I’m generally not one who sets New Year’s resolutions, I’ve always felt that I was just setting myself up for failure. 2017 sucked for so many reasons and over the course of the last few days I’ve decided that I need to take some action.

I don’t know that I’d call what is to follow resolutions as much as aspirations for self improvement. I need to get my mental house in order. I need to get healthy and stay healthy. I need to be a better me. So hello 2018 and hello to a better me.

First, I’m going to stop cheating on my activity rings on my Apple Watch. The only person I’ve been cheating myself by faking workouts to close my rings each day. In 2018 if I don’t close them then I don’t close them. It may seem silly but sometimes the silly things are important too.

To piggyback off my activity rings, I’m going to do thirty minutes of activity a day. Whether it be a walk around Longwood Gardens, a run, some time on the elliptical or a karate class, I’m going to be active daily. I figure doing something everyday will not only help my physical health but it will help my mental health as well.

I’ve found a pretty little notebook and I plan to use it to start a gratitude journal. I started something similar a while back with my #ThreeHappyThings but in typical Mychal fashion I had no follow through. Even on the worst of days there is always something to be grateful for. In 2018 I will use my pretty little notebook to reflect and record what I’m grateful for. I just have to remember to take it with me when I travel.

Speaking of books, I’m going to continue my reading challenge in 2018. In 2017 I read 40 books from February through December. I’ve decided that I’m going to read 45 books in 2018. On a related note, I’ll be posting the second half of my 2017 book list soon. Click HERE for the first half.

Here we go into 2018 with a plan to make it my best year yet. Hell, I’d settle for a small improvement over last year.

How will you make 2018 YOUR best year yet?

I have to say, that for a change, this year was pretty great.

We all stayed healthy, we had a lot of fun, we got a dog, and we accomplished a lot in 2015.

We started the year with a celebration of 10 years of marriage in San Fransisco. I continued on by celebrating my 35th birthday. We had a blast on Spring Break down in Maryland. Cameron turned nine. We finished the first year that both boys were in school full day. Our summer was spent enjoying time together in Maryland. The boys had a blast at four weeks of YMCA camp. The boys went back to school and this year they’re at the same school (which makes pickups so much easier). Logan turned seven (how did that happen?). We celebrated Thanksgiving in Maryland and the weather was simply perfect. Our Christmas was the, “best ever” and our Winter Break was fun.

As I sit here and look back on this year I feel like it was the best one in a while. But with that said, there is always room for improvement and that’s all I’m hoping for in 2016.

So what’s to come in 2016 here in Mommyland?

I’m excited to bring back A Week In Mommyland, my weekly photo update. I’m thinking about renaming it but it will be back in one form or another.

I will also be giving you some monthly fitness challenges, starting with a 30 Day Squat Challenge in January.

Other things to look forward to…More of my kid approved recipes and smoothie ideas, tales of running and of course crazy shit my kids (and dog) do and any other pearls of wisdom I can bestow on you.

If there is anything you’d like to see here please feel free to let me know.

Until then…HAPPY NEW YEAR from Mommyland!