52 Things To Take Back Control Of Life Again In 2021

As a person and as a writer, I was definitely impacted by what transpired over the last year. I found myself in survival mode, doing what I had to in order to eat, sleep, and have a place to live. My mental and physical health were just a few of the casualties. My writing was too.

Part of being able to write for me is being in a good place mentally and having adventures that inspire me. Although really nothing has changed from December 2020 and January 2021, we are definitely in a different place than we were at the beginning of COVID.

So I made a bucket list.

I’m tired of using self-isolation as an excuse not to have fun and do whatever I need to to stay healthy. Of course, this looks different from a safety perspective, but is still possible. I’m just going to have to be more creative. And I’m going to share my journey with you!

1. Read as many books as possible, or at least 52.
2. Try 52 new recipes.
3. Complete 52 photo shoots.
4. Go on a physical trip.
5. Complete listening to 10 podcasts.
6. Finish the first and second draft of The American Monarch: Ascension.
7. Try 12 different hairstyles.
8. Payoff my car.
9. Make 12 temple trips - even if it looks a little different.
10. Start and maintain a herb garden.
11. Go on five hikes.
12. Attend a yoga class.
13. Write 52 poems.
14. Take 12 classes or courses.
15. Post 12 current selfies.
16. Go stargazing.
17. Send 12 “thank you” notes to people or companies that do great things.
18. Start and maintain a lifestyle diet.
19. Start and maintain a lifestyle exercise routine.
20. Visit a state or national park.
21. Try five different meditation techniques, each for a week.
22. Complete an arts and crafts project.
23. Have a picnic once a month.
24. Visit a castle.
25. Volunteer. 
26. Take five virtual trips.
27. Learn a new vocabulary word every day.
28. Watch 12 new theatrical performances - even if I have to be creative.
29. Write 12 stories to put on Family Search.
30. Make and master a recipe for homemade hibiscus lemonade.
31. Make homemade root beer floats/freezes.
32. Try five new restaurants.
33. Watch an entire TV show and write a review of each episode.
34. Go an entire month without soda.
35. Experience a tea party.
36. Go on a road trip.
37. Be a tourist in my hometown.
38. Learn about 12 people from history I don’t know much about.
39. Study 12 historical events I’ve never heard of.
40. Keep a journal for a month with a daily entry of something I love about myself.
41. Attend a murder mystery party.
42. Wake up to see the sunrise every day for a week.
43. Watch the sunset from a different place every day for a week.
44. Make a multi course dinner.
45. Build a snowman.
46. Make photo books for each of my photo shoots.
47. Create a month’s worth of food storage.
48. Do something fun every week.
49. Make homemade bread.
50. Repurpose an item.
51. Do a multi-brand review for a food item.
52. Complete a Lego project.

What are some of your goals for the New Year?

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