27 things to do before I’m 27

Yesterday was my 26th birthday, in case you already didn’t know!

So, to give myself something to work towards and look forward to next year I thought I would challenge myself to do these 27 things before I turn 27 this time next year!

Here it goes:

1. Read More: I love to read, but I never really give myself enough time to read so I just end up with loads of half finished books. This year I want to at least finish the books currently in my possession so I can buy some more!

2. Change my gym membership: I currently pay £30 a month to use our local leisure centre, which is great but it’s not that close to our house so I don’t use it very often. My plan is to switch my membership to the gym that’s around the corner from us and is half the price! A chance to save some money.

3. Actually use my gym membership: On the back of that last one I want to actually use the membership I am paying for!!

4. Save!! My lovely other half and I are trying to save to buy a house once he has finished his trainee contract at work (a year in April), but since I took a part time job, and therefore a pay cut, I haven’t been able to save very much due to my INSANE spending habits. I plan to spend less and save more this year. Wish me luck!

5. Watch less TV: I spend way too much time watching TV, basically all of my waking hours. I always have it on in the background (yes even as I type this), so I aim to turn the telly off once in a while!

6. Eat less chocolate: I am always trying to be healthier, but chocolate is my weakness! No matter how well I do, I always end up ruining it all with chocolate. I have it most days, which is bad, and it’s my ultimate comfort food. I will try with all my power to EAT LESS CHOCOLATE THIS YEAR!

7. Continue with CBT: I only have two weeks left of my CBT course this month, and I have done well so far to stick to the CBT behavioural activation and thought analysis tasks. So, I will continue to do these throughout the year in order to keep my mental health in check.

8. Make more resources: I am already in the process of creating some CBT resources, they’re almost done I promise! But I have so many ideas for things to create for you guys, so watch this space!

9. Start making videos: To add some variety to my posts I thought it would be good to start making vlogs as well as normal blogs.

10. Post at least two blog posts a week: I think I am nearly there with this one, but it’s important to me to keep it constant and grow my blog. Fingers crossed I can keep it up all year!

11. Write at least half of my book: I have started putting pen to paper in 2019 to finally write the book I have always told myself I would write. I’ve dreamed of publishing a book ever since I could actually hold a pen, so I hope to make it at least half way there by the time I turn 27.

12. Cook at least once a week: I am very fortunate to have a boyfriend who not only likes cooking, but who is a great cook. He cooks basically every night for us. But I would like to cook for him more, to help take the pressure off as well as to develop my own skills. My cooking isn’t amazing, but I won’t get better if I don’t ever cook.

13. Be more social: I often find it hard to be social because I am so tired. I would rather rest or relax at home than go out. I am slowly getting better but I still often cancel things, especially group things, because I am too tired.

14. Be creative: I don’t really mind how, but I need to start being creative again. I’ve kind of lost it recently.

15. Find an exercise class I enjoy: This sort of links in with using my gym membership, but I would like to find a class I love to attend, because I work better when someone is watching me! I’ve always liked Zumba, so I will have to try out the Zumba class at my new gym when I eventually join.

16. Sing: I’m not an amazing singer, but I’m not bad. I just get so embarrassed about singing, I lack in confidence, and I struggle to sing in front of others. I would like that to change!

17.  Meditate: I have always wanted to get into mindfulness meditation, and just never seem to ‘get around’ to it. But I know how beneficial it can be, I mean I wrote my dissertation on it! So I feel I should start practising what I preach.

18. Continue to read my Bible every day: I have actually just got to day 100 of reading the Bible every day, so this one shouldn’t be too hard! It’s always good to try and continue good things, not just create new habits.

19. Spend less aimless time on social media: I am actually spending more time on social media than ever before now, because I am trying to get my name out there to become a successful blogger and writer. But I still spend time scrolling through my Facebook feed not really achieving anything. I would like my time on social media this year to be purposeful and intentional, not just to pass the time or occupy my mind!

20. Keep in touch: I am slowly getting better at this, but this year I would like to reply to texts and whatsapps in a timely manner, and not just think ‘I’ll get back to that later’, and then completely forget about it!

21. Spend more time reading other blogs: I think this is quite important. I am sharing my own blog and asking people to look at it and read it, so I should be doing my bit to support other bloggers out there. I do read some, but it would be nice to spend more time focusing on what other bloggers are doing, and doing my bit to support them the way they support me. (If you’d like me to check out your blog feel free to leave a link in the comment).

22. Take more pictures to document my year: I don’t think I take enough pictures of things. I mean I don’t want to be constantly taking pictures and spamming people with photo’s of my food (which I think I do enough of already), I just want to be taking photo’s of meaningful things so I can remember this time in my life and look back on it.

23. Talk more about my own mental health: I’ve always fallen short on this one, but as a mental health blogger it’s now more important than ever for me to be open and honest with the people around me. Not just because I am meant to be blogging about it, but if I truly believe there should be no stigma in mental health I need to be the living proof of that.

24. Start writing reviews: I want to expand the types of writing I do this year. I have already started doing ‘Feature Friday’ each week, so I am kind of reviewing other blogs, but I would like to go beyond that. I’d love to talk about books I’ve read, and films I’ve watched, or products I use. My blog is about my own mental health, and all of these things contribute to that, so there are no limits!

25. Practice self-care: There are many ways to do this, some already listed. But I plan to spend more time taking care of myself and my mind this year – not just by resting, but by doing things that make me and my mind feel good. I will let you know any tips or tricks I come up with throughout the year.

26. Reach 1000 twitter followers: I’m not 100% sure how achievable this goal is, but I definitely want to try! I managed to reach 100 followers in under a month, so I am hoping I can keep going! Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far, and if you would like to follow me you can find me @PhilippaClaire1

Annnnnd, number 27 is a big one.

To earn enough from writing to actually quit my job and write full time. This is my main goal and has been for the last couple of weeks. I am slowly getting there, although because I am working I don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to it – work uses up all my energy. But I am hopeful that I can get there, it just might take me a bit longer than other people.

And there you have it. I will keep you updated throughout the year on how I am doing! Hopefully I’ll achieve most of these, if not all of them!

Are there any goals you are working on this year?

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Philippa Claire