17 Things I Want To Do In 2017

Although we are well into the new year and it's probably past the point for declaring New Year's resolutions, upon finishing exams and coursework, before I start my next term at university, I have been thinking of things that I want to do this year. These aren't in any particular order...

 1. Enjoy my own company
I thought of this one after I spent a few hours alone shopping the other day, which is something I would never usually do. However, I surprisingly enjoyed this and want to do it more in my life. 

 2. Do the best that I can in my studies
Being in my second year of university means that there is a level of pressure relating to the work I am doing. Despite struggling to accept that you can't and don't always do as well as you hope, I want to keep working hard to achieve as best as I can. 

 3. Eat more fruit
Something my parents have told me a lot is that I don't eat enough fruit, and they're right. I need and want to make a conscious effort to eat more and a variety of fruits this year.

4. Regularly exercise
I used to be quite good at this before starting university when I was club swimming 3 times a week, but since leaving home I have not been as good at prioritising my time for exercise. I am typing this having been swimming for the second Sunday morning since being back in the city, but I want to improve on this more.

5. Travel
The desire to travel with friends has been there for a couple of years for me now, but the anxious worrying has always held me back. This year I have already been speaking to some friends about visiting European cities, so hopefully I will able to stick to my word!

6. Submit an article for my university newspaper
At the beginning of second year I decided to sign up to write for my university paper, however I am yet to submit an article. I would ideally like to be able to contribute before the end of my second year in May.

7. Read more
Reading is a hobby I have always had, yet have not dedicated enough time since I started my A Levels. I think to motivate myself to spend more of my time doing this, I'll make a list of books that I want to read, but that is another idea in itself.

8. Go to a festival
Similarly to travelling, I would really love to go to a festival this year, even if it is just a day one. I've been to concerts before but nothing on a larger scale. Although I don't really see myself as the camping type, I'm sure that with the right people, in the right place, I would have an amazing time.

 9. Visit friends in new places
In terms of this country, university had thankfully brought me a lot of lovely friends from all over. This summer I really want to visit as many of them as I can in their hometowns and hope they can visit me also!

10. Get back into driving
Regardless of the fact that I passed my driving test in 2015, driving has not really been a massive part of my life since as the need for a car was not there when I first moved. As a result of this, I lost some confidence in driving but hope to get back into it later in the year when I have the opportunity.

11. Take more photos
Thinking of this one, I do this quite a lot already. However, as I own a DSLR, 2017 should be the year I could learn to use it a bit more than I do now!

12. Cut down on time spent on social media
The addictive nature I find in checking my social media accounts does annoy me and I wish to cut down how much time I spend on it. I would to spend more time living than living mine and other people's lives through what we post online.

13. Explore the city I live in more
I am definitely guilty of not exploring the city I spend university at, especially in my first year. Now I know it a little bit better I want to continue to go to new places and have new experiences.

14. Experiment more with cooking
I do like to cook, but am guilty of sticking to what I know. With the freedom I have with cooking for myself I would like to learn from others and experimentation to increase the variety in my diet.

15. Bake more often
Likewise to reading, baking is an activity I love to do. Obviously, the outcome of this is enough for me to want to do it more often, who doesn't love a good cake?

16. Stop sweating the small stuff so much
I know in myself that it would be impossible for me to just say "stop worrying", so instead I would like to "stop worrying as much". This one I wasn't sure if I should include as it is probably the one I would find the hardest to do, but that's the challenge!

17. Update my blog more regularly
Finally, as I have realised how much I have liked writing a post again, I really want to get back into posting regularly on my blog, regardless of how many people are seeing this. I need to remember that this is something I started as a documentation, not a pressure.

Love,
H x 

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