Who has two thumbs and can’t believe we’re already five days into the new decade?

The answer would be ME.

It’s honestly astounding that 2019 is already long gone. I know it’s kind of cliche to say “[insert year here] was a CRAZY year yada yada yada,” but 2019 really was crazy for me. I finished law school, took the bar exam, moved to another state, started a new career – like I said, crazy. I’m definitely looking forward to having a bit more stability in my life in 2020.

Now please excuse me while I go knock on ALL the wood.

As I’ve said before, I don’t like “resolutions.” To me, however, goals are a little more broad, a little more generalized, and seem less strict than resolutions. You can make progress towards a goal, but resolutions seem much more black-and-white: you either keep your resolution or you don’t.

Anyway, one of my very first blog posts was about some of the goals I had for 2019. I was definitely more successful with some than with others. Either way, though, writing them out at the beginning of the year and publishing them for the world to see certainly kept them in the back of my mind more than if I hadn’t. So, for your reading pleasure, I want to keep that going and memorialize my goals for 2020.

1. Live More Sustainably

I’m going to be honest – I’m just a little scared about what the future has in store for us if we don’t start treating our planet with more respect. So, one of my main goals for 2020 is to move towards living a more sustainable life. Some of the steps I want to take are:

• Reduce reliance on single-use plastics. Even little things like plastic snack baggies and produce bags add up!
• Cut back on food waste. I need to get better at 1) planning meals and 2) eating leftovers.
• Shop more intentionally. This includes groceries, clothing…well, everything.

You can find more ways to live more sustainably here!

2. Take Better Care of Myself

This was also one of my goals for 2019 – unfortunately, though, it was one of the less successful ones. Between school, bar prep, and a cross-state move, I spent about 50% of the year stressing out (and stress eating). Now that things have settled down (and now that I have great insurance!), I really, REALLY need to buckle down and focus on my health. This includes:

• Getting more exercise. My dear, darling husband surprised me with a Peloton bike for Christmas, and once it gets delivered I’m hoping to establish a more regular workout routine.
• Getting the appropriate preventive and mental health care. I am the first to tell my friends and loved ones to “GO TO THE DAMN DOCTOR” when something just isn’t right, so one of my goals for 2020 is to start practicing what I preach.
• Practicing self-care on a regular basis. Again, things kinda fell apart for me after graduation and I turned into a walking ball of stress. Even though it was definitely counter-intuitive, one of the results was that I fell off the #selfcaresunday wagon. I really want to get back on in 2020.

3. Keep on Planning for the Future

This is another one of the goals I had for 2019. I was slightly more successful with this, so my goal for 2020 is to keep on making progress. Some of the main areas I want to focus on:

• Getting our finances in order. This includes paying down debt and sticking with a budget.
• Growing as a couple. With all the changes we went through last year, I really want to take some time to focus on us and who we are as partners.
• Keeping on top of my professional development. My clerkship ends at the end of Summer 2020, so I need to decide whether I want to do a second term or look to advance my career in a new position elsewhere. Decisions, decisions!

There you have it – my goals for 2020. Now that I’ve written them out, I need to start making them a reality. Hopefully this time next year I’ll be regaling you with all of the success I’ve made (although I won’t hold my breath).

What about you – what do you want to accomplish this year? Let me know in the comments below!

With love,

A.