Hey everyone!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Today’s post is the ‘I must plan the new person I want to be‘ type. I am not really a fan of ‘The New Me’ phrase as I think it puts too much pressure to be perfect and to be productive. Plus it seems to discard who you were when you could never be ‘The New Me’ without who you used to be but maybe I am reading too much into!!
Anyway I do think the New Year can have a good impact as you can set yourself goals and there is a sense of ‘I have lots of motivation let’s do this’ and I like to cling on to that energy for as long as I can. It usually lasts two days!!
But let’s focus on 2019 to start with….
At the beginning of the year I wrote a post where I talked about what I wanted from the year and set some goals so it is time to reflect because now I have lived 2019 I can say that it was at times it was horrendous and other times it was pretty darn good so like every other year basically.
2019 Goals:
Two blog posts a week
Umm… if you are being kind.. yes because I have done 104 posts this year but it hasn’t necessarily been spread out evenly with 2 a week and I did have a hiatus in August and reduce to once a week in October so I broke this goal but I prefer to see it as adapting to the situation to benefit productivity. So I am saying I succeeded!!
Finish writing a book
Lol. No.
But I did alter this goal in my writing post to write 40,000 words by the end of this year and….
https://twitter.com/meandinkblog/status/1194199186863988736
I did it *dance party* which I definitely didn’t think was going to happen near the end (I saved all my words for the last 2 months) but I’m pretty proud of myself for that. I also love that it is an entirely different book than the one I wanted to finish at the start of the year. I don’t follow plans. I destroy them. But still I’m calling it a…….
Read 35 books
YES. I have undoubtedly achieved this goal. Hallelujah. I’ve read over this amount and it feels good. I was surprised by how much I read this year (61 books *gasps*) and I’m very happy that I achieved this and more importantly, I’ve read so many good books!
New Job
I’m afraid to say I was lazy and procrastinated the important things so no I didn’t do this. I’m scared of change but this will change very soon. PLEASE!
Learn to drive
Hahahahaha *laughs through tears* no I haven’t. I am channelling my inner Lara-Jean and being afraid of driving so nope, I’ve saved some money for it but I haven’t done it yet. *continues to laugh through tears*
Learning how to do basic digital art for fun
No… but I changed this goal to regularly drawing on paper for fun because I didn’t buy a new laptop but I think I prefer drawing on paper. I like drawing, not because I’m very good but it is relaxing and for once I am not thinking about how to make it be the best but just enjoy it. And I get to release some creative energy. I have drawn every month at least once, so I have achieved it. It counts okay.
Well that was a mix so slightly disheartening but I have achieved some things… I have made progress on my writing, maybe not as quick as I want but progress is still progress. I am happy with how blogging has gone this year and I am very happy with my reading so let’s focus on that.
I have things I still need to work towards but that’s why we have new beginnings after ends.
Okay looking forward, this is my favourite part!! 2020, will it be by year?!?!
So I want 2020 to be exciting, full of new opportunity and fun. I would wish it to be a truly positive year but I don’t want to get stuck in the mindset that this means that it has to be perfect or else I’ve failed. I like to be open to mistakes but always trying to improve.
I hope some big things can happen though so let’s see what my goals are….
2020 Goals:
- Finish writing one of my books (yes this again)
- Maybe participate in NaNoWriMo (properly for once)
- Learn to drive (I really need to do that)
- Read 40 books (I know this is less than I read this year but I’m pretty sure that was a fluke)
- Read more adult fantasy
- Read more under-hyped books
- Finish series (they’re waiting Sophie, c’mon)
- Post more discussions and writing posts on my blog (once every month at least)
- Redesign my blog
- Be open to new things
- Find some kind of activity/keep fit to do regularly (I’m getting way too lazy)
The main goal of every year is to be happy, to be healthy and to be kind. To live it to the best of your ability and don’t be too hard on yourself.
