I’ve recently been inspired by a Japanese vlogger I follow who shares his weekly diary on the Japanese platform Note. He also posts vlogs about his reading life, and it’s pretty motivating. For a while now, I’ve been wanting to dive back into writing for my own blog, but last year was a bit of a rollercoaster for me. You know how it goes—some things are easier to forget when they’re not a priority, yet I still find myself paying for the website every year. It’s like a little reminder that my blog is still out there, waiting for me to return.

This year feels different, though. Now that I’m in my third year of teaching, I’m finally starting to feel like I have a grip on things. Don’t get me wrong, teaching is still tough, but I’ve noticed I have more energy and need less sleep. I’m taking full advantage of that newfound vitality by being more productive at work. This means when I get home, I can actually switch off my work brain and enjoy my personal time. One of the best things about this is that I’ve started cooking more.

While I haven’t exactly ramped up my reading, I’ve definitely been engaging with books in a different way. Audiobooks have become my secret weapon for when my brain is too tired to focus on the printed page. Plus, I’ve made some changes to my diet, prioritizing nutrition to boost my brain health and energy levels. It’s all about feeling good and staying sharp.

With all this in mind, I’ve set a new writing goal for myself: I want to document my day-to-day life through the lens of food and books. The plan is to write daily and publish a weekly post. I’m inspired by that vlogger I mentioned, and I think this approach will keep me engaged without piling on too much pressure.

So, here’s to fresh starts and renewed intentions! Wish me luck on this writing journey—I’m excited to see where it takes me.