Things I want to Cultivate

Waking up each morning is like starting with a clean slate. It’s an opportunity to see more possibilities, make better choices, and steer your life in a different direction. This morning, the idea of cultivation—or what it means to cultivate your own life—was present in my mind.

"Cultivate" by definition means to try to acquire or develop something, whether that be a specific quality, sentiment, or skill. Still inspired by the hope that a new year presents, I wanted to share a few ways I want to truly curate my life this year, and I hope it sparks a deeper conversation with yourself about what you want to accomplish for yourself and why. More importantly, I hope it inspires you to stay the course!

Creativity

One thing I am grateful for from my childhood is that I had the chance to explore and develop hobbies that gave me a sense of fulfillment. The pride you feel when creating something is unique because it’s something that only you can own. Unfortunately, as we grow older, we don’t always have the time or capacity to explore like we did when we were younger. Schedules and responsibilities often take the place of exploration, and I’ve been lacking a sense of creativity in my life for quite some time. Having something that is mine, created by me, is important, and I want to carve out space for that.

Whether it’s letting my yoga practice be my form of expression, taking time to annotate and reflect, or investing more in my wellness journey through education, I am committed to “create” more this year!

Habits

We can all pinpoint something we want to improve in our daily lives. But change is the true challenge. Deciphering between what our minds want and what we actually need is crucial. When you understand that the “compromise” you make today will nourish your mind and body tomorrow, it becomes easier to make smarter, better choices.

This year, my goals are to: wake up 30 minutes earlier, take a workout class before or after work (3–5 times a week), and set aside time to meal prep on Sundays.

I’m finding that as long as I accomplish my goals at least five days per week, I won’t be undoing the habits I’ve worked so hard to establish in the first place. And honestly, I’m not strong enough to deny myself any weekend indulgences—life is too short for that!

Self-Confidence

In college, it was easy to feel “accomplished” and like I was progressing in life. It provided an easy road map to success. As long as you turned in assignments and showed up to class, you met your goals and even had time to party along the way! However, in the real world, there’s no professor waiting to make sure you “show up.” The choice to excel or reach your potential is entirely up to you. Without structure or money, being fresh out of college was a major wake-up call, and it really rattled my confidence after months of searching for a career.

Thankfully, now that I’ve been working for a while, I really want to focus on building the skills I have and using any resources available to expand on them. Volunteering, attending conferences, networking, and getting involved in projects at work are some of the things I’m researching.

Image is another component I’ve struggled with. I’ve always been conscious of how I present myself, but because of a tighter budget, lack of time, and energy (let’s be real, haha), I’ve stopped putting effort into myself. However, taking an extra 10 minutes to put on makeup, put together an outfit, or prepare the night before makes a huge difference in my demeanor throughout the day—no matter what plans I have. So, this is something I plan to work on for myself. Doing DIY treatments at home and taking time to pamper myself makes me feel like I’m putting my needs first, no matter how hectic life gets.

Financial Management

Ever since I got my first credit card, I’ve been guilty of extending myself with unnecessary debt. I always pay above the minimum and do so quickly, but I’ve realized I’ve been putting stress on myself and carrying any type of minimums isn’t a habit I want to start. I’ve already created a step-by-step plan to eliminate my remaining debts this year so that I will only have student loans to worry about (Shout out to the Paycheck and Balances Podcast).

In addition, I want to focus on using my money as a tool and not letting it control me. I need to learn how to live within my means on any budget so that when my salary increases (hopefully), I’ll already have the necessary habits to save and make progress toward my financial goals. I want to be more conscious of what I truly need to be happy and not just chase the next “shiny new thing.”

Sounds easy enough, right?

Finally, I want to invest more into creating useful and inspiring content for you all. So, feel free to share anything you want to hear more about or struggles you have—whether it’s learning how to find more purpose in your life or your journey to find more compassion. I’d love to hear your thoughts via my contact page!