Happy 2021!! I hope you all had a fabulous New Years Eve (even if it was a lot more low-key than normal). I cannot believe how quickly 2020 went and what a whirlwind it was. The year started with redundancy, then within 3 weeks of having a new job I was sent to work from home for the rest of the year all thanks to ‘rona. Then things got even more surprising as two lines appeared on a pregnancy test, it really has been a crazy crazy year, full of the biggest highs and the biggest lows and I just cannot wait to see what 2021 will bring.
Each year I write a new years resolution post because yes I am that blogger that says ‘new year, new me’. I always love having a fresh start and, well, you can’t get more of a fresh start than entering a new year! However, this years post is a bit different to my normal resolutions post as I will be spending 9 months of it on maternity leave and usually a goal of mine is to work on my career and my priorities are certainly a lot different this year compared to last. If you would like to read my past new years resolutions, they will be linked at the bottom of this post. Rambly intro over, I hope you all enjoy!
Be a good mum
This one is of course the most important and I feel a little silly including it in a ‘resolutions’ post but it truly is my biggest goal and it would just feel wrong not including it. 2021 is the year my life will completely change as I am becoming a first time mum and as I am counting down the days until my due date I am becoming more excited and even more nervous, there is nothing I want more than to be a good mum.
Donate more
I know I am not the only one who spent lockdown clearing out old items that I no longer need or love and then donating them to a charity shop. I absolutely love charity shops and have always shopped in them as well as contributed. However, one thing I really want to do is donate to food banks. In most supermarkets there are food bank containers at the end of the tills so it couldn’t be easier to contribute and I am so guilty of walking straight past them. Food donations are so important, now so more than ever with the ongoing pandemic and I am definitely going to start contributing weekly. I recently read the most amazing post from Jennie (50shad3s0fjay), who spoke all about the importance of food banks and why we should all be giving back to those who need it. It is linked here and I really urge you to give it a read.
Tackle my driving anxiety
I have been driving now for just over two years and I have always been an anxious driver. In 2019 my confidence behind a wheel improved so so much but since spending most of 2020 at home, the only places I typically driven to were the supermarket and to and from my parents houses so my confidence has declined massively. This year I really want to get my confidence back in driving to new places and also drive on the motorway for the first time.
Eat less meat
A few years back I was vegetarian and I certainly felt my healthiest, but since moving out and cooking for me and Harry, who is a meat eater, I now tend to eat meat for most dinners. This year I really want to be more conscious of what I am fuelling my body with and make better teatime decisions. Would it really be a new years resolution post without including a cliché healthy eating resolution?
Stop worrying what people think
This sounds like such a vague resolution, but hear me out. I worry so much about what people think of me and I have always been so scared of judgement, whether its judgement from a friend, family member, colleague or a passing stranger. In the grand scheme of things I know that the chances of them actually negatively judging me are quite slim and even if they are it doesn’t matter as I should be confident in my actions and choices. BUT I still can’t help but worry and this is so toxic and consuming. People keep telling me once the baby is here all the small worries will go out the window as your whole life will change and now revolve around my little human, and I really hope that that is true. This year I am determined to use all the techniques I learnt in CBT therapy to combat the intrusive thoughts and be more confident in my choices.
Thank you all for reading, I really appreciate the love and support my little blog received in 2020. It has been a funny old year for blogging, I have had more online breaks than ever before and there has been far fewer content creating opportunities compared to the years prior. So I truly do appreciate you all sticking around, here’s to another year of blogging!
Until next time,
New Years, New Goals – here.
New Years, New Goals #2 – here.
Lessons We Learned In 2019 – here.
Chloe Burford 
You are going to be a great Mum Chloe 🙂 Someone once said to me that as long as you have the babies’ best interests in mind, there is no way that you cannot be a good Mum. You will definitely never be perfect but there is never going to be a perfect Mum!
I used to donate to food banks once a year through the church but have never actually contributed to any of the collections in supermarkets. I think that is a fantastic idea for a New Year’s Resolution.
I am definitely guilty of suffering from driving anxiety as well and I cannot even remember the last time I drove (maybe it was before 2020?!?) so I definitely need to work on driving more this year as well.
