Goodbye 2021!
At last 2021 has come to the end! For some it may have whizzed by like many another year, but if you sit and think of everything that has happened this year… you may find it has indeed stretched on for far too long!
Those who know me will know the trials and tribulations that have come with this year. You will know of the joys, the sadness, the achievements and the accomplishments. I am certain you too have many of your own. Some you will wish to remember and treasure, others you will be glad to put behind you and move on.
Hello 2022!
Whilst we say goodbye to a year, we must look forward to a new one. Although we do not know what this year will bring, we must plan ahead with some of our own goals, to make it the best we can.
Some of you may set yourselves New Years Resolutions, whilst some of you will think there is no point. Some of you may have the same resolutions year after year, on repeat, going round and round. This year, make it different. This year make it count. Think of one thing. Just. One. Thing. Think of one thing you would really like to achieve this year. Think carefully. Be really picky about it. Really think about it. Only one thing. Maybe you knew instantly what it would be. Maybe you had a flurry of thoughts and think it impossible to pick only one. Perhaps you are confused and need to choose two or three. Pick one. Just one.
Plan your goal
Did you pick one? If you did, write it down. Do it now before you forget! If you have no paper – write it on whatever device you are reading this on! No excuses! If you are yet to pick one… re-read the last paragraph until you have chosen something to focus on.
Now look at your goal. Your plan. Your resolution. Your dream. Your wish. Call it what you like. But look at it. Is it something you can achieve within an hour? Is it something that seems near impossible? Is it something that will take the whole year? Whatever it is, now think about ‘how’ you can get to it. What steps do you need to achieve to get to where you want to be? I would imagine there are several stages to get to your end target. Otherwise… well, otherwise you would have done it already! This coming year. This coming year you will achieve it. This coming year you can achieve it.
Focus on the small stuff
Look at your goal again. Are there obstacles in your way? Or imaginary obstacles? How can you overcome these? Break your main goal into smaller pieces and focus on what needs to be done to clear the path for you. Do you need someone else to help you? teach you? guide you? motivate you? Think of all the possible ways that you can ensure you can get to your end goal. No excuses!
Write it all down
Writing things down is a great visual aid to help you remember and also to act as a checklist to help you on your way. I would say there will be a series of steps you need to take to move you towards your end goal. Write them all down. No matter how trivial you think they are. They will act as a reminder to help you get towards where you need to be.
Is there anything that could help me?
I love having a notebook or post-it notes nearby that I can jot things down on as they pop up. My memory is not great and sometimes when I read things I’ve written I’m amazed at myself! Here are a few things you might also find useful. I receive a small commission if you click and purchase through these links (this is at no additional cost to you)!
Veganuary
January is the month where many people pledge to go vegan for the whole month – hence veganuary. Even if you feel that Veganuary is too big a step to take, why not try ‘Meat Free Mondays’ or swapping your dairy milk for an alternative such as oat, almond, coconut, soy, hemp or any of the other ranges of milk. Whatever changes you try, try a few, as even the same type of product varies considerably across each brand. Every little change we can make towards helping the environment, all adds up to create a bigger picture. Just a small change, a small step by you, can really help!
Ideas for New Years Eve
If you are celebrating on New Years Eve, or New Years Day, why not add use some of these ideas in your menu planning.
Mixed Meze plate: One of my favourite things, anytime!
Houmous: A favourite with more and more people nowadays.
Lentil Pakoras: Great for dipping in houmous or adding to a sandwich
Cheese Straws: These are great nibbles
Puff Pastries: A great way to quickly make a whole range of sweet or savoury snacks
Mini Quiches: A truly retro idea… it’s still around for a reason!
Florentines: More delicious than you think they are!
Biscoff Brownies: Even if you are not a brownie lover, after trying these, you will be!
Chocolate Coconut Snowballs: So very good, they need no further explanation!
Sharing
I really hope you have given your 2022 goal some thought! If you would like to share it – which of course, in my eyes then makes it more real, please feel free to do so below. If you have an idea but need some help thinking how to achieve it, then share below and hopefully some suggestions will follow!
As usual, if you are making or adapting any of my recipes, I do love to see your photos! Please share and tag me @LifeDietHealth or using #LifeDietHealth on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter.
Leave me a comment below… I love to chat!
I hope to speak with you soon
Happy New Year!
Laurena x
Hi Laurena, I don’t usually make new year’s resolutions but if I did, it would have to be doing something about my cleaning OCD- I’m quite sure it’s become even worse this year… Wishing you and yours a very happy new year. Here’s hoping 2022 is a better one for us all xx
Eva, maybe you just need more house to clean to help with the OCD lol! My house is available when you come this way! 😛 One of my friends neighbours was on a tv show about OCD & cleaning; one day when we visited her, he was outside cleaning a spotless 20 year old vehicle with a hoover, a bin bag, wipes, brush, etc. , it looked brand new! Wishing you a wonderful 2022 xxx
I’ve had this for a long time now, ever since I moved out my parents’ home… I’ve found it just as stressful whether I’m living in a maisonette, semi-detached house with garden or various apartments abroad lol. People seem to think I enjoy it, I don’t🤪It’s a compulsion I don’t wish on anyone haha. I’ll be thinking about this blog post though ☺️
So… firstly, two questions 1) Is it just at your house you have the cleaning OCD? 2) How does it differ at friends/family homes /hotels?
Thankfully, it doesn’t seem to affect me at other people’s homes lol (I do always offer to help clean/tidy up etc). I notice it a bit more when we stay in holiday apartments or hotels…even though it shouldn’t!
I’ve also noticed there’s a pretty sort of sparkly effect as I’m typing this (noticed it earlier when I was reading your post too). Is it intentional or an optical illusion?🙂
OK. That’s interesting then! So, your next questions are 1) when did it start? and 4) what happens if everything is not as clean as you’d like? Ooo, is the sparkly effect the snow?
It must’ve been around 2002 when I moved out (practically 20 years, eek). At some point I became aware that lots of areas get overlooked in the home and now feel the impulse to clean to prevent that happening/dirt etc building up. In recent years it’s gone a bit OTT with cleaning the floors, I moult a lot lol. Hubby having a dry skin condition doesn’t help the situation either (that’s very selfish of me, I know!)