All day… okay, all weekend, I’ve been in a funk. Hubby, as well. And as I’ve been sitting here all evening, I can no longer ignore it.

We go back to work tomorrow.

I don’t think it’ll be as bad for me as for my husband, but it still doesn’t mean I’m looking forward to it!

Three weeks off is a long time! But it was great! We’d “sleep in” (which is still 0600-0630), have a relaxing morning,  go to the gym, and then relax for the rest of the day! It was great!!! The first week, we worked out 6 days. The second week, only 4 as it was the week of Christmas, and we went to the cottage. In the third week, being at the cottage, we really didn’t do anything but read, and I did some sketching. I also slept in a lot later and napped a lot more as I wasn’t sleeping terribly well – which is unusual being at the cottage for me. However, I still managed to lose 7 lbs during these 3 weeks… which, for me, is incredible! Like, I don’t think that’s ever happened before. Ever!!! However, that’s my priority. We don’t have children or family around, so we didn’t have any sweets/treats around the house.

I think the hardest part for me comes with the contemplation at the turn of the year. I know it’s really not any different from any other new month, but it’s the symbolism behind it.

When people talk about goals and goal setting, they talk about SMART goals:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Timely

And what better way to do this than with the new year? You have a start and an end. You can set easy steps along the way.

I got a new book, as well. It ended up not being exactly what I was expecting – my husband gave me a gratitude journal last year, and I was expecting something more like that, but it really was nothing like it. I grudgingly decided to give it a go, and it really did get me thinking!

One of the first things it has you do is to write out how your life looks a year from now.

(See?! Even books conspire to the whole “New Year, new you” garbage! I don’t make the rules, I just try to survive in it!)

But it REALLY got me thinking! And, honestly? Nothing had to do with my job. It’s not like I hate my job, and I’m going to quit to chase my dreams… I can’t quit, lol! Like I literally can’t – I’m under contract until I retire. So it’s a good thing that I quite like my job, and I still feel that I can be an asset and make positive changes in the institute. However, it really gave me something to think about!

This year, I’m also doing a vision board – something I’ve never done before! So, again, I’ve been contemplating my life for my vision board – using what I wrote down in the book as a “guide”.

Another thing my husband and I are doing are “Gratitude Jars”. We each have one, and whenever something nice happens, we’ll write it down on a piece of paper and put it in the jar. Then on NYE, we’ll sit down and read through them and remember everything that happened to be grateful for!

So, as much as I’m looking forward to the year, I’m not looking forward to going back to work and simply getting back into that routine.