Historically for me, the month of December has always been a time where I would take stock of what’s happened during the year and map out what will be happening in the next year.
I find this mix of the learning of lessons and the discovery of possibilities very exciting indeed.
Over the last couple of Decembers however, I’ve not really been in the right mind to do this exercise properly but this December has been different and it’s great to be back.
So with all that being said and with the end of 2022 fast approaching, it’s time for me to finalise (but not set in concrete) my list of professional and personal resolutions for 2023.
I’ve decided that this non exhaustive list will be a series of activities that I will do more of. How that will transpire throughout 2023 will be determined on a day to day basis.
With my core goal for 2023 being to live a slower, steadier, simpler and more silent life, I present to you what I want to doing more of in 2023…
Write:
For someone like myself who is a songwriter and a blogger it seems pretty obvious doesn’t it?
I will be making the time to write more songs, blog posts, short stories, poems, journal entries, anything that can get what is in my mind and heart out into the world
Re-establishing a daily writing routine will be good for my musical output as well as my (mental) health in general.
Practise:
This can be interpreted in a number of ways.
On the music side, this means that I’ll find the time to write more songs and spend more time learning the guitar, bass, piano and the recording studio.
This would also mean that I’ll be playing more as a result of this practise and for me, practise and play are the cornerstones of creativity plus, these are all the things needed for me to master the craft of being a songwriter, musician and producer.
From doing this I will also be able to record more music, finish more music by revising my archive, release more music and collaborate/network with other songwriters and musicians locally and globally.
On the personal side, this means that I’ll find the time to do all of the things that are non-work related but still essential in ensuring that my core goal is realised such as meditation, writing, exercise, gardening, cooking and so on.
All of these activities seem small and insignificant by themselves but when put together in a daily, weekly or monthly routine it really makes a difference.
Read:
I fully admit… I don’t read enough.
I always felt that reading was more of a functional activity, a means to get to a destination rather than something you do for pleasure.
In the past, when I made attempts to read a book for the sake of it, I would immediately feel guilty and start thinking of all the other things that I could’ve be doing with my time.
It’s time to change that mindset.
In 2023 I will find the time to read more and slow my life down as a result. Immersing myself in words will help me to become a better lyricist and engage in my imagination a lot more.
Relax:
Moving away from the city and living in the country has helped a lot in enabling me to slow down and relax but I still have a lot to learn about effectively stopping the world so I can get off of it.
One of the things I will be doing in 2023 is to stop multi-tasking and just concentrate my focus on one thing at a time.
Instead of trying to do many activities at the same time and not completing anything I’ll be experimenting with setting aside chunks of time dedicated to specific tasks or activities during the course of my work day or, for doing nothing at all.
When I work, I work and when I relax, I relax. Seems simple enough doesn’t it?
Exercise:
This is a no brainer really. Plain and simply, I need to move more, walk more and do more on a physical level. I know that nothing will get my creative juices flowing more than feeling good about myself and the world around me.
I have let myself go a little bit (more on this in a future post) but 2023 will be the year that I reclaim my overall health.
I know what it felt like when I was on top of my health therefore I know that I can get there again. By doing this I’ll be more productive but most importantly, I’ll a much better person for myself and everyone else.
I know what to do, I’ve just got to go and do it. Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy life.
This list is going to be constantly changing, morphing and being redefined. Therefore, I need to be flexible in my approach to all of this (which has been something that I haven’t been in the past).
Considering what has happened to me over the past couple of years and where I am at right now I reckon I’ve got this.
What are some of the goals and resolutions that you want to achieve in 2023. Let me know and perhaps we can all help each other but in the meantime, I want to wish everyone a safe and creatively prosperous 2023. May it be everything that you want it to be and more.
Peace,
Corey 🙂