Look, I do not like New Year’s Resolutions. I think they’re cheesy and definitely cause eye rolls from me every year. Why wait until the next year to change something about yourself or your life? However, I couldn’t pass up the chance to play off of this catchy title, could I? Therefore, I put together a list of 20 things that I am looking forward to in 2020 or that I want to accomplish. So it’s not just goals I’m working on, but things that will be happening.
Read more and tell me in the comments if anything on my list matches something on yours!
1. Be conversational in 3 languages (apart from my native language).
I have several posts about my journey to being a polyglot. And it’s not just so I can have the title of a polyglot. I genuinely enjoy learning languages and in 2020 I want to dedicate more time to my goal. I’m actively working on Spanish by living in a Spanish speaking country as an expat. However, I want to improve my other languages. It’s hard to decide what languages I want to focus on in 2020. Spanish and Portuguese are my most advanced languages, so those will be included. The third language I’d like to be conversational in is either Italian or French.
2. Run to 5ks.
I’m always looking to improve my fitness levels. Before getting a gym membership in my new city, I went on runs and it was refreshing and hard at the same time. In 2020, I’d like to challenge myself by signing up for 5ks, either in Spain or back in the U.S. While in college, I did a 5k and that was before I began my fitness journey. Sure, I mostly walked. But if I did it then, I know I could do it now.
3. Recruit beta readers for a writing project.
An unannounced goal I had for the last quarter of 2019 was to be more involved in the writing community. Thus, I decided to beta read for a couple of writers. This is a great opportunity to network, learn from others and it’s a way to get in my reading as well. Now, I’d like get beta readers for a project of my own in 2020. This means editing a manuscript so it’s ready for this stage of the writing process.
4. Start a business.
This is probably the scariest goal of them all, but also the one I most want to happen. I’ve always wanted to be my own boss and have a business, but finding the right venture and actually getting started has proved to be very difficult for me. Sure, perhaps I could count this blog as a business, but I want to start offering a product or service and help others in 2020. Taking this leap of faith is bound to change a lot in my life and I believe I’m ready for it.
5. Finish writing and editing a manuscript.
This goal for 2020 intertwines with my beta read goal. I want to start finishing projects to completion. That means more than just finishing the first draft. I want to see more of my manuscripts through where they would be ready for publication because that ultimately is my goal. Whether it be self-publishing or traditional, getting my stories out to the world is a dream of mine.
6. Travel to another continent outside of North America and Europe.
I still can’t believe I’m living in Europe. But now I’ve been able to check off visiting two continents – North America and Europe. On my life bucket list is to visit every continent by age 30. Definitely doable, but taking the first leap is hard. Currently, I’m not sure which continent I’ll try to head to first or when. My top choices for 2020 are South America (Argentina, Colombia, Brazil), Africa (South Africa, Rwanda) or Australia.
7. Be able to squat 115 lbs again.
Another fitness goal. After moving out of my apartment back in January 2019, my fitness routine has been sporadic because my living situation was sporadic. I went so long without working out in a gym and of course lost a lot of strength and muscle. In 2020, not only do I want to be more consistent with the gym overall, but I want to increase my squat strength to it was before I fell off.
8. Read 30 books.
Mid-2019 my love for reading reignited. I want to continue reading consistently. Whether it be through audiobooks, ebooks or physical. Although with travel, audiobooks and ebooks are way more convenient!
9. Reach 100 subscribers on my Youtube channel.
My Youtube channel has been a fun way to document my travels, writing journey and thoughts. I’d like to continue sharing Youtube videos of my life and hope to grow my audience in 2020.
10. Live in a new city or country.
Living in Barcelona has been great and I’m excited to spend the first six months living here. However, I want the experience of living in different countries and cities. So whether I decide to stay in Spain or not, I’d like to move somewhere different. Madrid? Seville? Who knows? My top choices for countries other than Spain are: Italy, the Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, Australia or Portugal.
11. Pay off 1/4 of my student loans.
Ok, I know I said starting a business is one of the scariest goals on this list for 2020 but perhaps I spoke prematurely. This one is hard to talk about because it’s such a sore subject for me. My student loans bring me a great deal of stress and anxiety and sometimes I try to avoid it altogether. However, ignoring it won’t dwindle that number down. I’d like to have a better relationship with money in 2020 and hopefully make a large dent in my student loans.
12. Travel to 5 new countries.
Doesn’t matter the continent just that they’re new. This will be hopefully be easy to achieve since I am spending New Year’s in Prague, Czech Republic (one new country) then heading to Krakow, Poland (two new countries). I am in the midst of planning my spring break vacation but already know I’ll be in Dubrovnik, Croatia (three new countries). Hopefully I can make a birthday trip to a new country. This one I am positive I can do in 2020.
13. Triple my savings account.
I have many financial goals and I’m always trying to save and improve how I handle my money. Therefore I’d like to take a look at my savings account on January 1, 2020 and triple it by that date next year.
14. Meditate or journal at least twice weekly.
Journaling is a great way for me to mind dump. It’s not something I do everyday or necessarily want to. However, I do think I need to journal, meditate or find some other way to relieve my stress and clear my mind in 2020. Thus, I’d like to start implementing some of these strategies weekly as a form of self care.
15. Less impulsive buying.
I don’t think I have a huge problem with impulsive buying but there are definitely areas I’d like to improve on. Especially with the financial goals I have, it’ll be important for me to limit spending. Not only will I try to control impulsive spending but I’d like to put more overall thought into my purchases to be a more conscious consumer. Do I really need another graphic T-shirt that costs $25?
16. Attend a business, languages or travel event.
Just as I made a small effort to get involved in the writing community, I want to do so in other areas I’m interested in. Whether this is something small like attending weekly language exchanges via Meetup or flying out to the Polyglot Conference.
17. Spend Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s in a new city.
Yet another travel related goal. While many people prefer to stay home for the holidays I’m really enjoying the idea of traveling during this time of year. For the 2019-2020 holiday season I decided I’d visit Rome (Christmas) and Prague (NYE) and I was living in Barcelona during Thanksgiving. In 2020, I’d like to find new cities to travel to for these holidays.
18. Double my amount of page views for this blog.
Similarly with Youtube, I’d like to see this blog expand further. There are many metrics that someone can use to track growth such as a mailing list. However, in 2020 I would like to see the number of monthly page hits increase on my blog. I really enjoy writing here and would like to connect with more people around the world. It’s still weird that I have readers from different parts of the world. In 2020, I want the community to grow!
19. Take swimming lessons.
Yes, I can’t swim. I always feel the need to preface this statement with saying I can wade in the water, not drown and keep myself alive. But doing laps? Nope. I’d like to start taking swimming lessons so I can eventually incorporate swimming as another form of exercise. I want to diversify my workouts by trying new things – weightlifting, dance classes, swimming, bodyweight exercises, TRX, hiking, the list continues.
20. Attend therapy.
I’ll admit, I hesitated putting this one. Therapy has such a negative connotation around it where if you mention it people will automatically think something is “wrong” with you, that you’re in a super dark place or are spiraling. While any of these things can be true and are good reasons to go, you don’t have to be at rock bottom to go to therapy. In fact, I think everyone should go to therapy. In 2020, I’d like to try therapy as a form of self care and learn more about myself and perhaps better ways to manage stress.
That’s all.
Reading back this list it feels a little daunting. But why? If I look back on 2019, I’ve done 20 things – positive or negative. Why not write out 20 things for 2020? My life changed a lot in 2019 and I’m ready to see how it keeps unfolding in 2020. What’s on your list? Let me know in the comments below.
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