Making The Most Out Of The Last Of 2014

This year has flown by crazy fast, I really can't believe we're creeping up to the final two months already. Looking back so far, it's been a super exciting year for me in terms of personal growth and making little steps towards my long term goals. I'm now self employed, building a career I love, and even though there's a long way to go I'm feeling positive and excited about what the future has to bring. In general though, I'm finding that to lead a happy and fulfilling life we have to be proactive and seek out the things that make us happy, as life can get so busy sometimes that we have to make time for the things that really matter to us.

So with the end of the year in sight now, I've been thinking of ways that I can make the most out of these last few months and I thought I'd share a few of them with you today.

Save, save, save A super boring and practical one, but one that also can't be avoided. Over the past year or so I've built up such a healthier relationship with money, and now that I'm working for myself and faced with the realities of a freelancers salary I've come to respect and value money much more. I rarely make impulsive purchases anymore, most of my money is spent on living costs or back into my work, but I want to make more of a conscious effort to save over the next few months so it's a habit that I carry with me into 2015.

Take more walks with Alex Now that we've moved house we live walking distance from a very sweet little country park and Alex is forever asking us to take a morning stroll together. This actually sounds like a great idea though - time for just us, with no internet or phones to distract us, and of course an excuse to wrap up warm and wear my new winter hat and gloves.

Get in the kitchen more I went through a baking phase a few months back that for some reason I just haven't kept up. I find losing myself in the kitchen super therapeutic and I have a big pile of cookbooks and a list of recipes I want to try that I now have no excuse not to. Even if it's just once a week, I want to make something from scratch and experiment with the awesome recipes on my to-try list.

Work towards my goals There's something about this time of year that makes me feel super motivated to work that little harder and push myself a little bit more. Like most people I have so many long and short term goals for myself when it comes to my work and it's far too easy for me to put things off because they scare me too much. So I've wrote a little list of 'Goals For 2014' that will keep me focused, and a plan of action for some of the bigger projects I'm working on.

Get out more I'm a serious homebody, it's part of who I am and my introverted nature. The thing is though, working from home can be a little lonely sometimes and sooner or later cabin fever will always kick in. Thankfully I tend to get out in the week anyway for client meetings or lunch with friends and of course time with Alex, but I want to build in more time outside of the house so it's not just me and my four walls everyday. There's a co-working space I want to sign up to in Manchester which I think will really help, and I also want to make more space in my weekly schedule for catching up with friends. It's really easy when you work for yourself to become very obsessive about your work - you wear all the hats so all of the pressure is on you, and normal 9-5 working hours are usually out of the question. Life isn't meant to be lived alone though, hunched over your to-do list everyday, and I want to make sure I'm making time for the people who really matter to me.

What about you, how are you planning on making the most out of the last of 2014?

Jen

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