As we approach the final two months of the year, the anticipation of a fresh start in the coming year fills the air. It’s the perfect time to wrap up any loose ends from this year and get ready to welcome a new beginning.
With this in mind, I’ve decided to continue working towards my six-month glow-up journey that I began in August.
However, instead of working towards my best self, I want to switch gears and take these final two months of the year and work towards my favorite self. Ouuueeee…
My Best Self vs My Favorite Self, What’s the Difference?
First, let’s take a look at what my best self looks like versus my favorite self. My best self is the version of me that strives for excellence, constantly seeking improvement in various aspects of life, such as career, health, and personal development.
It’s the self that sets high standards and works diligently to meet them. It’s the self that aims for the pinnacle of achievement.
In many of these areas, I knock it out of the park and am very happy with the progress that I have made and continue to maintain. However, it can be exhausting. It takes hard work, self-discipline, and a lot of energy to show up as my best self at least five days out of the week.
On the other hand, my favorite self is more relaxed while working towards my ideal life design.
- It is the me who focuses on contentment and happiness in the present moment knowing that the small and incremental steps that I take will get me to where I want to be, eventually.
- It is the me that enjoys more flow, time with family and close friends, laughter, and adventure.
- It is the me that cherishes my individuality and embraces the things I genuinely love and enjoy, regardless of societal expectations or external pressures.
- It is the me who appreciates the one workout of the week that I accomplish instead of being hard on myself for not accomplishing the goal of three for the week as I outlined in my 2022 December Glow-Up.
While my best self and my favorite self may sometimes overlap, they represent two distinct aspects of my identity – one driven by ambition and growth, and the other by self-acceptance and the pursuit of happiness. From a lifetime of working on this, I have concluded that striking a balance between the two is key to leading a fulfilling and well-rounded life.
November and December Holiday Glow-Up
Now that we have covered the differences between my best self and my favorite self, let’s have a look at the goals for this year’s end-of-year glow-up leading into the new year.
Mental and Emotional Wellness
Let’s begin with what I consider to be one of the most important aspects to consider when thinking about a “glow-up”; mental and emotional wellness. Because without this in check, there’s almost no way that anything else is happening.
For me, mental and emotional wellness is crucial because it enables me to be the best mother and professional I can be. It allows me to manage stress effectively, maintain a positive outlook, and create a nurturing environment for my family.
Checking in with myself at the end of the year helps me reflect on my mental and emotional well-being, identify areas that may need attention, and ensure I start the new year with a healthy mindset, which ultimately benefits both my family and my career.
As an example, last year, I planned to have a therapy session to release pent-up emotions, so that I could move lighter into 2023, which I did accomplish. However, this year, I have decided to skip the therapy session.
Instead, I will limit my time on social media so that I am not caught up in what others are doing, and will utilize some of my vacation time to simply relax, reflect, and enjoy being more of my favorite self. Trust me, there will be plenty of time for me to be my best self as the new year jumps off.
Improve Physical Health & Appearance
Aside from checking in on my mental and emotional wellness, I want to improve my physical health and appearance with a focus on weight loss.
Weight loss after having a baby is important to me to regain my physical health and well-being. This will also allow me to have the energy and vitality needed to care for my family and excel in life.
Furthermore, it will help boost my self-esteem and body confidence, contributing to a positive self-image, which I can model for my children.
And, probably more important than anything else is that maintaining a healthy weight post-pregnancy reduces the risk of long-term health issues such as diabetes which sadly runs in our family.
One of the ways that I have been able to calculate the length of time that it will take me to lose my desired weight is by using a weight loss calculator. I appreciate this calculator because, as my goals and needs change, I can adjust my plan via the free weight loss calculator.
Financial Management
Overall, my focus is not only on achieving personal wellness goals like weight loss but also on enhancing our family’s financial stability, especially in the face of inflation.
As a working mother, the year-end budget check becomes essential, not only to evaluate our financial progress and identify areas for growth but also to address the financial challenges posed by inflation. I would be lying if I said that inflation has had no tremendous impact on our family budget. It has!
However, we have been able to use a family budget planning calculator to help adjust our budget. For example, instead of all the travel adventures we used to experience, we have opted for local and often free events and activities, so that the majority of those travel funds can be spent on necessities such as groceries and the increases that came with housing and utilities.
During this glow-up, I want to simply take the time to check in with our finances, reevaluate, and create an improved budget that will allow us to save more, alleviate financial stress, and create a more secure and prosperous environment for our family’s well-being in 2024.
Final Thoughts
In summary, my goal for the final two months of the year is to work on various areas of my life that will contribute to living life as my favorite self. These areas include checking in on my mental and emotional wellness, improving my physical health and appearance, and taking the time to check in with our finances to create a more secure and prosperous environment for our family’s well-being in 2024.
