Happy New Year

I'm setting some intentions for myself at the start of this New Year.

1.  I was inspired by this article to make 2018, The Year of No Shopping.  The nice thing is everyone can make their own rules.  My rules are to buy something for myself only if something breaks or wears out (toaster, clothing, shoes).  The exception is if I find some clothing or shoes that are good for work (I could use a few more items in this area).  I will try to buy secondhand. Food is ok.  Like the author, I am ok with buying books as gifts, especially for kids.  Also fine with buying toiletries but only when they run out.  No stocking up.   I will also give homemade gifts.  I started this at Christmas and made homemade granola and raw vegan fruit cake bars as presents.  Experiences are fine such as admission to see bands, movies, and occassionally to eat out (2x/month).

2. This blog post inspired me to Eat My Pantry.  I'm going to be using up the beans, rice, noodles, dried mushrooms, canned goods and freezer items that I already have.  Instead of finding a recipe I want to make, I am going to find some stuff in the pantry and freezer that I want to use up and then figure out what to make with the item(s).  I will continue to buy fresh items such as fruits, veggies, almond milk and tofu. 

3. The Minimalists inspired me to take a Break from Facebook for the month of January.   I played the minimalism game in November 2017 and got rid of a lot of items.  They have helped me to get rid a lot of physical and mental clutter in my life.  They have a nice podcast that I recommend.

4. I am going to Read More Books.  I've finished two books and almost done with a 3rd during my Christmas break.  These books have been sitting on my book shelf for months and I finally got around to reading them.  It feels great!   Another thing that has helped is a tip I got from Austin Kleon and that is if you don't like what you are reading, stop reading it.  Reading should not be an exercise in suffering, unless you are in grad school ;-)

5. I am going to Meditate Daily.  Life feels better when I have taken the time to sit, even if it is for a few minutes.  One of my favorite teachers is Pema Chodron and this is a very nice article about meditation.

6.  Lastly, I set an intention to Move My Body Daily.  Whether it is going for a run, walking the dog, or doing some yoga,  I am going to do something physical each day to take care of my body.


Have you set some intentions for 2018?  If so, I'd love to hear about them :)