What are your resolutions for 2012?

New Year Resolutions 2012

Well, this is my first foray into the Ciao Café for over three years, so that is one resolution completed already!

I always find making resolutions difficult because they are so hard to keep. I try to find something challenging rather than go for easy options … like not eating sprouts.
Anyway, I have thought of a few for this year that I will try to keep. In my opinion it is no use setting a lot; it just makes the task less achievable.

1. Weight . An obvious choice, I know, is to try and lose weight. Last year I manage to lose about 2lb – a success, but hardly world shattering! I am aiming for at least 2 stone this year. One difficulty, as if you couldn’t guess, is my addiction to chocolate. Do not expect a rash of health food reviews this year! I intend to lose weigh by eating the same as usual, but less of it and trying to do a bit more exercise. The latter not being easy with my dodgy knees! I think that an actual diet and calorie counting isn’t for me – though I might change to more healthy puddings when we are eating out.

2. Bedtime . Changing my sleep pattern. Since taking early retirement (very early I hasten to add) we’ve tended to drift into going to bed at about 1.30 – 2.00am and get up at 9.30 – 10.am. Well, there are often a lot of good films on television late at night. The trouble with this is the amount of daylight being missed out on. So since the 2nd January bedtime has now become midnight and up at about 8.00am. Even though it’s the same amount of sleep I feel more refreshed. Also, more jobs can get done outside because of the extra daylight, weather permitting! So, hopefully this resolution can be kept for the rest of the year.

3. Ciao. I want to try and post more reviews this year. This was a resolution last year when I was shocked to find that I had only written three in 2010. So, this year I want to try and write more than the seven that I did in 2011. As I mentioned at the beginning, after four years with Ciao, I also intend to see what is on offer in the Ciao Café more often.

4. Reading. Whilst I was teaching I used to read a lot, partly as part of my job as an English teacher and partly as relaxation to wind down. However, last year I only read one book, Jamaica Inn, which I feel is nowhere near enough. I like reading book reviews on Ciao and feel that reading is good for the brain as well as enjoyable and relaxing. So, I fully intend to extend my reading again and not just pick up a newspaper on a Saturday. I have already purchased my first book of the year – “The Cobra” by Frederick Forsyth.

One of the reasons I have written this review is because I have never before put my resolutions in writing. This way I can keep referring back to what I have said and maybe I will be able to keep to them better this year. The other is that it is one of my resolutions of course.

I hope this has been of interest to you and given you a bit of an insight into the chocolate loving, Dr Who fanatic that is bryspy. Thank you for reading.

bryspy 2012