Hi my weirdos,
I am back! Exams are over. Oh my hat! I was really stressing for the past few weeks. I hope you guys are hanging onto your scarves and hats this winter. Besides the Durban folks, come now, there’s no winter in Durban. Just kidding(not really). Count down to Game of Thrones, T minus 11 days! OMG. I cannot wait! 😀
I admit although I am getting good feedback from you guys I have been feeling down recently. Maybe it’s the winter blues or maybe it’s just my own harsh judgement on myself. I am my biggest critic. I thought since we are 5 days into the second half of the year I would reflect back to my goals for this year and my progress as well as chat about goal setting. I started my blog on 12th February this year so I did not get to tell you my goals for the year but here they are:
1. Exercise more, take up a sport, get fit-
I must admit I hate the gym. Sorry not sorry. I cannot bear the thought of people’s sweat and germs on equipment and just the monotonous routine, it is really boring to me(I did try it for a while). No offence to gym freaks, it is just not my thing. I started the year off well, I created a running group and we did a 5 km race. We ran quite often on track. I started volleyball this year as well and we train every week. It has been years since I have played so I am really enjoying it. On campus days, I usually clock 6000-9000 steps walking on a long day. I use the Samsung Health app to track my progress. All in all, I am definitely more active than last year but this winter I plan to hibernate a bit. How do you keep fit in winter if you are not a gym gal?
2. Adopt a more vegan diet, cook more, order takeout less-
Now most of you know I have been vegetarian more than half of my life, around 13 years or so. I have wanted to become vegan since forever, a student budget is really not helping this transition. Vegan cheese costs around 70-80 South African Rand. I go through a big block of cheese a week by myself. Cheese is my life, as cheesy as it sounds. I do not really use milk and I hate the taste of it. I drink black coffee and tea(I mostly just drink coffee). I have been trying to ween off yogurt. I joined a vegan group on Facebook trying to get advice and well they basically attacked me because apparently questioning the price of vegan foods is against their beliefs or something. (I totally understand why people are defensive towards some vegans now.) I left the group and now I do what I can on my own with the advice of like-minded individuals. I think I am doing the most I can at this point in my life. I do cook a lot more this year, I do still order out but it is much less than last year.
3. Go cruelty-free with make up and all cosmetic products:
Gosh, why is this such a challenge? Why does MAC sell in China? Heck why did NARS just announce their move into China? Money, money, money, money, money (Cue Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” theme song). Money talks, ethics walk? Not in my book. Look, this is a not an easy task. I have researched and found a few local companies and brands that are 100% cruelty-free and some that are vegan. There is less than 10 products that I own that are not cruelty-free. Five or so of which I actually use. It’s mostly MAC if you read my posts and watch my live videos you will know what they are. I am hoping by the end of this year or so most of these products will be finished and I am proud to say I gave away or sold any new make up items that I bought to review that was not cruelty free. I am super excited to try new vegan products and also tell you guys about this process.
4. Study more, watch less series:
Let’s be honest here, I hate studying. If you love it, people share whatever drugs you are taking? I mean you know over the counter stuff such as Bio Strath (which does nothing for me). You guys know I am a serieholic, even I am surprised at everything I watch. Thankfully, during this exam period everything I watch was on a season break. I have tried to limit myself to only watching when there are no tests or exams soon. I am planning to study this holiday too, yes that is what science kids do. Between blogging, keeping fit, sports and studying while attempting to have a social life there is not that much time for series.
5. Blog, write as much as possible, do not lose my creative side:
This is last but it is definitely not least. This has been the best thing I did this year. I am overwhelmed by the positive responses I get. When someone says “reading your blog really gets me through the day or week”, I feel such pleasure in my heart. Thank you to all my readers. I started a blog in 2013 while in the United States, I wrote one post and never found the time for it. I must thank Beauty Swop or Sale South Africa on Facebook and it’s members for encouraging me to start this. I would not have had this blog without their motivation. You should join this group if you are a beauty junkie. It is so easy to lose your creativity in a degree such as mine but I am glad I started this and there is much more to come!
Did I forget I swore to limit my spending on make up this year? Guys, I just cannot. I am trying to though.
