Seriously? That’s half of the year gone already?!

I bet a few of us have said that. Time does seem to be flying past. It’s gotten me thinking about the year I’ve had so far and how it’s shaping up compared to some goals I set myself in January. As I start to write this, it feels like the year has passed me by. Lets see:

Goals!

I’ve been using a bullet journal for over a year now and I find it’s a great way of being organised and keeping a log of day to day life. In January I used a page to scribble down some goals for the coming year. They were in the main quite generic, which I did on purpose. The more specific goals were saved for one of many to-do lists I keep.

So, based on these goals, how’s 2019 been going so far?

Smile!

I’m quite a happy go lucky kind of person and have been complimented before on how I smile a lot. But it does feel like I don’t smile as much as I used to. I think lifes pressures have had a part to play in this. Everything is always busy, home life and work life, and sometimes I feel like this gets to me. It’s almost like I have a focused ‘game face’ on most of the time. This is something I need to continue to work on for the rest of this year.

HeadSpace, Gym, Healthy Living, Control the Anxiety and Beat the Parent Guilt.

All of the above goals can be put into one summary section – lifestyle. Smiling more could also link in here too. Overall I’ve been trying to take more control over my health and well-being this year. I’ve done a couple of posts around this previously as it interests me a lot.

Headspace, the meditation app, has helped me before but I’ve let it slip this year. I need to make time in my evenings again for the ten minutes sessions, which sounds crazy when I think how I’ve even found this tough to squeeze in!

I would say I’m now a gym regular and it has become part of a normal routine. So much so I instantly feel bad if I have to miss a session. I’m doing both cardio and strength training and it’s been going well. I would say this is a definite checklist tick mark for 2019. The same with healthy living. I’ve recently made some changes to the kind of things I eat. I’m not snacking as much as I was and I’m paying more attention to the nutritional values.

As far as controlling the anxiety and beating the parent guilt go I would say this is a steady work in progress. My Daughter has recently openly asked Grandparents for a sleepover which has helped immensely. Work has been pretty intense this year and I’ve had a couple of health concerns but I’m learning to deal with things a little better.

Save

Saving is something I’ve never really been able to do well. There’s always seemed to be something that comes along that means I can’t even get a rainy day fund put together. That being said we’re coping ok. But I wanted to at least try to put something away this year and so far have been able to. Mostly this has come from a concerted effort to review spending. Something to keep going for the rest of the year!

Game more

I’ve always been a gamer but I’ve increasingly felt I haven’t had the time (parent, obvs) or the inclination to game as much as I used to, particularly with the PS4. For the most part of this year, my gaming goal has failed miserably. But just the last couple of weeks I’ve started getting a bit of the mojo back. Let’s hope it continues!

Blog more

This goal has been a source of frustration for me this year. I started my blog in June 2017 and I’ve still got the passion and motivation for it now as much as I did when I started. In my head that is. Life, quite rightly really, keeps getting in the way. I’ve got lists everywhere of potential posts, ideas to explore, things to learn and research etc etc. If I could only arrange for a blogging slot in my day around 11ish (when I seem to get most of my inspiration) I’d be flying! But sadly, by the time I get to sit in front of the laptop I’ve usually had a full day and the motivation to write wains.

Vegas 2020

Sadly, this is one goal that will have to be shelved. I’ve been to Vegas twice. Once alone, and the second time with my cousin. I’ve always wanted to go with my wife and we had thought it may be a possibility next year. But, whilst I’d love it to happen one day, next year will come a bit too soon **sad smiley face**

One Dads View

Having now completed my review of the first half of this year my initial opinion has changed. Overall I’d say life in 2019 is going well. I think it’s easy to dwell on the negatives and I’m conscious it’s something I need to work on. In reality though, life hasn’t been too bad, has it?

How has your 2019 been going so far? Did you have any goals? Have you achieved any? I’d love to know in the comments below.