It’s 2024, which means that Child(ish) Advice is four years old (old enough to be in preschool).

The lull between Christmas and New Year’s always has me contemplating what goals I’d like to set for the upcoming year. This time around, I found myself writing the same goals that haven’t been achieved for years (or piggybacking on goals that have recently been met). The resolutions started feeling like a never-ending hamster wheel. I don’t want 2024 to be mundane.

During our monthly meeting, Patti had mentioned creating resolutions about how you want to feel rather than what you want to accomplish. That perspective shifted my mindset on how I want to live in 2024. So, with that said, here are my New Year’s resolutions.

In 2024, I want to feel…

Fulfilled (professionally). If I’m honest, I’m currently feeling a bit bored as an OT. Despite the continuing education courses and consults I’ve done this past year; I’ve been left wanting. It’s not a burnout, but more of an aimless wandering without any direction. I need a goal to work towards professionally, like a new boss level in a video game. So, I signed up to become an ADHD certified rehabilitation services provider (ADHD-RSP) and hope to add these letters to my credentials by the end of the year.

Secure (financially). I was a big spender last year. So many concerts, outings, and who can forget Vegas?! They were all worth it, but my wallet felt all of it. To recoup for 2023, I’m choosing to be more conservative with my spending this year. That means staying on budget and saving money. To jump start, I’m trying a money saving challenge I saw on Pinterest. Wish me luck.

Something new. At an arts festival, a metalworks artist was offering welding classes (the blowtorch kind). I’ve always wanted to learn ever since Flashdance, but never had the opportunity to. (I mean, realistically, how exactly do you just fall into the hobby of metal welding?) My interest renewed when my husband needed some welding and fabrication for his ’66 mustang last year. No, I don’t plan on going to trade school to become a true welder, but I do want to learn to do something new in the name of art. Plus, the idea of fusing metals seems so badass.

Accomplished. Wearing a pedometer has been a thing for a while; however, I never did…until now. I lead a fairly active lifestyle, accomplishing and maintaining my health and wellness goals last year. I figured I was pretty close to the recommended 10,000 steps-per-day count just by completing my everyday to-do lists. It wasn’t until I got a FitBit as an early Christmas present did I find out the truth. I wasn’t even close, averaging only 5,000 a day. So this year, my goal is to hit and maintain at least 8,000 steps daily. It’s not about losing weight this time, but rather to hold me accountable and limit my excuses. 

Complete. I love the bookstore. I love buying books. But I may have gone overboard to a point where my nightstand has about a dozen books that I started to read but didn’t finish because I bought another book to read. So this year, I plan on finally completing those books and checking them off my TBR list.

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I also want to thank you all for a huge year of growth on our blog. We especially love seeing our number of email subscribers grow. Social media views is one thing, but to know that you all are getting Child(ish) Advice in your inboxes is amazing. Thank you for all of your support as we continue to grow and create new content on Child(ish) Advice!