I am not the biggest fan of New Year’s resolutions. If they work for someone, I’m happy for them, but I’ve often witnessed that these resolutions mostly come from a place of insecurity within a short period of time (New Year’s Eve) without much thought. This combination then often leads to a lot of frustration and ultimately giving up on the goals after only a few days or weeks. By “insecurity,” I’m referring to my own experiences of defining goals based on external pressures. For example, previously, instead of thinking about exercising for my health, I thought about losing weight to conform to some made-up societal beauty standards.
My goals were driven mostly by things I disliked about myself, and they were rarely driven by what I would like to explore or what could potentially be fun to try out. So this year, I want to rephrase my goals so they come from a positive state of mind and are things I do for myself.
Sports & health
Bouldering
For the past six months, I’ve been bouldering at least once a week. In the beginning, it was hard not to feel frustrated when my progress slowed down after the first few months. However, I’ve come to realize that I really enjoy trying out new routes and figuring out how to solve them. I also like that bouldering teaches me progress isn’t always linear and it’s okay to take a break and come back later.
On a more personal note, I have to admit I like looking more muscular. It gives me a boost of confidence I didn’t expect and makes me feel strong. This year, I plan to keep bouldering about once a week and aim to reach the 6C level, which I believe is very reasonable.
Skiing
This is a smaller goal, but I’d like to take a beginner skiing course. I’ve never really learned how to ski, and I’d like to try it because it looks fun and like something I could see myself enjoying. Plus, I live in Austria, where skiing is the national sport, so I should at least learn how to ski an easy slope!
Running
Last year, I set a goal to run a 5k race. It was tough, and I dealt with injuries early on, but I built up some knowledge and a healthy respect for the sport. Now, I feel ready to challenge myself with a 10k race. I loved the energy of my first race, I even cried because it was so moving to see people come together and share that experience.
Reading
I love reading, but I rarely find the time for it. I was also stuck in a comfort zone for quite a while, worried that if I tried anything besides the classics, I wouldn’t like it. This year I picked up a psychological thriller and got so hooked that I read three books in one month!
Therefore my goal now is to read at least seven books this year and try at least one new genre. I’m open to suggestions, so feel free to DM me with recommendations!
Volunteering
Last summer, I joined the G:URL*s coding club in Vienna as an event manager, and it has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life so far. I wanted to share the knowledge I’ve gained over the past few years, but I wasn’t sure how to start. By joining this club, I discovered so many ways to encourage women in IT. I’m dedicated to spending more time helping the club inspire and support members on their journey in tech.
Summary
- Bouldering
- Continue bouldering once a week
- Aim to reach 6C level
- Skiing
- Take a beginner skiing course
- Running
- Train for and complete a 10k race
- Reading
- Read at least 7 books this year
- Explore at least one new genre
- Volunteering
- Continue supporting G:URL*s coding club in Vienna