Love reading all these different comments and goals - really interesting to have a glimpse into other people's lives. Mine have been over the past few years and still working on them:
Walk an hour a day and listen to a podcast to learn something, stay informed new/hear someone's life story. Desert Island Discs, This American Life, Savage Lovecast good for this.
Read more - I buy a Kindle daily deal once a week (99p) and try more new stuff.
Spend at least one evening/lunch/breakfast/coffee with a friend/friends every week just catching up for an hour or more even if it means arranging month in advance (which I do). We laugh so much and they are so amazing and supportive. Dan Savage talks about 'biological (blood) and logical (friends) families' - My logical family are the ones who get me through the tough times and laugh with me during the good.
Hair coloured and cut regularly - makes me feel good and I love having my hair washed and getting the head massage!
Good eyebrow game - makes such a difference to my face as I'm so fairskinned.
Take myself out for a date - eat out on my own, solo cinema/theatre trips, just grab a coffee. I love my own company and think it's good for mental health.
Vocalise positive stuff I think - tell my husband when he looks good/makes me feel good, tell friends how fab they are, tell people I love that I love them more, in work make a point to thank colleagues when they've been helpful/are doing a good job. Also, be clearer about things I don't want to do/want to challenge - kind but honest. This has saved me attending events I don't want to go to, not commit to things I'm really not keen on.
I've stopped watching most live broadcast television and more selective about what I watch and avoid adverts (which when I do see them now make see just how cynical they are aimed at making women feel shite about themselves). Read news instead of watch it.
Thinking about my nutrition - I've cut out most sugar and processed goods and see stuff I think as a treat as just that so on holidays have whatever takes my fancy. This works for me - I feel more energetic and clearer mentally.
I love make up and clothes - they make me feel good. I've become more adventurous in trying new stuff and styles. Send stuff back if I don't like it!
I'm fortunate to be in a position careerwise that I can now afford to take lovely holidays, weekend breaks so travel more and more independent travel - this is going well. I went on a European adventure for two weeks on my own last summer and the confidence it gave me was worth every penny and moment of self doubt in run up to planning and stepping on the plane.
These things have made me feel more grounded, confident and content - at times really happy but when things are tough, I deal with them better. I think I've been caught up in the "everything has to be perfect/I must feel happy all the time" trap and the fact is, my job is stressful, my hormones affect my mood, life can be tough, the world feels like it's imploding, politically, so I'm delighted to feel, on the whole, balanced! I get told a lot by friends and in work that this comes across - 'always smiling', 'zen-like serene' and 'chilled'. Self care is important. I've learnt the hard way I'm no use to anyone, least alone myself, if I don't think about myself and these things!