The New Decade
It is the start of the 2020’s so we are saying goodbye to the tens and I didn’t really realise this until everyone was tweeting what they had achieved in the past decade causing me to have an existential crisis over ‘what have I achieved?’ *cue lots of crying*
So I thought I would make some light-hearted decade length goals/bucket list…
- The British Museum in London BY MYSELF.
- Go to Iceland
- Finish writing 3-5 books (not including editing, that’s in the 100 year goal)
- Go to Greece
- Go swimming in the ocean in the UK (yes it will be cold but that is what coffee is for)
- Go to a bookish event (you know the ones IN PUBLIC)
- Try to use a Bullet Journal for a year
- Move house
- Get one of those fancy advent calendars that are really expensive/overpriced
- Get a coffee machine (I am hoping it will make me feel like an adult)
Last year I shared some motivational quotes and I’m going to do that again because I am a ‘Quote Queen’ (or at least I like to think so)…

How was your 2019? Did you set goals for 2019? How do you stay motivated?
What are your goals for 2020?

Loved this post! I too want to improve my driving skills this year but I’m a skittish driver just like Lara Jean lol😂 Hope you’re able to achieve your goals ❤ Happy new year! ❤
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Thank you so much Nikita!! I know Lara Jean is a mood when driving 😂 Hopefully we can both improve with driving!!
Thank you so much, I wish you all the best for 2020 and Happy New Year!! ❤
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This is such an awesome post! Despite not achieving everything you set out to do in 2019, you’ve still done a lot and adapted instead of stopping completely, and I think that’s most important, right? To keep trying and adapting 🙂 Good luck with your 2020 goals! You can do it 😉 Happy new year!
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Thank you!! And yeah you’re right, it can be easy to focus on what you haven’t achieved instead of what you have at times but you need to remember to be proud of yourself and to keep going. Thank you, I needed that!! 🙂
Thank you so much!! I wish you a wonderful 2020 too!! Happy New Year!! ❤
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Happy New Year ❤️🎊 Good luck in achieving your goals. I hope you get to achieve them all.
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Thank you so much!! Happy New Year to you too!
Thank you, I hope so!! I hope 2020 gives you everything you want!! ❤ 🙂
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Happy New Year!
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Thank you. Happy New Year to you too!!
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I totally understand your fear of driving! It’s so nerve-wracking! But good luck on learning how to do it this year. Sending you all the fearless, positive vibes!
ALSO, if you need any help with your redesign, just let me know! I’d be more than willing to answer any questions you might have! 🙂
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I’m glad I’m not alone, it is scary!! Thank you for your support and I will need them vibes so it is very much appreciated!! 💛 😂
Aw.. thank you so much Kat! You are a design queen so I will keep that in mind! Thank you 💛💛
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I don’t really know what to say but I really enjoyed this post so I wanted to say something so….great post? & good luck on all your goals 😂
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Haha well thank you for reading and commenting !! I’m glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you, I hope 2020 is a great year for you!! 💛
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Happy New Year!! And good luck with all of your goals, I’m sure you can do it (: I find those adult colouring books quite fun drawing wise and they have so many amazing designs in them (: and I can’t drive either 🙈 I need to learn but I’m scared. I still need to figure out a reading goal for the year but it’ll probably be around 35 to 40. Ideally I want to read double that but I don’t want to set it too high, get loads of headaches and slumps then feel like a failure. I think my goals are basically the same as last year. Although I also might try NaNoWriMo – I always really like the sound of it. Good luck with all of these (: and I hope you have a wonderful year.
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Happy New Year to you too and thank you!! ❤
Thank you so much! ❤ Yeah those adult drawing books are so elaborate, plus it can be quite a calming thing to do !!
I know learning how to drive sounds horrible and scary but I am hoping it is better once you are in the car. At least we are in it together!!
Yeah I'm the same I don't like to set it too high but loads of pressure isn't going to help like you said!! Hopefully we will both surpass our goals! 🙂
Best of luck with all your goals then!!