That is it for my goals and progress. I have other personal goals and aspirations but I will save that for a later stage. I remember when I was in high school and we were taught how to set goals and I thought well do we still do this? This is how I set goals and track them.
Step one: Think about my life, write down what makes me happy and what makes me not as happy. What do I want more from life?
Step two: Write down my goals for my the next 5 years
Step three: Break down the 5 year goals into yearly goals that are going to lead me to my end goal.
Step four: Break them further into monthly goals and weekly goals.
Step five: Track my daily progress on apps on my phone.
Step six: At the end of every week, check back on your progress and see what you could improve on.
It may seem like a lengthy process but it does make a difference and can really help with whatever your goals are. I used to make vision boards and I think I will do this again this holiday.
How do you set your goals? What keeps you motivated to achieve them? Let me know in the comments 🙂
Remember a goal without a plan is just a wish.
P.S. Subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss my reviews coming soon..
Set goals & Prosper,
Miss Dhanusha 
I feel ya on the exercise thing. I can’t do gyms . Yuck. Plus all my juggle is not safe for all to appreciate. Might cause a riot!😂
You’re doing fine- just keep challenging yourself!
Lol thank you so much. I try to challenge myself as much as possible. Thanks for the support.
SO keen to hear about your conversion to cruelty free makeup. Its definitely a challenge! great post xx
Thanks hopefully I make the cut hehe
Nice goals!! I’m so glad I’m one of those girls who spend less on makeup since I just look good with a subtle look but I’ve seen a lot of girls who are obsessed with beauty products lol. It’s fine to love makeup but don’t want to overdo it 🙂 Hope you accomplish your goals girl 🙂
Hehe I wish I was one too. But I do try new things to review as well. I definitely cut down lol. Thank you for reading.
That’s good and np!
Loved this hun! It really is such a great idea to sometime just sit down and reflect. Im definitely going to do the same. Thanks for the tips!
Pleasure. Thank you for reading. 😊
I hate exercising in general, I would rather stuff my face with food LOL. You have just inspired me to actually set goals. Thanks boo <3
Awh if I inspire one person with this post I am happy 😊 Thank you for reading. Just stuffed my face with pizza haha
Haha mmmmm pizza <3
Hi Hun….I think we all need a MID_YEAR Review. Thanks, I enjoyed the read, your Blog has actually inspired me to write more on my Blog now(which I have been neglecting) Vegan make-up is becoming more popular with brands that care, like Tarte and Inglot, keep us posted on the new brands you find that are vegan. Thanks again 🙂
Thank you for the feedback. It’s awesome to know I have inspired you 😊 while some brands are going forward, some are going back like Nars 😣 I definitely will do.
It looks like you’re doing really well on accomplishing your goals for the year! I haven’t gotten as far, unfortunately. I got all excited to plan everything out in January, but I never officially wrote or posted anything :O The only thing I remember is that I wanted to read 12 books this year, which I’m working on. Something is better than nothing, I suppose! Good luck with everything and great post! <3
There are many days I dont and well you live and learn. Aslong as you are progressing you are doing well. I also want to read more books this year sadly all I read are blogs and articles but I plan to read this university holiday. Thank you
❤️…inspired
T minus 11days, woop woop
Can’t hardly wait👏🏽
Well it’s 10 days now hehe. Too excited. Thanks for reading
I love this post!
I will definitely be setting myself some personal goals for the second half of the year.
XOXO
Goodluck 😊 always good to keep track
I love your goal list. I’ve also just finished my half year review/2nd quarter review. It’s a way to reboot your goals.
Gym- I workout from home so i don’t stop in winter, try downloading a few workout videos.
Thats awesome. Yes great idea will do so 😊 thank you
Great goals!! I am currently vegan and I think I am really gonna struggle buying my food when I move out to go to university in a few months. I totally agree about not enjoying the gym, I feel far too self conscious. Hope you succeed with your goals xx
AHHH I cannot read this without feeling so guilty! 😦 Especially the first few like eating better, getting fit, etc etc. Those are always the most difficult and it is so easy to fall off the wagon I need to get better, too! xx
We all fall off sometimes. This winter I am not doing so well with much