Stepping into 2020...

New year, new me? I don’t think so. As much as I love a reason to celebrate with my friends and family and enjoy heading into a new year with a fresh slate, I always ask myself, is it really the start of a new me? And would I really want it to be?

I have had years where I start the new year hoping for big changes to occur and to feel happier, but this has never been healthy, and this want for change has never been a sign of my own personal happiness. It has always shown that I am not content with the individual I am at the end of the year. Instead, this year I am making a conscious effort to head into 2020 with happiness and confidence. I’m not asking for any great changes to occur, I just want to focus on consistency, happiness, and health. I want to continue to develop the individual I was in 2019, not change myself.

I see the new year as a prospect to look forward to and welcome into my life. Many people set resolutions with the intention to give up something or change an aspect of themselves, but I personally like to set myself something proactive to do, something that will help develop the individual I am. Last year my New Years resolution was to read the news every day (I didn’t even know what Brexit was!), and I really enjoyed doing it and am going continue to read the news! This year my resolution is to be able to bake a tasty loaf of bread by the end of the year! Emphasis on the tasty as I actually want it to be edible. It’s not your standard fitness goal, but it’s a goal I will enjoy working towards.

I enjoy setting myself non-running related resolutions as it gives me a different challenge to tackle. I don’t want to punish myself by giving up something and I don’t feel I need to, so instead I look at resolutions as a chance to do something new and see the new year as a chance to develop the person I am rather than make changes.

​So, rather than looking for the new me in the new year that awaits, I am instead looking ahead at the new year as a chance to continue on the journey I am currently on. Rather than a fresh start, I want to see where the journey I am on now will continue to go. I don’t want to make any drastic changes heading into the new year, instead I want to continue to do the things I am doing now and hope the hard work all starts to pay off.

So, what are my goals for 2020?

I want to stay healthy and happy. Whilst I do have more specific time and event-based goals, to remain healthy and to be happy are my overarching goals for the whole year. Ultimately, without these two goals, any running related aims would not be achievable, because I am the best runner I can be when I am happy and healthy.