Well, well, well

... it's been awhile, Happy New Year :)

Two thoughts crossed my mind when I logged into my account this evening:

1. Do people still read blogs?
2. Is this even worth blogging?

It seems in a world of insta-social media, blogging has taken a bit of a backseat. Why read through a blog post when you can simply scroll through a handful of pictures with one-line captions and a few hashtags thrown in?

As outdated as blogging seems to be, I still love reading them - and clearly, I've missed it because why else would I be back after two years of letting dust and cobwebs gather in this tiny corner of the web ... Oops! :)

Truthfully, I've found myself trawling through blogs in the past few months. In between breaks at work, on my morning and evening commute, when I'm looking for reviews on products, before I consider purchasing items online ... I always end up on one blog or another. There's something different about reading entries and knowing the time, thought and effort a person has put into it. I've noticed that blogging still has a personal element to it and I appreciate reading material that doesn't involve advertisements so often associated with other social media platforms.

I'm hoping that 2019 will see me logging on more often as I really do miss the creativity behind blogging and regardless of whether people still read blogs, I enjoy it and I am grateful for the friendships I've made in the blogging community in the short time that I've been online.

In addition to setting aside more time for A-Z | Life & Style, I'm aiming for the following in the year ahead.

Worrying Less, Investing More
I've been a worrier for as long as I can remember. Whether it was worrying over assignments and exams during my school years, or stressing over the responsibilities and time pressures at work, or just getting anxious as to how certain events or days will pan out. There's always something and there comes a point where you realise just how fruitless it is to worry over things, especially when you have done all that you can. After that point, you're not only worrying about things that may be out of your control, but you're preventing yourself from enjoying the moment you're in.

In an attempt to worry less this year, I'm hoping to shift my attention on things that matter, namely, investing more time with family and friends, being open to activities that I would have previously shied away from, and knowing when to take time out for myself to do the things I enjoy, whether it's reading a novel that's been sitting untouched for far too long, getting a manicure, or getting some much needed R&R.

Getting Fit, Being Healthy
Surprise, surprise - this one crops up at the start of every year and seems to fizzle faster than the New Year's fireworks. But this time, I'm serious, seriously.

It speaks for itself. When it comes to investing in yourself, there is nothing more valuable than taking care of yourself - physically, mentally, emotionally.

I've noticed that exercise and eating well not only makes me feel proactive about my health and wellbeing, but I end up feeling more relaxed, a lot less anxious and so much more confident. Whilst I'm not a huge fan of the gym, I love going for runs in the evening after work and I'm hoping to incorporate cycling into my workout this year. I'm not sure how I will go with it, but hey, I've put it in writing, and it's now up to me to be accountable for it. Check back in a month and let's see if I've made it through at least one class ;)

Stop being so stationary, Start being more adventurous
I like safety. I like familiarity. I like comfort zones.

And whilst there is nothing wrong with those things, it can be tedious.

In a recent discussion with my mum on the subject of regrets, I mentioned that I wish I had been more adventurous during my 20s. Her simple and logical advice was, that's why I encourage you to do the things you want now so that you don't regret them later on.

Taking her words on board, I hope to get out more often this year. Be it socialising more regularly with friends, or travelling to new places and broadening my experiences. I have holidays planned for January 2019, and I hope to continue making more plans to travel throughout the year (...depending on my workload, but of course!).

Whilst I'm sure there are more goals I could add, those were the first three that came to mind and will take priority.

Do you have any goals or resolutions for the year ahead? Feel free to comment below, I would love to hear about it!

As for the second question above, let's leave that as purely rhetorical ;)

Thank you so much for reading xx