Good luck with all your resolutions! xx
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Thank you so much lovely, your kind words mean a lot to me and I really appreciate you reading and commenting. Donating through the church sounds great, I think a lot of us are a bit guilty of walking straight past the donation banks in supermarkets, maybe this year is the year for change! Goodluck with driving lovely, it is reassuring to know I am not the only one who struggles with driving anxiety. Wishing you luck with your resolutions also! xxx
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This is going to be such a huge, exciting year for you! I’m sure you’ll be a great mum! 😊 Tackling driving anxiety is a goal of mine too for this year, I’d love to have a bit more independence and get my own car but it’s definitely scary! I’m always constantly worried about what other people think too which really holds me back on so much stuff, I hope you can gain more confidence and achieve this goal! 😊
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Aww thank you so much honey!! I truly hope you are right. Driving is such a nerve wracking thing and I think others feel once you pass you are automatically okay with driving when the reality is so different! Wishing you all the luck with your goals and resolutions this year, we will combat our driving anxiety!! xxx
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It’s been so nice being along with you on your pregnancy journey, you’re going to be a great mum and your little girl will adore you! Driving is a scary thing and it’s understandable you lost a bit of confidence in 2020 due to not being on the road much. I’m still trying to get over driving anxiety and haven’t managed it yet. 2020 wasn’t the best time to focus on driving for me but hopefully like you I can make some progress this year 🙂 Best of luck with your other resolutions too xx
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I absolutely love the fact I have shared my pregnancy journey online and I love even more the fact that you have enjoyed reading all about it, so thank you so much! 2020 was such a challenging year for all of us for several reasons and I have my fingers crossed that this year will be different. It has been comforting to know I am not the only one who struggled with their driving confidence this year and have every faith that this year we can all tackle the anxiety step by step. Wishing you all the best for this year and your resolutions! Thank you once again for reading and commenting lovely xxx
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These are all great goals, Chloe! I’m so excited to watch what 2021 has in store for you and your baby. You’re going to be a great mum – to be honest, the fact that you care and are trying your best is all that makes a good mother. Happy new year!xx
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Thank you so much beauty!! I only have 4 days until my due date (ahhh, I cannot wait to show the little lady off!) Thank you for your lovely and reassuring words, I wish you all the best with your resolutions lovely! xxx
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Such nice goals you have set!! I hope you succeed in reaching all of them. Congratulations on (almost) being a new mum! I’m sure you’ll be great. ♥️
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Thank you so much for reading and commenting, I really appreciate it! Baby Poppy is here now all happy and healthy 🙂 xx
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Happy 2021 beautiful Chloe, I love this post so much and I am confident you are going to achieve all your goals – you are a beautiful soul, I just know your world will be as beautiful as you.
Of course you are going to be the best Mum and your little lady is so lucky to have you – you are so caring, so thoughtful and such a beautiful Soul, I can see it in your writing how much you care, so this alone makes you a wonderful mother. I know this year is going to be so gorgeous and lovely for you & your wonderful family ❤ sending lots of love.
I feel the same with having a driving goal, I haven't even passed my test yet, so I need to get that sorted once the lockdown is over again! I had my theory test booked, but it got cancelled. Anyway, I think I am going to use affirmations and mindset to help me with this – also, I have to say the fact that you can drive is already a massive achievement. I genuinely look at people in awe for driving haha ( so that WILL be me one day ) but for sure hun, you've already overcome so much by passing your test, that in itself is such an achievement, you've got this!
& YES to giving back – bless you so much for including my post ah I love you. For real though, I am 100% the same as you, I definitely want to give back more this year as well as shopping from more family owned 'smaller' businesses and shopping more ethically / sustainably. Good for you Queen.
Love love love the foodie one hehe ❤ There are so many wonderful alternatives out there now too, so I am confident you'll not only achieve this goal, but enjoy it too. If you need any recs please feel free to message me of course!!!
I also have a book recommendation for you with regards resolution #5, 'The Mastery Of Love' by Don Miguel Ruiz, and 'You Are A Badass' by Jen Sincero – these are two books I think will really be beneficial for everyone to read actually haha, however, I hope you remember how flippin' amazing you are, you are doing your best and that's all anyone could ever hope for. You're amazing beaut.
Lots of love, and I know this year is going to be beautiful for you xxx Happy 2021 Chloe!
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Ahhhhh where do I start?! Thank you thank you thank you SO much lovely, you always leave the most meaningful and amazing comments that I just can’t thank you enough for! Baby Poppy is here now and is just the most gorgeous bundle of joy, I really couldn’t be happier if I tried! A lot of my friends were planning on taking their tests and it has all been pushed back, I feel so sorry for them and am sorry that it’s happened to you! It can be so disheartening but you will be on the road soon I just know it! I have every faith in that you will be an amazing little driver. It is all so scary at first but all worth it. You inspire me so much to be more mindful in the world and give back, so thank you for being the best influence! Ooo I will definitely check those books out, I certainly need all the motivation words in my life at the moment. Thank you once again for being so so thoughtful, you are such a good friend. Love you lots!! I hope you have a fabulous 2021 too! xxxx
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What a lovely post! It’s always good to have new year resolutions and I loved reading all of yours!
I’m very certain that you’re going to be a good mom 🤍 Although I don’t know you in person, I can tell that you’re very kind and caring just from reading your blogs. Your baby girl is very lucky to have a mom like you!
I do hope that you’ll be able to drive comfortably without any anxiety this year. I just started my driving lessons last week and I am already experiencing the anxiety that comes with it. Really can’t imagine how you must feel when you have to drive in new and busy places.
Here’s a quote from a mediation app “Headspace” that I found quite helpful for me: “When we experience troubling emotions, it’s best to sit with it instead of analyzing it. Let the passage of time do most of the hard work.” I hope that this quote will be able to help you as much as it helped me with my anxiety and overthinking.
Anyway, I can’t wait to hear more from you as always. Wish you the best for 2021 💓xxx
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Aww comments like this make me feel so emotional, thank you so much for your such kind words it means the absolute world to me. You are such a thoughtful and caring person!! Learning to drive is such a scary time so well done you, it will all be worth it in the end. I wish you all the luck with it and hope Covid doesn’t affect the learning process. Oh thats an amazing quote, I love that app so much. Thank you so much for sharing! Thank you so much once again for being such an amazing person and leaving such a lush comment xxxx
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