Another year is coming to an end and like I feel every year, that went by way too fast. For the last couple of years, I have felt stuck being in nursing school. Not that I don’t want to be in nursing school, because I am really excited about being a nurse! It’s just that it consumes a lot of my time and energy, not to mention I’m restricted by my income not working. In 2022, I am looking forward to finally graduating! In this post, I am going over my 2022 New Years goals and resolutions.
While I feel like I can’t make amazing resolutions like going backpacking Europe or buying a house since I will be transitioning between school and working halfway through the year (not to mention the restrictions with the pandemic and a sharp increase in house prices this year), I want to spend 2022 working towards the life I want.
If you want to read some of my previous New Years goals and resolutions posts, you can click on the links below!
2022 New Years Goals and Resolutions
2021 Recap
I feel like before I get into my 2022 New Years goals, I should recap 2021! Overall it was a pretty good year. This summer, I got to spend time in Austin, Texas and Disneyland. I planned and canceled a trip to Hawaii (thanks COVID). I completed another year of nursing school. In February, I got a puppy and subsequently the puppy blues when I didn’t leave my house for 3 months after since she has separation anxiety. I also read 65 books, which is my new record in a year!
In 2021, I didn’t end up tracking my previous New Years goal which was to spend 1000 hours outside. But, I am pretty sure I at least met it. I went on an hour of walking every day with my pup, went on several camping trips, and hiked when I could. It was not the year of a lifetime, but it was progress towards where I want to be in the future, and I feel like that’s where I am in life. Your twenties are weird.
2022 New Years Goals
So last year I only made one goal because I totally flopped on my 2020 goals. I honestly hated it because I am a goal-oriented person. I know that New Years goals and resolutions have a stigma around them. Everyone seems to have their own opinion on them. I don’t think they need to cause stress and pressure and I also think that you can adjust them whenever. I don’t feel disappointed if I don’t finish my resolution because what’s the point in that? I’ve made progress, I’ve continued to better myself. So, this year I am back to making multiple goals. Let’s get into them!
1. Go on 52 Hikes
I have seen people making resolutions for 52 hikes (1 hike/week) and have even joined the Facebook group. I don’t know how possible it is to do this for me in 2022 with nursing school for the first 6 months. However, my pup Juniper is finally old enough to go on hikes. I took her on a couple in 2021 and she has a lot of work to do in terms of training. But, I think it will be a lot easier to hike and I haven’t been on as many as I have in previous years and want to get back into it. Do I have high hopes for this goal? No. But it took me 3 years of making my 52 books a year resolution before I actually got it. So, we will see how this one goes!
2. Pay off My Car
I have a 2018 Toyota Corolla that I got 2-3 years ago now. My previous car, a 2010 Kia Forte completely failed on me even though a 2010 car in 2018 is not that old! I completely rethought how I looked at cars since before that I swore I would never buy a car from a dealership. Something about paying $4k out of pocket on a car that lasts you 2 years. I now have an 8-year warranty so I won’t have to worry about another stressful repeat of being out of a working car. I also tried to get a reliable car this time around and am never going back to a Kia.
Anyways, I hate car payments and had to refinance mine to afford it in nursing school. Since I anticipate getting a full-time nursing gig right away after graduation, I am hoping that I can finish paying it off this year. I think I have a little less than $7k on it but might just throw any extra money I have at it once I have a job secured.
3. Read 52 Books
The resolution that I make every year, but still want to do. Danny got me a kindle this year so I am excited to use that! I love reading in book form, but it’s hard to read at night when the light is off. I like that the kindle is backlit. This year, I also want to buy more books. Usually, I just check out from the library or get the occasional Book of the Month. I don’t like moving with books since they are heavy. However, my bookshelf looks really sad since it’s so empty.
I recently wrote a post with some of the books I am excited to read this year in this post.
4. Start Lifting
I exercise at a frequency that I am okay with that maintains my weight. In the last year, it’s been a lot of walks, pilates, and sometimes yoga. I also feel like I move a lot and am not one to sit. But, I got a gym membership MONTHS ago because Planet Fitness opened within walking distance from me. I wanted to use heavier weights than the 3 lb dumbbells I have. Don’t know what it is, but going to the gym after not having been for 3 years is so intimidating, even if it is just Planet Fitness. I really do want to go to start lifting and would be happy even just going 1- 2 times a week.
5. Travel to a New Country
A big part of me really wants to go travel for a month after I graduate nursing school. However, it’s just not practical the way it was when I was 19. Now I have a dog and rent. I also have financial goals that I want to reach so it’s not a great idea to go spend $5k on a trip at this point in time, even if I can. If you’re reading this and have limited responsibilities and the money to do it – go travel!
My reserved goal this year is to travel to one new country. I feel like that is an attainable goal since I won’t be in school after June. I do have a trip I need to reschedule this year to Hawaii, which is a new place for me, but I want to add another country to the list, as well.
6. Be Consistent
Consistency is something that I struggle with a lot. I want to be consistent in all aspects of my life because I feel like you can’t enjoy the fruits of your labor if you’re not consistent. It ends up just being a waste of time compared to the progress you can see if you are consistent. Like with working out, for example. When I am consistent I see the results and I can feel the results. It helps with motivation. I’m not wanting to be consistent with just working out, but I feel like I could use consistency to a degree in multiple aspects of my life. This is something that I have been working on for the last couple of years and it is still be something I need to work on in 2022 and in future years to come.
Final Thoughts
That’s it for my 2022 New Years goals and resolutions! I feel like 6 goals is a good number and there are some easier and more challenging goals in there for me. I know that reading 52 books and paying off my car is attainable without having to work hard for them. Traveling to a new country will be something that I have to make happen for myself. Going on 52 hikes, I know, will also be a challenge. But, I am always up for a challenge!
I would love to hear if you have 2022 New Years goals or resolutions. Leave them in the comments for me, or let me know on my Instagram, here!
