My "21 for 2021" List - How did I do?
As a perfectionist I've always been a big fan of New Year resolutions. But, like the average person I haven't been very successful at keeping or achieving them!
As I got older (and matured?!) I realised that resolutions didn't always need to be punishing and painful, but could also be used to inject some more fun into my life.
One year I had a resolution to "watch more TV", as I realised I was spending way too much of my life lying on my bed ruminating (not a helpful or healthy way to spend my time!).
However, sometimes even fun resolutions were difficult to achieve. So when I heard about a new framework on the Happier Podcast with Gretchen Rubin (and Liz Craft) I was very keen to give it a try.
So, instead of making resolutions you make a "22 in 2022" list, for example. While it sounds similar to resolutions I've found it much more fun and effective. You can read more on Gretchen's blog here and here.
Of course, it helps if you are a regular listener of the podcast as they frequently discuss their own lists and do a mid-year and end-of-year review - which prevents me from forgetting about my list completely!
I think I started this exercise in 2019 or 2020, but the question is how did I do in 2021?
I started off 2021 by defining the first seven of my "21 for 2021", let's see how I did on those:
1. 🏍️ Motorbike CBT. In 2020 I passed my UK motorcycle and car theory tests, so I hoped 2021 would be the year I continue to pursue my dream of motorbiking across the European continent. So did I do it? NO ❌
2. 🚘 Book driving lessons. I had mixed results with this. The first driving instructor I found had me convinced that I would never be able to drive in London and that I might as well give up (despite the fact that I actually have a South African licence and drove everyday for ~10 years before moving here!). Then, a few months later (and only a few weeks before my practical) I found Noji who was absolutely brilliant, managed to fit me in and gave me the confidence to tackle my test. So did I do this? YES ✔️
3. Pass car driving test. Did I do it? YES ✔️
4. Order an at-home HPV test. This seems like a very simple task, so did I get it done? NO ❌This is something I will definitely take to my "22 in 2022" list, and I've just seen there's a 20% discount so I should do it sooner rather than later!
5. Use standard product manager questions to evaluate new feature requests. In 2020 I attended many online product manager events and picked up some useful tips and methods to use in my day job. I feel like I partially implemented this so I am going to give myself a participation medal:🥈
6. Buy this Joshua Elis scarf. This has been on my (mental) wish list since I saw it on Instagram years and years ago. But, as per my style, I never actually got round to buying it. So did I finally go ahead with this purchase. YES ✔️
7. Launch SUPERSTREAK. YES✔️ Market SUPERSTREAK? TO DO!
Then when summer arrived I added a couple more items to my list:
8. Get a diffuser. I really wanted to start surrounding myself with lovely scents and step #1 in that plan was to get a diffuser. While researching I found the perfect one from Aromatherapy Associates. So did I splash out? YES ✔️
9. Get something from the Wild Mint range. Again, I've had these items on my mental wish list for a while but I needed a nudge to actually purchase them (probably because they do cost more the average). But I took the plunge, got the hand wash and lotion, put them in my bathroom and have received plenty of comments. Success? YES ✔️
10. Drink 2 L of water a day. I started a streak at the end of February and drank 2L of water almost every day for over 6 months, so I think I can say YES ✔️
11. Organise a day trip. I am very lucky to have friends who love organising fun things to do (whether it's a night out or a trip abroad). I am very good at turning up, but much less good at planning anything myself! However, I have found one event that I am happy to arrange 😊 Nut picking in Kent (which is actually organised by Food & Forest!) 2021 was the second year I attended (with friends and family) but I think this is still a YES ✔️
12. Try out new restaurants at Elephant Park. I'm from South Africa so occasionally I miss having sea views when I'm eating. But I also really love park side locations (of which London is severely lacking). So when Four Hundred Rabbits opened up at Elephant Park I was super keen to try it. However, that means nothing (as you may be learning!). But in this case I actually went TWICE! YES! ✔️
13. Go to more exhibitions. This was a bit vague but I did actually manage a few including Dorothea Manning, Zanele Muholi (which I went to even though I was very hungover!) and Paula Rego. SUCCESS ✔️
As I approached my birthday I decided that my birthday month might be a good idea to embrace the idea of my "fantasy self" (another concept I've learnt from a podcast, pretty sure it was Liz Craft on Happier in Hollywood), and add a couple more items to my list. So what does my fantasy self look like?
14. She plays the grand piano everyday. I have a basic keyboard (not a good start). Did I play it? NO ❌
15. She is well-groomed. I used a lot more self tan around this time so let's say PARTIALLY 🥈
16. She goes to dance classes regularly. This was kind of difficult with COVID, plus I really wanted to do ballet and the times of the ballet classes didn't suit me. So sadly, this is a NO ❌
17. She organises fun outings. Again this was a bit vague but in my birthday week (if that's even a thing!) I did arrange two outings: Windsors Endgame, for my sister and I, and tickets to a party at Bourne & Hollingsworth for a friend and I (which were both a lot of fun). Over the year I also organised tickets for Destination Star Trek and the Van Gogh Immersive Experience. so I think I can mark this as YES ✔️
18. She hosts things. (okay what I actually wrote was "dinner parties (host)" but again dinner parties weren't always recommended or appropriate. However, I did host my 40th birthday party picnic in Hyde Park (theme: 80s sports day) so I should get some credit for that! Also a few weeks later I hosted a movie night for my friends who hadn't yet seen The Matrix so I feel I can claim a YES ✔️
19. She calls people. Ummm. NO ❌
Sadly, my birthday marks the end of summer so as we moved into autumn (and I said farewell to my fantasy self) I added a couple more items to my "21 for 2021" list:
20. Do an evening course. As I mentioned here I did a six-week course and it was great ✔️
21.Travel to this airbnb with a Shetland pony. Too cute! Sadly this is a NO but there's always 2022 ❌
I really like the format of this framework - If you've tried it out let me know in the comments or on Instagram.
Next up I need to write up my "22 in 2022" list.
Natalie x