# Intentions and aspirations for 2024

> This is my intentions and aspirations for the new year...

- URL: https://workingbruno.com/notes/20240104-intentions-and-aspirations-for-2024/
- Published: 2024-01-04
- Tags: life, thinking

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As the year draws to a close, it prompts a period of self-reflection owing to the symbolic culmination of a cycle. However, the significance of these assessments is far more influenced by our ongoing momentum than the rigid constraints of a particular date. Resolutions, too, are subject to the limitations of personal will, and acknowledging this, I find it more genuine to consider them as intentions and aspirations.

### Intentions
#### Enhancing sleep quality 
I've always felt more awake at night (normally called [_night owl_ or _wolf_](https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/chronotypes)), which makes my natural biorhythms unmistakable. This inevitably means that I often don't get enough sleep and my bedtime isn't as regular as it should be. I'd like to improve my sleep routine by 2024.

#### Eating better
After a period of great control and discipline when it came to eating certain foods such as bread (among other carbohydrate-rich foods), in the last two years I've lost a bit of that rigour and the weight gain didn't take long — I currently weigh 4 or 5kg more than I'd like. I want to reduce my carbohydrate intake again and lose some of the other habits I've picked up.

#### Portfolio and new professional challenges
After a number of years of neglecting and procrastinating on putting together a decent portfolio I hope to finalise, in the first few months of this year, the work started in 2023.
I also want to increase my freelance involvement in more interesting projects and be open to new professional challenges.

#### Being better at wasting time
It's very important to have time for myself. Non-productive time. However, I find that I easily waste that non-productive time on activities that don't bring me any return — especially that damn time I spend watching some videos on Youtube or news on the telly. I'm hoping that this year I'll be a little more judicious about where I waste my time.

### Aspirations
#### Greater emotional flexibility
I enter 2024 aware that I need greater emotional restraint and [flexibility](https://www.seldakoydemir.com/resources/emotional-flexibility-is-the-key-to-wellbeing) at certain times. This is something I've been trying to improve, but there's still some way to go. It's an ongoing effort, but I believe cultivating this aspect will make me more receptive to others.

#### Being present
Sometimes it's hard for my mind not to wander. Not only do I have a very active [ruminating mind](https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Rumination_(psychology)), but I also have a somewhat selective attention deficit... being in the moment, present and really paying attention to the other person is a challenge. 

Happy new year to everyone! 🥂