18 Goals for 2018

As you get older the years tend to pass by faster and faster and for me, 2017 went past in the blink of an eye.

2018 is a year of change for us. Our youngest child, Sebastian, is now at school full-time and I gave up childminding at the end of December, so for the first time in almost 10 years I am home alone during school hours.

I do intend to keep busy and am currently working two days a week at my local pre-school, as well as working from home on my blogs and as a writer for other websites.

I don’t do New Year’s resolutions, as always end up breaking them, however I saw Colette from Going On An Adventure blog post about 18 goals for 2018 and thought it was a brilliant idea, so here are mine!!

1. Weekly Wellness Walk

Working from home can be lonely and it is all too tempting to be sat working for as many hours as possible before the kids get home from school.

When Sebastian started school, my friend Joanne from Charliemoos and I decided we were going to do a wellness walk on a weekly basis and we started well, with walks through Avon Country Park, Moors Valley and along the beach. However, child illness, random inset days and life started to get in the way and we started missing them. This year we need to be more focussed.

2. Go Swimming

I spend 5 hours a week watching the kids swimming, in various swimming pools locally, but I never get the chance to get in myself.

Swimming is my favourite form of exercise and when Sebastian started school I bought myself a new swimsuit and goggles and promised myself I would swim at least once a week. I managed it once!!

My lovely friend Deby has set me a challenge though, so I am determined to improve on my fitness this year and try to give Isaac a run for his money in the pool.

3. Redecorate the lounge

We have been in our house for 13 years this year and in that time it has had new windows, a new kitchen, new bathroom and been redecorated. The lounge is now starting to look tired and dated and really needs a lick of paint. I would love to rip the old fireplace off the wall and get the old artex ceiling skimmed for a more modern look which would mean that it all needs re-plastering and decorating.

4. Replace our doors

Our internal doors are horrible, old hardboard things with the most annoying handles that I am always getting my clothes caught on. This will be the year we replace them!!

5. Be Better at Planning & Communication

I am a great planner……..in my head. What I am terrible at, is telling people my plans and then just expecting them to know. I have a calendar and I have a planner so I am determined to use them.

6. Attend more events

Being a blogger, I am invited to a number of events throughout the year, however, it is very rare that I go unless I can take the family with me. Although I will still have to fit them in around Hubby’s work, I am less restricted than I have been for a long time.

7. Enjoy a child-free weekend break abroad

Having three grown-up children, should mean we have built-in babysitters. Travelling with kids is great, but sometimes it is lovely to go somewhere without a small person in tow, demanding a wee and we have not been away together since my 30th when we went to Barcelona.

8. Go on Family Bike Rides

Another of my favourite sports is cycling and although I tried it with a babyseat on the back of the bike, I found it quite challenging, especially as said baby used to like to sway side to side to make the bike wobble.

I need to invest in a Trail Gator for Sebastian, but last year we received a Thule Raceway bike rack to carry the bikes on the car and I have a new Gtech ebike, so there is no excuse for not taking the kids out.

9. Explore more of the UK

I love exploring our beautiful country but our travels always seem to take us in the same direction. Places I would love to visit this year include Kent, Stratford Upon Avon, North Wales, Northern Ireland, York, Peak District and to see where I was born in County Durham.

10. Write more personal posts on my blog

I used to write more personal posts on my blog, but as it grows and the opportunities come in to write reviews and go on adventures, they tend to take over. I miss doing my 365 and will be re-starting my weekly posts on our week.

11. Spend more quality time with Hubby

Hubby does silly hours at work and when he gets home I am often in a whirl of kids clubs and ensuring that x gets to y on time. I hate the phrase ‘date night’ but I would like to find one evening a month where we can escape to the cinema or attend a quiz night.

12. Read more

I used to love reading but never seem to find the time. Last year I vowed to do an exercise class when Isaac was doing his swimming lessons, but he insists that we are sat poolside to watch him. We now have an agreement that I can take a book – I might finally finish Harry Potter and the Cursed Child!!

13. Find time to catch up with friends

Facebook is great, I know what all my friends from years ago are doing…….I just haven’t actually seen them in the flesh. This year we will find the time to catch up in person.

14. Cook fresh and eat more healthily

I am totally guilty of cheating and buying unhealthy ready meals. There is a time and place for these but I am determined to start cooking properly again.

15. Keep on top of my blogging to-do list

There is a running joke in the house that I have a blogging pile and it is very rare that I see the bottom of it. It has been cleared for the new year and I am determined it is not going to build back up!!

16. Enjoy 1-2-1 time with the kids

As a family we enjoy lots of time out with the kids. I would love to be able to spend more time with them on a 1-2-1 basis so that can give them all my undivided attention, if only for an hour.

17. Find time to get my hair done

I haven’t been to the hairdressers for 6 months+ and boy is my hair looking a mess. I intend to start the year with a visit to a proper salon and promise to keep my tresses looking lovely throughout the year!

18. Be more adventurous

Before having kids I was the one that was always first one on the fastest rollercoaster but my nerve seems to have vanished with little sign of returning. In the last 18 months I have braved Go Ape, thrown myself down a zip wire or two and ridden a segway, but there is still a way to go. I would love to throw myself around an inflatable waterpark, brave Zip World Velocity and see if I can actually get on Stealth!!

So, there you have it. I think my list is achievable and I will be checking back every month to see what I have ticked off.