So long 2015 and hello 2016! I decided to begin the new year by ditching my old blog, Diary of a Grumpy Teacher, and starting a new blog. I loved the playfulness of my old blog, but now that I’m well into my 30s, I felt I needed a blog that better represented where I am in life now. On my new blog, I will continue to share my teaching experiences, but I will also include more tidbits of my life outside of teaching. The biggest mistake I made with my first blog was writing posts based on what I thought my “target audience” would like. That’s all changing now. Everything I write here will be for me.

Without further ado, here are my top 5 New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Save $8,000 for my trip to hike Mount Kilimanjaro in June. Ever since I hiked the Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal in 2006, Mount Kilimanjaro has been on my bucket list. This year, my dream is finally coming true. My teaching friend, Brittany, will be joining me on this incredible journey. We traveled really well together in Cuba last year, so I’m absolutely thrilled to be traveling with her again this summer in Tanzania.
2. Reduce waste. On average, my boyfriend and I only produce one small bag (2.6 gallons) of waste and 1 paper grocery bag full of recyclables each week. Not bad for two adults. However, I know we can do better. Our weakness is food delivery…they always come in huge styrofoam or plastic containers that are not recyclable. We would produce a lot less waste if we limit the amount of food delivery to once per month, instead of once per week. Also, I need to carry the foldable totes in my purse for the times I make an unplanned stop at a store. I hate the plastic bags!
3. Reduce sugar consumption. Like most Americans, I’m addicted to sugar, especially sugary beverages like soda. I will try to consume no more than one soda a week…oh, that’s going to be so tough! I love Coke. I also need to cut back on the sugary snacks like candy and cookies. To help stay on track, I’m keeping a food diary in which I write what I eat and drink. Also, I will jot down any thoughts I have when I struggle to stay on track. This has to work…my cholesterol hit an all-time high last year at 334.
4. Exercise at least 3 times a week. This is on my list every year. And I suck at it every year. I must do focus on this goal so I can lower my cholesterol level. No excuses.
5. Read one book a month. I used to read 2-3 books a month, but in 2015 I only read 4 books. That’s it! 4 books in one year–so pathetic! I finished The Windup Girl in November and Ready Player One in December. It felt so good to get lost in a book again. If I can find time to watch 2-3 hours of TV each day, I should have plenty of time to read at least one book a month.

What are you New Year’s resolutions?