New Month, New You

So, January 2016 has apparently already happened? How on earth that's possible I do not know.

My January plan was Project Ellie; start the year as I mean to go on, increase my productivity at work, cut down my commute by running to the gym (with a backpack), start dating and seal the deal with a Camp to spend my summer in the states! Let me tell you how it all went......

1.      Increase my productivity at work. What I've realised is it's not what you're doing, it's how you feel when you're doing it. Enjoying what you do, having a smile on your face and taking any bullsh*t at face value results in less procrastinating, and more ticks on your To-Do List. Whether it was the wind-down to Christmas or the build-up of that horrendous killer-cold the entire country seemed to attain, I definitely did not feel myself at the end of 2015 and therefore my results reflected that. I claimed boredom, where in actual fact I was just stale; how many of us review our duties, roles, daily tasks and whether they are even worth while? I was doing the same activities day in, day out for 2 and a half years, with the same results week in, week out. Light bulb moment! You are in charge of your role, you were hired to perform your role the best way you can; your job will only take you as far as you push it. Unless you change, implement and improve you are going nowhere.#justsaying Not only have my results shot up, I feel as if I've shot up! I am fresh, intrigued and challenged – if you do not learn something everyday, you have not improved.

2.    Cut down my commute. I was walking to the gym (25 minutes), then doing cardio in the gym (25 minutes) – it may have taken me 6 months to realise this, but this makes no sense. I have now invested in a running backpack, I run to the gym and therefore my cardio is romeo done before I've even set eyes on a meat head in a vest. This shockingly saves me 30 minutes daily, 30 minutes well spent in bed. Warning for other Backpack embracers, make sure the zips are done up at the sides, not at the top. Unfortunately for me, and a certain gentleman, I was running along (day 4), when something didn't feel right. I checked over my shoulder to see my bag flapping with each pound. About 50 metres up the road I caught up with this gentleman who politely handed me my heels (for work), bra and knickers that he had kindly picked up from a puddle. No dramas, thank you very much, very glad it was 6:30am and not 5:00pm rush hour, however, putting on my clean yet sodden knickers after my gym shower was not pleasant. Lesson learned.

3.    Start Dating. Let's not go there. Swiping right doesn't count no? We all know February is the month of love anyway. I'm good

4.      Seal the deal with a camp to spend my Summer in the States. Now this one I've nailed if I do say so myself. Personal statement TICK, Qualifications TICK, Work Experience TICK, Camp Questions TICK, Photos TICK, Interview TICK, be placed at the Camp Recruitment Fair in London TICK TICK TICK! Camp Woodstock here I come! Stress over, now I can get excited!

I guess the point of this blog is to acknowledge this months success' but also give myself a break for the pointers I didn't achieve. Goals are great. They focus us, let us dream, set us into action and make sure we are moving forward, but I will not beat myself up about not being the Superwoman I long to be. I am one person, with one full-on, lifestyle changing career, massive goals, high expectations and many people to care and think about. I will do my utmost, but if I didn't meet my Dating KPI's this month it's not the end of the world. Men can wait, my self-development and memories can't. Competence build Confidence kids!

#allthesingleladies

As for February.......

·         Embrace my Stranger Danger! I work in recruitment for God's sake, I should definitely be more than happy to meet strange men (not strange strange men, just men I don't know, yet) in a non-interview setting. The plan is to let the kind gentleman at the bar buy me a drink, take that tinder “romance” to a 3D level, and let that friend set me up with “the nicest guy ever”. Which ever it is, my answer in February is “yes”!

·         Cook actual food. Yes it's for one, but I need more variety than wraps and pasta. I'm so bored of pesto I sometimes don't even bother with dinner in the PM – Malteser bunnies and Fruit Pastilles do the job just fine.

·         Finish PLL (Pretty Little Liars). Jees those girls can drag on a murder mystery. With Aria, her stubby fingers and her uncomfortable-to-watch relationship with her teacher, Hannah and her annoying blonde, no-manners attitude, Emily and her wet-fish, slutty instances, and Spencer, well she's just a legend. Just tell me who A is already! If I'm honest, I'm glad Ali is dead, she was a horrendous person, but still.