My 11 commandments

So. How am I going to keep this promise???

It's not going to be some massive programme to follow and I'm not going to do like the 'Yes Man' film and start saying 'yes' to everything (how would I be living more by doing things I don't want to?) it's just going to be small steps for now.

1) Make more time - I have 2 ways of achieving this the first is forcing myself to get up an hour earlier each day which will give me time to do essential but mundane tasks freeing up time for later and the second is deleting soaps off my series link on sky plus, delete Eastenders = 2 extra hours a week. Lots more time to live my life

2)Plan more quality time with friends. Before New York I was stuck in a rut and organising anything felt like a chore this has got to change

3)Finish projects I start - I have a half arsed attempt at a vegetable patch, a cardigan I'm knitting, new kitchen units but am desperately in need of new walls, tiles and flooring and a novel that I've just started but this time I WILL finish.

4) Get out more, whether it's a walk in the park, a cinema trip, visit to see friends or a meal out. I have spent far too many nights sat watching TV, vegetating in front of the sofa, nothing drains the life out of you more. Which leads to number 5...

5) Have a TV free night once a week

6) Try new things, variety is the spice of life and too often I get comfortable and don't get out of my comfort zone. Even if I don't enjoy things at least I've tried it!

7) If in doubt say 'yes' this isn't to everything but when I'm tired and can't be bothered to go out or do something, or I'm letting the amount of money that I am trying to save each month dictate my social life, just say yes to the idea!!

8) Stop writing unachievable lists. For as long as I can remember I've written long lists of EVERY little thing that needs doing around the house and in my life. The lists are so long they never get completed and if they do it takes months. This is disheartening and stresses me out. From now on my lists will be things that need doing right now and will be fortnightly (or maybe monthly - I'm a listaholic it's a hard pattern to break)

9) Do the things I've always wanted to be never get time. This list includes, reading, learning a language and setting up a twitter account

10)Pack more in. Usually if I'm out on a Saturday night the Sunday is written off as a 'hangover day' watching TV and feeling sorry for myself and if I've arranged something for the Saturday night I won't plan anything for the Saturday afternoon. There is no reason for this I am young enough to still burn the candle at both ends, albeit not every day!

11) If something needs doing - do it!!! I've procrastinated my whole life everything from looking at career options to cleaning to reading to writing to socialising and this absolutely has to stop. RIGHT NOW!!

So these are the commandments I am going to attempt to stick to so that I am doing more, seeing more and living more. I don't think it'll be easy to break the habit of a life time but writing this will help. So now I'm off to do commandment 11, 10 and 2. I'm going to unpack my case from New York (I've been in the house 5 hours and it's half done - usually the case sits in the spare bedroom for weeks so this is an improvement) and then text my best friend to arrange something for the weekend, we're going for a Chinese and Champagne bar night with another couple on Saturday so again this is an improvement.

Wish me luck!!