10 Things That Changed My Life For the Better in 2023

I like to spend the week between Christmas and New Years reflecting on how the year went and set intentions for the upcoming year. I’m currently reflecting on the 2023 vision board I made last year and I’m pretty darn proud of myself for accomplishing most of my intentions. I finished 46 books so far in 2023, went to a national nutrition conference, started a new RD job, playing pickleball consistently and at higher level than I was a year ago, cooking for my family (not as much as I would like though), trips with friends, and hitting my strength training goals. As we head into 2024 I’m feeling pretty good about what I accomplished in 2023 and hoping to continue to build on it.

I decided to round up 10 things that improved my life in 2023:

1. No hangovers. It’s been about a year and a half now that I’ve pretty much cut alcohol out of my life. I have maybe one drink a month if there is a special occasion or I’m feeling it, but I now go really long stretches of time without a drink and feel so much better. I’ve cut it out for numerous reasons and it’s been a game changer for me.
2. Strength training. My body LOVES lifting weights and doing less cardio. I’m seeing the changes and feel stronger than I did in my 20’s.
3. Walking > running. I walk a ton! Between walks/hikes on the treadmill, walking the dog/stroller, chores around the house, etc. I’m averaging 1200k+ steps a day. Walking more is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body.
4. Side hustle. I’m back to working 1 day a week in the nutrition field and enjoy it so much. I love being mom, but using my degree and keeping my nutrition skills sharp is important to me. I have some more side gigs in the works for 2024.
5. Girls trips. Having weekends away to see my friends and relax is essential. I usually book these trips during the winter so I have something to look forward to. Heather and I head to Palm Springs soon and we cannot wait for some sun!
6. Reading more books. I made a point to read (not just listen) more physical books this year. I love listening to books during the day, but having a physical book in my hand and reading before bed hits different. If I’m reading something good, I get into bed extra early so I have time to read a few chapters.
7. Prioritizing protein and breakfast. Making sure I’m eating enough early in the day and prioritizing protein at meal and snack times has helped me feel more satiated and energized throughout the day. And less mindless snacking!
8. Day dates. While I enjoy going out to dinner with my husband, I’m usually so tired in the evening I’d prefer to just stay in. I love morning/day dates where we can play pickleball together and grab brunch after.
9. Cutting back on kids activities. I used to feel like I had to have my kids signed up for all the things to be a good parent. Swim, soccer, gymnastics, tennis, etc. While I want my kids to be active I didn’t need to sign them up for all the things. Quinn is now only doing tennis and we play pickleball one day a week together and Kinsley is just doing gymnastics one day a week.
10. Regular self care. This year I started getting regular massages (every 4-5 weeks) and scheduling facials again. This was really hard to do when Kinsley was young, but now that she’s 2.5 I’ve started to get back into a more normal routine of booking these appointments and prioritizing these appointments for my health and wellbeing.

Bring it on 2024!

xx, A