I admit that I've spent many an evening this winter on the couch crushing some Netflix series or scrolling through Insta with a glass of wine. Sigh. We just finished Ozark and are watching The Handmaid's Tale now. (Loving all of the scenes in The Handmaid's Tale that were filmed in Toronto!)

However, I'm feeling a little guilty about all of the screen time and want to get out and do some activities this winter and perhaps learn something too. I've been looking around and here are some west end Toronto classes that seem like winners to me. Since part of my New Years resolutions & personal goals was to spend more money here 'at home' and focus on shopping locally to support local small business these classes work for me. Bonus that I can walk to all of them, get some exercise and learn some great skills all at the same time. Here's what I'm planning on doing in the next two months.

The Cookery on Roncesvalles offers a huge variety of classes for all ages. I'm particularly interested in trying out the Brasserie Lyonnaise & The Dinner in India. I need some inspiration for meals at this time of year and Pinterest can only take me so far. I love that she has classes for kids and does PA Day camps as well.

Although I have some experience on my trusty Kenmore sewing machine I'm interested in expanding my skills at The Sewing Junction this winter. I've always wanted to be able to do more with zippers so might be signing myself up for that workshop at least. The Sewing Junction offers classes from beginner to expert and the studio has a seriously cheery vibe that will be sure to take away your winter blues.

To really warm up I really want to try a cocktail class at my favourite spot Famous Last Words. These tend to sell out since it's such a great way to spend an evening with a friend or two. I'm thinking of trying Liquid Gold or The Roaring 20's. Or both, who am I kidding.

Did you know that the Toronto Library offers free classes in computer basics (photoshop/excel etc) , writers workshops, quilting & other crafts, financial planning, history and so much more. Check out your local branch and see if there is anything that interests you. The programming is quite extensive and I've never done a class but I just might try one this year.

From improv to writing, make-up to art, there are dozens of amazing classes offered for adults in Toronto each week. Narrow down what you have down on your personal goals for 2018 and find something fun and exciting to do. I'm sure I'll still watch some Netflix this winter but I will also get out a learn something new and have some laughs!

I think most people look at a new year as fresh start; a time to create new good habits, break old bad ones, and set new goals in their personal and professional lives. Unfortunately without a plan in place, these resolutions tend to get broken....well, right about now. This is why the gyms are packed for the first couple of weeks of January and revert back to normal by the beginning of February! I'm no expert, I'm definitely learning as I go, but I wanted to share with you some tips I've learned for setting goals, and sticking to them. Maybe together we can make 2018 the best yet!

1. Decide what you want to accomplish

First things first, you need to really think about what you want and how and when you want to get there. The rule of thumb is that goals should be SMART - specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. If you want to lose weight for example, you should determine a realistic amount of weight that you want lose within a certain time frame. In saying that, make sure that your goals are not too easy to achieve, challenge yourself and think big! You might also want to set goals for different areas of your life, such as personal (read x number of books this year), health & wellness (work out 4 times/week), career (make x amount of money), relationships (go on a date night with your honey once a week). I think it's also a good idea to have long and short term goals - 10 year, 5 year, 1 year & quarterly. Once you have a clear picture of what you want to achieve and within what time frame, then you need to....

2. Write them down!

This step is really important. I think a lot of people walk around with ideas in their head of what they would like to accomplish, but without writing them down and having them somewhere as a constant reminder (see #3) then you are way less likely to follow through on them. Just the physical act of writing them down makes you that much more committed to carrying through on them. Apparently you are 50% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down, but that could be fake news :).

3. Visualize

I think this step is two-fold. The first part is that you need to be able to visualize yourself achieving your goals, which is a tool that professional athletes have been using for decades. Being able to actually visualize yourself achieving your goal can be very powerful. The second part is having your goals prominently displayed someplace where you can visually see them everyday, as a constant reminder of what you are aiming for. I know it's totally hokey, but personally I like to make a vision board for this. A vision board is just a compilation of images, quotes, lists or really whatever you want, which is a visual display of your goals and ultimately it should conjure up the feeling of what you want to achieve as well.

Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.Pablo Picasso

4. Plan of Action

Here is where you put a plan in place to make those goals a reality. Write down what you can do today, tomorrow, this week and this month to move you closer to your goals. Every morning set aside some time to review your goals (and admire your fancy vision board!) and make a list of small actionable steps that you can take on a daily basis that will get you closer to the big goal. This is also a good time to review your progress; where you are doing well, where you are doing not so well and course-correct as needed. Don't beat yourself up though, this is a journey and we are all learning as we go!

5. Accountability

This step is key, and if you are not good at being accountable to yourself, bring in support; whether it's through your partner, a friend, a business mastermind group or a coach; make sure that you have someone who is willing to kick your butt if you're not doing what you said you would do!

6. Review

Constantly review your big and small goals to make sure that you are still going in the right direction, that your timelines are reasonable, and that your goals still fit your current needs and wants. There is nothing wrong with changing your goals if they no longer suit you.

7. Celebrate Success

This is the fun part! I like to tie goals to rewards so that you have that additional feeling of accomplishment and something physical to mark your achievement and hard work.

If you have any questions or would like tell us about any big wins, we would love to hear from you. Wishing you much joy & prosperity in 2018!

Fun ways to spend a winter evening

What do you want to accomplish this year??