Happy 2016 Everyone!
I hope you all had a fab xmas and a well deserved rest?! I did and I think it's because I took a mini-break from blogging. It was refreshing to take the time to relax and soak up the christmas atmosphere with my friends and family. I think its always good to have a break now and again; I feel fresh, ready to go and excited to get back into regular posting throughout the week now!
As we all know, the beginning of a new year is a great time to put changes into motion. I set myself goals instead of making new years resolutions as I tend to work towards goals a bit more productively and because, on a daily basis in my work life we set career/project goals it feels more natural and achievable!
If you want to use tools to help embed your goals it might be worth thinking about writing some affirmative reminders to help you work towards reaching your goals. You can find out more about affirmative reminders
here. I use affirmations on a daily basis but it does take practice!
I've got a few blogging goals and a few general life goals so thought it might be nice to share these with you on my blog.. maybe they will inspire you to set some goals too? Plus, if I've declared them to the world it means I'm more likely to work hard to achieve them!
Blogging goals
Goal one: Be more me
Talk about stuff that genuinely gets me excited! Although I love beauty stuff and will always post about my fave products I want to eventually expand the topics I cover here at Tea And Blush.
I'd like to include more cookery posts, more posts on trips we take, more posts about local shops I love and generally just my thoughts on anything and everything, happy or sad! It's really important for me to remember as I change I want my blog to evolve too!
Goal two: Continue with TheCityGirls
You might have noticed on social media over the past few months things changed in the set up of the blogging events; Lorna took a step back from planning due to other comitments and Siobhan joined me in planning the Manchester event. I've love being part of the events, it's helped me develop my confidence,given me an insight into the world of marketing and also meant I've got to meet some pretty lovely bloggers in different cities across the north! All of the events I've put together (Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester) have all been hugely successful and I want to continue working on more events into 2016 but I've decided I'd like to focus the events on more specific groups of bloggers/themes, for example, crafty bloggers, mummy bloggers,fashion bloggers,vintage bloggers,luxury bloggers, travel bloggers etc.. Having these specific groups means I can tailor the day to be more suited to the attendees and it means they are more likely to blog about the day and the brands they discover.
I need to mention here too is that Siobhan has decided to take a step back from The CityGirls .. *sad face* but I understand her reasons behind the decision- you can read more about, what I like to call, her journey to happiness here.
I'll be talking more about TheCityGirls in another post later on this week ;)
Goal three: Work on my photography
I'm lucky enough to have some pretty fancy photography equipment but I still need to take the time and practice with it all. At the moment I get frustrated with myself if I can't get the shot I want and quickly give up and pack it all away. So, going forward I need to just remind myself that I'm probably not the only blogger out there taking 30+ pictures of the same bloody thing.. it takes time to develop a skill like photography!! I'd love to start reading some of your posts on how you improved your blog photography so leave your links below!
Goal four: Comment on more blogs and get involved with Twitter chats
I spend a good amount of my spare time reading blogs, watching Youtube videos and scrolling through twitter but from the outside I know this doesn't show. I never get involved in Twitter chats, I very rarely comment on other bloggers posts and have only once commented on a video! I really need to start supporting other bloggers and showing my appreciation when I enjoy something they've taken time to produce. I occasionally get people commenting on my blog posts and it makes me smile so why haven't I been passing this little bit of happiness along?! Tut tut indeed!
