2024 Here we come!

Can you believe it's almost 2024! I'm super excited because I have a fetish with even numbers of anything. I love even numbered years and for some reason they have always been my best years to flourish personally and professionally. As we embark on the upcoming year I would love to share my insights on New Year's Resolutions. 

Personal:

1. **Health and Wellness:** Commit to a specific exercise routine or a healthier diet. It could be setting a goal to exercise a certain number of times per week or incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your daily meals. For me it's definitely the fruits and vegetable intake. Because of our busy schedules my diet has become very poor. As far as exercising the running joke is that I'm not going to the gym as long as I'm lifting 40 lbs boxes of chicken weekly. LOL. What are some of your exercise goals for next year? 

2. **Personal Growth:** Dedicate time to a hobby or skill you've always wanted to develop, like learning a new language, playing a musical instrument, or taking up painting. I enjoy reading and I've actually already picked this back up as of last month. It has been a long time since I took the time to read a book. I got so hooked on Tik Toks, Reels and YouTube that I lost focus of my first true love which is turning the pages of a good book. Have you read anything interesting lately?

3. **Mindfulness Practice:** Consider incorporating mindfulness or meditation into your daily routine to enhance mental well-being. Set aside time each day for meditation or deep breathing exercises to reduce stress. I love doing breathing exercises. It seems so simple but it's a practice I learned at a mental health retreat and it makes you feel amazing. Try it! 

Family: 

1. **Quality Time:** Plan regular family activities or outings to strengthen relationships, whether it's a weekly game night, a monthly hiking trip, or cooking meals together.  Spending time with family is so important these days with everyone having such busy schedules. Make small changes like eating dinner together or simply watching a movie one night per week to strengthen your bond.  Of course you all already know me and my sister cook together everyday. Now that's love! LOL. 

2. **Communication:** Make an effort to improve communication within the family. It could involve having regular family meetings to discuss goals or challenges and actively listening to each other's perspectives. It's one thing to listen to each other but it's another to actually be heard. Work on actually hearing each other and showing empathy. 

3. **Service or Volunteering:** Commit to volunteering as a family for a cause you all care about. This could involve volunteering at a local shelter, participating in a community cleanup, or supporting a charity together. The famous quote is the service is the rent we pay for living. Give back in any way you can to your community. 

Professional:

1. **Skill Enhancement:** Identify a skill or certification that could boost your professional development. This might involve enrolling in an online course, attending workshops, or getting certified in a relevant area. Whew! I could talk all day about this. There's so much to learn. My goal is to always learn something new no matter how small. At Carolima's we're always learning new ways to make our customer experiences even better. 

2. **Networking Goals:** Aim to expand your professional network by setting a target number of new connections per month or attending industry-related events regularly. Although I am an extreme introvert I have definitely been working on being more active with networking. 

3. **Work-Life Balance:** Make a resolution to maintain a healthier work-life balance by setting boundaries, scheduling regular breaks, and prioritizing self-care to prevent burnout. This is a big one for me! I am trying to implement self care weekly. Even if it's just going out for a nice lunch or dinner. How do you plan to balance work-life in 2024? 

Ultimately it is your race and your pace. Do whatever makes you feel great. The important thing is that small changes lead to long term joy. See you in 2024!

The Dynamic Duo
Carolima’s Lowcountry Cuisine