Ah, it’s that time of year again to put in place your new year resolutions. But wait? Isn’t it nearly the end of January already?! 

Oh contraire, my friend, this is a tried and tested method for me. 

I didn’t want to make them while I was still in post-festive glow and still reeling from the highs of a new year party, feeling top of the world that 2019 can throw anything at me and I’d be stronger for it. 

Hmm, come back to work and to real life, you’d soon find your resolutions are just a tad unrealistic. I mean, I remember when I made a resolution to be on a Harry Potter film. I failed. 

So, I’ve always said, leave it a few weeks to settle in the year, get over the bleakness of winter (now that’s there’s no big, fat and red man to bring me presents), and you’ll have your first payment of the year giving you security to plan ahead your year. 

2019. 

This is going to be a strange year for me. 2018 was the hardest year in my lifetime and I’m determined to make 2019 a great one. 

See more: Goodbye 2018… 

So, what new year resolutions have I put in place for me, after the antics of Christmas and New Year? 

1. Visit 12 destinations in 2019

Well, it wouldn’t be a new year resolution post on a travel blog without promising to visit destinations in the new year!

I’ve already told you which countries and cities I’ll be travelling to in my recent post: 

See more: My 2019 adventurous plans

Already I’m planning for:

• Budapest, Hungary 
• South Africa
• Trentino, Italy
• Transpennine Trail, England 
• North Wales, UK 
• Tallinn, Estonia
• The Hague, Netherlands 
• Jersey/Guernsey, Channel Islands
• Paris, France
• Madrid/Toledo, Spain 
• Krakow, Poland

And I’ve just made a recent addition to my plans to backpack Albania with my favourite/grumpy travel buddy – Mark! 

To read hilarious adventures with Mark, check out the Croatia backpacking posts:

See more: Backpacking in Croatia

What do you think to my 12 destinations? Fancy coming along for the ride with good old handsome me? 😉 

2. Get my summer body in three months

Okay, okay, there HAS to be some sort of health/fitness resolution here as standard. But I feel like I need to concentrate on this especially after the last year. I’ve gained TWO and a HALF stone and my clothes are starting not to fit me anymore. (Yes, I wept uncontrollably that my backpacking vests are too tight!). But I’ve also noticed that my physique under all that insultation has become more stocky. So, to aim for that summer body, I’m not going to target by losing weight but by size. Measuring my waist, chest, arms, thighs and especially my beer belly will propel me instead to achieve the physique that I want for summer. 

So, it’s already end of January. I’m ready to kick this off for the next three months to drop down two trouser sizes and a top size from an XL to a L. Already, I’ve contracted a personal trainer to push me (please send help) from next week. Wish me luck!

For more speedo adventures: Speedos on Copacabana Beach

3. Promoting Hull as a key destination for you

Now that I’ve officially moved from London to Hull, I’m expecting to be based here for the foreseeable future. I’m pretty excited. This is because Hull, the biggest city in the East Yorkshire region and based on the River Humber, was City of Culture 2017 and since then has shown no stopping in its mission to be a centre of arts and culture alongside many festivals. Already in the last year, I’m just so wowed by the attractions, activities and offerings available and I want to tell you all about them. So far, this year I’ve been going to many quirky cafes and visiting many venues with unexpected events. Watch this space for more but already I have my first post of the year about a hidden cafe/bar deep in the Old Town:

See more: Lunch in Old Town

4. Exploring Yorkshire’s Walks

Living in Yorkshire, you’re already at the doorstep of the UK’s most epic walks. Whether it’s in the Yorkshire Dales, the Yorkshire Wolds or even North York Moors, there’s plenty of trails to explore. Lately, I’ve been feeling the need to strap on my walking boots and meander along the natural scenery of this gorgeous region. Already I’m making plans to visit the wonderful Malham Cove and the Yorkshire Wolds Way. Care to join?