Some thoughts on 2019, 2020 and beyond…

Life moves quickly

Writing my New Years Eve post, something i’ve done since I started Abigailgrows over 3 years ago has really made that statement real. It feels like yesterday since I wrote my last new years eve post and so much has changed… but so little of what I wanted to do has been done. As we move into a new decade I have realised more than ever what happens if you don’t put that effort in. 

This year has been a year of successes and failures, loss and gain. But all the great moments and all the flaws have really had me thinking about what I want to gain from the new decade. There has been so many things I’ve written in bucket lists and plans that I haven’t achieved. Because other stuff has stood in the way. 

2020 is the beginning of a new decade and for me its really a fresh start in the new chapter of my life. A chance to move away from the bad habits and the life choices that are preventing me from doing what I want to do. 

As I mentioned before in other posts, I’ve gone off resolutions and strict future plans, I found that I give up on them or unexpected events displace the plans I put in place. So I’ve been looking at what I want to do in 2020 and beyond; then seeing what’s holding me back from achieving those things. 

A big one was money. Not only do I need to pay £3675.00 towards my university fees this year but I am also severely in my overdraft. This is preventing me from doing fun things or making me feel guilty for considering spending money on holidays or days out ect. Whilst I’ve finally got some action in the student loan department I really need to start looking at the budgeting and gain some control of my spending and finances. 

The second was time. I was wasting it. I’m not doing what I need to be doing to succeed this year in medicine, money and a healthy happy self. The procrastination has creeped up and the desire to put things off until the stress mounts is insane. I brought home a lot of work with me over Christmas, I’ve been doing some catch up and get ahead work. Whilst also looking into how I can learn my drugs list and other things that I know will be important to take the time to get things done. I’ve sorted though all my extra papers and folders, condensed it all and organised it all so that I can make the most of my time. 

The goal for 2020 is to save money and save time. 

Doing this will achieve everything I want from the year. Financial security. Success in Medical School (Those dreaded exams are looming). Being Healthier and body confident. 

I’ve brought myself a weight-loss reward chart, where I put up a pound for every pound I lose. I am going to put that money into my savings for a holiday I want to reward myself with in the summer. (When I pass – Positivity!). I am also going to reward myself with money into the holiday pot for every time I get my drugs list 100% correct. 

There’s also some intense healthy eating but super cheap meal planning going on… got to ensure that I’m not wasting money on fast food which has been a really bad habit since I moved back to Coventry. Something that whilst I might be happy with for the first ten minutes, makes me depressed in the money and self confidence department. 

I’ve also brought the lists back. Not in a this needs doing kind of way but just to make sure I realise the extent of the things I need to do and the money that I am spending. I’ve been writing a list of stuff rather then flagging emails and I’ve started writing down everything I spend because sometimes I think you can forget what you spend and whether it was worth the money. 

I just think that I want to make the most of everything in 2020 and beyond. It’s so easy to waste time, energy and money and not achieve fulfilment. I am unwilling to do that this year, I won’t end it feeling the way I feel right now.

The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all.” ―Josiyah Martin