Ohh that would be cool if you try NaNoWriMo as we could support each other but I think it is a decision for closer to the time 😂
Thank you so much, I hope you have a wonderful 2020 too!! ❤
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Thank you ❤
Yes that’s true and they have an amazing variety of them as well. I have an Alice In Wonderland one that I love ❤❤ Ooh and I saw a Thomas Kinkade Disney one the other day that I’m definietely going to have to get at some point.
It just seems like a lot of pressure and panic. Although at least the instructor has their own brake I guess. And that’s true (:
Yes hopefully 😀
Thank you.
Yeah that would be pretty cool xD it would probably be better with support. But yeah, it’s a big thing to decide this far in advance.
Thank you ❤❤
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Good luck with all your goals, Sophie!! You did amazingly and you should be very proud of everything you were able to accomplish.💗I hope 2020, as well as the decade in general, treats you well and it is the best yet!
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Thank you so much Olivia!! 💛
Aw.. thank you, that means a lot and it’s so sweet!!! Thank you (again)!! Thank you, I’m optimistic for this decade!! I hope 2020 is an absolutely amazing year for you too and it gives you everything you want!! ❤
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These are great goals, Sophie! I really need to make drawing as my goal too, I enjoyed it but I always get disheartened bc it doesn’t always turn out as I wanted it. I really have to just draw as a hobby instead of caring of the result 🙂
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Thank you so much Tasya!! I’m the same I love the act of drawing but it can get very stressful when it doesn’t go how you want but you’re right that you just have to remember to do it for fun. Plus once I let go of ‘perfect’ I noticed I did it more so I naturally improved.
I hope you have a wonderful 2020 and that you get back into drawing!! 🙂
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It looks like you did great with a lot of your 2019 goals, so congrats!! And also all the best luck with your new goals for 2020, you can totally do it! 🥰 I’m also hoping to participate in all the NaNo things this year, as I didn’t get to do much last year. I also love the decade bucket list, that’s such a fantastic idea 💗
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Thank you so much Caro!! ❤ and I appreciate the well wishes for 2020, I can use them to motivate myself when I feel tired! 😂
Yay well we can do NaNoWriMo together, it can be great at getting you to write and it looks fun!!
Thank you, it was fun to come up with little things to aim for!
I hope you have a wonderful 2020!! ❤
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THIS IS SO FUNNY AHAHAH and good luck with your goals!!
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Haha I’m glad you liked it!! 😂 and thank you so much! I hope you have a great 2020!! 💛
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Congrats on achieving so many of your goals for 2019!! Writing 40,000 is such a huge achievement, as is reading SO MUCH MORE than your original goal! Also, I literally didn’t drive at all until this year because it freaked me out so much, so you’re definitely not alone in that. If it makes you feel any better, it definitely does get easier the more you do it.
Good luck with all of your goals in the coming year/decade! Being open to new things is always a great goal, in my opinion 😊 I would also LOVE to go to Iceland and Greece – both of those sound like such cool places to visit! Hope you have a wonderful 2020!! ❤
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Thank you so much Margaret!! It did feel good to hit 40K and I am excited for what 2020 is going to bring writing-wise !!
The amount I read was such a plot twist as I only read 25 books the year before so I really didn’t expect that!! 😂
Ah.. that does make me feel so much better thank you. It’s so nerve-wreaking but I’m glad to hear it gets better the more you do it!! 🙂
Thank you so much!! Yeah I think being open to new things is good as so often I will stay in my comfort zone when they can be so much more out there!!
Iceland and Greece are at the top of my travel list. I hope we will both get to go!!
Thank you so much. I hope you have an amazing 2020 too!! ❤
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I also plan to succeed Nanowrimo for once this year. Have been participating in both 2016 and 2017 and I failed both miserably lol.
Good luck with your 2020 and decade goals!
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Yay well best of luck for NaNoWriMo!! We can do it!! Haha I tried to participate in 2018 and I didn’t get very far at all 😂
Thank you so much 💛 I hope you have a wondeful 2020!!
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Same. I failed every single time 😂
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Haha this could be your year!!
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