New Year, A Big Year

I haven't updated my blog in a while - the truth is I find myself often very busy and unable to focus on things as easily as I could in the past. I enter my final semester of my LLB degree next week and with an exam looming on Monday I have been extremely dedicated to my studies.

It's only the 9th of January and I'm already extremely optimistic for this year. In the last 10 days a lot has already been accomplished. I'll start with the three main goals I have set myself for 2015, all of which I am already beginning to make a start on:-

• Education - I am now at crucial stage within my academic 'career', of which will very shortly be coming to an end. I have spent a majority of my life going from school, college, and then transitioning to university in 2012. All these years on I am now at a stage where I am on track to gain a 2:2 or 2:1 projected degree in Law, in just 12 weeks I will finish my degree and be awaiting graduation... The looming month of May 2015 will approach quite rapidly, and this will complete a milestone of my academic and future life: I will be one third of the way to becoming a solicitor. I am currently working on an application to study the Legal Practice Course from September and become registered with the Solicitor Regulatory Authority. I therefore have sat down and taken a good hard reflection on all of this and decided that I will significantly increase the amount of time I dedicate to study - these next twelve weeks will define the standard of my degree and I intend to work around the clock to achieve the best possible result.

• Health & Fitness - I have always considered myself a rather healthy person. In 2013 I was rather scrawny and lacked much body definition. Since beginning exercising on an almost daily basis in 2014 I have seen my body and overall health transform before my eyes. This year I have already made steps towards improving this even further; including going for a long jog multiple times a week with my mother in the early hours of the morning. This has already improved my stamina and made my overall body image appear more lean. I have also been sticking to a regulated eating programme since November 2013, and have only improved over time in keeping my fat intake down, whilst my carbohydrate intake is higher and my protein intake is high. Overall I have found this has assisted me in a lot of ways - from feeling more positive about myself, to also improving my sleeping pattern. All of this considered I still suffer from mental health problems, my anxiety and depression continues to be present, despite the fact I often try to tell myself they are no longer there. I have made great improvements in this field however, having gradually come off medication to the point now where I am no longer having to take a tablet every day just to feel as though I can cope. I intend to use my improved health and the many positive things that have come my way, and the future projected improvements to my life, to make a stand against my depression and make it clear that it may be a part of me currently, but I won't let it control my life any more.

• Socialisation - A big part of overcoming the problem I mentioned with my depression and anxiety is in becoming more socialised. 2015 will be a year where I intend to improve friendships with existing friends and improve bonds with them, but also attempt to get to know new people and hopefully have more people in my life who I can trust and feel comfortable around. In the last 10 days I have already been to a new years party where I have become close to someone I was friends with before, but didn't particularly talk to on a regular basis, and I have also been out with my best friend and got to know her sister a lot better. Getting to know these wonderful people reminds me that I should not be so closed minded and set on not letting new people into my life, and that there are others out there who are as genuine and amazing as some of my long established best friends.

That moves on to less ongoing steps that I have been achieved, or I intend will be achieved this year. In December I purchased my own legally registered car, after being in a dual ownership state on cars for several years. Although insurance is rather high, due to the unfortunate immoral attitude of a lot of drivers on UK roads, but I am now finally on a high mileage insurance policy which will allow me to travel a lot and have more freedom. The car I purchase was my most expensive purchase to date, having cost me £11,000. I am so proud of this asset however whenever I see or drive it. My Ford Fiesta Titanium X Sport is an absolutely beautiful and reliable car, and despite being quite punchy engine wise, the running costs are extremely low with it being tax exempt and having high mpg. 

My new pride and joy

Another (currently ongoing) change I have made the last week is a slight reshuffle of my room. My computer was upgraded quite significantly for Christmas, having an 8GB SLi Graphic set up installed and a 4k monitor purchased. My desk space has been expanded so it now feels like a professional office; which has added the feel for a positive work environment and helped me to focus more on work related tasks. My room itself feels a lot bigger now that I have moved my bed towards the edge of the room, and I have also sold my old TV and purchased a 4k Smart TV to be able to relax and future proof my entertainment system. I am hoping to have Freesat by Sky installed within the next month so that I have access to a much larger array of stations, which will be wonderful for just lying in bed after hard days at university and enjoying my favourite TV programmes in ultra high definition. 

New room layout - dedicated office space and new entertainment area for relaxation

It will be my birthday in February, and I will be spending it with some of my closest friends, and I will also be full steam ahead with regards to my final semester by then. I am extremely excited for the prospects of what this year will bring. I don't think I could wish for anything more at this point. My next aim is to be able to afford to move to Derby, either renting or purchasing outright, but this isn't very likely at the moment due to the amount of funds needed for such a big change. We are still awaiting legal proceedings, and if it is found within my families favour, and the fact that I have suffered greatly within the last three years is rectified, then I may be finally ready and in a position to move out by the end of the year, making it a lot easier to continue with my studies in Derby and also be a lot closer to most of my friends.