my "specialty".  It's important to me to stay in tune with the style, so I'll find a class and take it weekly or so.  Also, hip-hop is a style that I don't have a great knack for, but love anyway, so I definitely want to get better at it by joining a class.  I also miss dancing in group settings.

19.  Keep record of my choreography.
I am constantly thinking of ideas and choreographing mini-dances in my head.  Some of them are pretty cool (if I do say so myself), but then I can never remember them.  I decided I will either write them down, or record myself doing the choreography, so that I don't lose it forever.

20.  Draw more.
I used to draw a lot, and it was actually very peaceful and relaxing for me.  I didn't even care if I was good or not, I just loved making sketches and drawing anime and manga characters.  I want to start doing it more often.  I think it will also help with my self-expression.

21.  Read more books and comics.
I have a long-term goal to read 100 books by the time I'm 30.  I'm 24 now, and I'm only about halfway through, so I've got some work to do in the next six years!  Comic books are also something that I've always wanted to become more immersed in.  Fantastic artwork combined with action-packed story lines: Why am I not reading more comics?!

22.  Rearrange and decorate my room.
My room has been rather stagnant for a year.  It's time to liven it up.  I'm thinking of going with a Batman theme because I'm 24, and that's what adults do.

23.  Keep my room and bathroom cleaner.
I always feel better when my area is nice and clear, so I might as well make more of an effort to keep it that way.

24.  Volunteer.
I want to do something where I know that by the end of a day, I have made a big difference in someone's life.  I haven't quite figured out exactly what I should do, but when I discover it, I want it to be consistent.

25.  Be more financially responsible.
I'm in my 20s.  Do you really think I have money figured out, yet?  This year I'll take a step towards financial stability.  I'll pay my bills on time and I won't buy stuff I don't need...  Well...  I won't buy most of the stuff I don't need.

26. Go to more music festivals/shows.
I always hear about these awesome shows and music festivals, especially during the summer, but I always end up feeling sorry for myself because I didn't go.  Well, to avoid those feelings of regret, I'm just going to go.  No questions asked.  I'll just buy the ticket.  Done and done!  People are also very fun to socialize with at shows, so that can be another mini-goal: meet more people at shows.  Yeah!  I love people (Lies.  I actually hate people, but for the sake of festivals, I will learn to love more people).

27.  Use my planner.
I bought a 2014 planner.  I'm going to use it.  That's pretty much it.

28.  Take better care of Renly.
He's all dirty because I haven't washed him since I got him.  The poor thing...  I also should probably get tune ups done more often.  Renly also deserves to be personalized.  He's been a good companion so far.
Renly is the name of my car, by the way...


**Bonus**
I have to use this blog more often.  I'm aiming for at least once a week.


BRING IT ON, TWENTY-FOURTEEEEEEN!!!!