Following the relative success of 2018, the most common question I got was:

“So what’s next?”

I loved the challenge months. They were great for pushing me just a little beyond my comfort zone, but I honestly didn’t know what new challenges I could give myself under such broad themes. Thankfully, my bestie had a great solution.

Her commute to and from work every day is a killer, and it really started weighing on her about a year ago. So she got into the habit of listening to podcasts to break up the drive. She would tell me all about her favorites, like Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and I told her I would check them out. I never did. I could just never get into listening to people talk which I realize is super contradictory given my profession. I love the beats and the lyrics, okay?

Well as I’m recapping my 12 months, she tells me that I had basically created my own Happiness Project (the book that spurred the Happier podcast) and that’s why I felt so good about the results. She went on to talk about the latest episode where both hosts reviewed their 2018 resolutions - 18 in 2018.

I finally broke down and listened to the podcast during my evening Epsom salt soak (a delicious habit developed during marathon training). I loved it. It became part of my routine. So when my bestie suggested that our group do a 19 in 2019 for accountability and support, I was all in.

TL:DR No challenge months, I picked 19 things because of a podcast (that you should totes listen to)

In a different episode, the hosts suggested choosing a one-word theme for the year. This was incredibly easy for me to identify. If you follow me on social media, read the 2018 recap or skimmed the Plans & Projects year-end review, you probably thought I had a knock-out 2018. Which I totally did…in retrospect. You see, while everything was unfolding last year, my mind didn't just drift to the negative of every situation, it took the express train to Poor Me Station. And so it was born, my one-word theme for 2019:

Now that we have the direction, we need the things! The 19 things I want to do in 2019. Just like last year, it’s a decent mix. Some will be fairly easy. Some build on what I did last year. Some are just plain random because life is short. In no particular order:

1. Practice daily gratitude
My spiffy new planner has space for it, plus is there any better way to look for the positive than while it’s happening? I think not!

2. Read more books
Stretching a little further than last year. My goal is 19 books in 2019 OR 6,057 pages (2019 times 3 for the math whizzes)…whichever comes first.

3. Edit my photos from Zion
They’re beautiful…and the vacation happened in 2017.

4. Edit our adventure to Machu Picchu and Ecuador
Even more embarrassing since this one took place before the Zion one. It’s like 2017 was super busy or something.

5. Find celebration in movement—2,019 miles in 2019
One of my dear friends, who is about 10 years older than me and in way better shape, once told me our bodies don’t stop working, we stop working them. Walk, run, hike, bike—miles are miles and it all counts toward 2,019.

6. Develop a calming nighttime routine
Self-care is something I struggle with, and I think this is a good starting place.

7. Try Keto
My husband transitioned to the Keto lifestyle so I promised him I would try it. However, I will be doing a vegetarian version so I can keep on the Flexatarian path I started in 2018.

8. Learn to knit
It didn’t happen in 2018, but the encouraging feedback I got made me carry it over to 2019.

9. Make time for friends
This is a shared 19 in 2019 with the friend group! Our long weekend in Nashville last year gave us so many good vibes we decided to make it an annual thing.

10. Project Happy Mailbox—19 in 2019
I’m pledging more cards than previous years, so get me your address ASAP!

11. Try my hand at hand-lettering
I loved when they taught us calligraphy in grade school and can still do it, but I want to learn the modern version. I already have the practice book!

12. Revive my website portfolio
Yep, it’s been a year and I’ve done some pretty awesome projects I would love to share now that they’re live.

13. Rediscover shinrin-yoku
Something I love that comes with learning new languages is finding words that don’t translate to your native tongue. Shinrin-yoku is a word I learned while we lived in Japan that captures the calming effect of forest bathing. Here’s to more shinrin-yoku in 2019!

14. Explore the love of learning
I’ve gotten a little complacent so it’s time to search for knowledge in what interests me. Watching documentaries, reading articles, listening to podcasts, whatever it is, make it happen.

15. Remember special days
There aren’t a lot of people in my inner circle, so the ones I cherish, I want to celebrate their important days.

16. Reduce screen time by 19%
This is one of the WORST habits I have…the never-ending scroll! App limits are set for social platforms starting now.

17. Get professional family photos
We don’t have any. For whatever reason, I told myself I wasn’t allowed to have family photos since I don’t have children. But I love my little family and we deserve beautiful photos that capture us as we are. You, me and the dogs.

18. Plan a trip with my husband
What better way to celebrate being together again after more than a year of living in separate countries? Counting the days.

19. Collect lyrics and quotes that mean something to me
This is totally cheesy and I don’t care. Sometimes I’ll hear a lyric or read a line in a book that I just love and I never write it down or do anything with it.

And that’s it! Those are my 19 for 2019. Do you do resolutions or goals? Please share! As always, if you want to join me in anything I’m doing, I would love to hear about it and support you!