Fireworks

So it’s that time of the year again. Christmas is done, all of the relatives have been put up with, too much food and drink has been consumed and you’re wishing there were more days between now and going back to work in January.

Yep, it’s New Years resolution time.

2016 was a great year for me and so looking ahead to 2017 there a couple of things which I want to achieve.

1. Be more professional

For the past couple of years I’ve been coasting a little at work and that’s something I plan to change. So what do I mean by this? Well, things like getting up late in the mornings, turning up late to work, making up the hours by working later into the evening and as a result impacting my work/life balance.

I’m also a bit of a lazy dresser. Historically I’ve never really been that interested in following the latest fashion trends however in more recent years I’ve taken greater interest. This certainly has something to do with getting a job in retail and watching the fashion world on a daily basis. Who knows, maybe Life of Man will become shift and become  a men’s fashion site in the coming months requiring its own category… at the time of writing my men’s fashion and men’s grooming sections are certainly both looking a little thin!

So for 2017 I’m going to be more professional. I’m going to step it up a gear both with how I dress and how I approach work.

2. See more of the world

Following getting married back in September this year I went on the most amazing honeymoon around North America. This took me to Washington DC, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Death Valley, Las Vegas and New York! Having been to lots of places for a couple of days in each location it has really given me a desire to see more of the world.

I never went travelling on my gap year nor do I really have any desire to go backpacking or anything like that. What I do love however are short city breaks and if travelling further afield seeing as much as possible.

I’m not sure exactly where I’ll end up in 2017 however I already have plans/bookings for Kraków in Poland and also Quinta de lago in Portugal. Beyond that I’d like to go a little further afield if money allows for it. I’ve always wanted to go to Australia, New Zealand and Reykjavik so they’re all up there as key destinations.

Keep an eye on my travel category to see where I end up in 2017.

3. Earn more money

Now this is an easy one to say and everyone wants to earn more money. I have however always been motivated by money and I’m not ashamed to say that. The reason is that I’ve also always had a plan to earn as much money as quickly as I can so that I don’t have to worry about finances as I get older. This means climbing the professional ladder quickly and taking up every opportunity that presents itself as a financial gain.

I work in the world of SEO and I’m pretty good at it. I have the ability to freelance, charge a high day rate and I can certainly increase my earnings in a different company – there are several options for me here. Not only that, I have a LOT of crap sitting around in my garage which will soon be on eBay!

I don’t know what 2017 has in store however whilst I don’t have children or any major financial commitments I’m going to maximise what I can earn to build a better and easier life.

4. Take some time for myself

The past couple of years have been completely crazy. Sarah got made redundant, we got engaged and then married and finally left the country for a month to go on honeymoon. On top of that all sorts of other stuff got in the way of me enjoying some time to myself and spending time and money doing things that I enjoy.

So for 2017 I’m going to get back in touch with the things that I enjoy doing and the things I like spending my money on. For a start that involves buying nice clothes, getting my electric guitar back out, seeing more of the world and going to see more live music.

5. Be more attentive to my health

My fifth resolution is an important one and certainly one which I don’t find easy working in London. I often work long hours which can be stressful and as a result this impacts how I eat and how I exercise. Coming home from work at 8pm means I’m pretty tired and the last thing that I want to think about doing is head to the gym. Similarly if I’m home late it’s all too easy to eat unhealthily by grabbing a takeaway.

So for 2017 I’m going to try and get myself a little more in tune with a healthier way of living. Work better hours, exercise more regularly and eat a little more healthily with fewer takeaways. This will go a long way to improving my happiness, bank balance and physique.

I’m not usually one to set big or unreachable resolutions but I feel that 2017 is going to be a good year for me. Have you set yourself any resolutions this year?

Wish me luck and I’ll see you all in 2017!

By Nick

Nick is the founder of Life of Man with a passion for trying out the latest technology, eating out at the best local restaurants, trying the latest IPAs hitting the craft beer scene travelling the world. As a parent Nick loves to spend time with his family and write about days out as dad blogger.

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