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I know 2020 was a bit of a shit show… OK, a lot of a shit show. But I’m a creature of habit and like to a little end-of-year blog post, looking back at the goals I set 12 months ago and reminding myself of how much I’ve achieved.
Looking back through my 2020 bullet journal, I noted five key intentions, as well as a word of the year:
Be more PRESENT
I hate being that person who is always scrolling, especially when Jenson is around, so I’ve been trying not to pick my phone up constantly. I’ve also tried to leave it at home when I go out for a walk – although I do love photographing squirrels! :’)
Develop my LETTERING SKILLS
This was a big one for me this year and I’m pleased I can give it a massive tick. I’ve found Blink Lettering* to be such a fantastic resource and I’m really proud of how I’ve managed to develop my skills this year. I’m hoping to keep growing over the next year and perhaps even think about gifting and selling work…
Grow my SELF-CONFIDENCE
I definitely value my time and skills more, and have been more outspoken about what I feel I deserve. I also reached a bit of a turning point with my body confidence around spring/summer; I updated my wardrobe with a load of maxi dresses so that I could feel cool and comfortable – something I never really prioritised before.
Spend more time OUTSIDE
Well, Lockdown 1.0 certainly helped with that! Despite the obvious negatives of the pandemic, it was quite nice in that we all started to collectively slow down and spend more time outside, getting in our allotted daily hour of exercise. It’s something I’ve tried to keep up, and when I was on sick leave a few weeks ago I became really good at getting my daily steps in. I hope I can keep this up.
Practice SELF-COMPASSION
Again, going back to Lockdown 1.0, I knew I was prone to ‘wobbles’ and tried to go easy on myself to reduce the overwhelm. I also worked on accepting things I can’t control and stopped expecting too much of myself. I started blogging less (still regularly but less pressure to post frequently) and would have more quiet evenings with a book or Netflix. The best thing I did (and I know I’ve said this a lot!) was buy an electric blanket – I flipping love a quiet night in bed on my own.
Word of the year: PROACTIVE
This was less about going after what I want and seizing opportunities but more about consistently prioritising my own wellbeing, rather than having to be reactive when things got hard. I completed a stress buster course at the start of the year which really helped me to identify triggers and coping mechanisms, and finding quiet time to myself when I need it has been a massive help.
I also added a quote to my journal that I still really love: “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” – Neil Gaiman
I might have a crack at lettering this as I really love it and want to keep it mind this year too.
I also like to reflect on my most popular blog posts. It’s interesting that less than half of these were published this year but I’m not surprised that most are about journaling.
Top ten blog posts (by views – not including giveaways)
Stationery porn: Leuchtturm 1917 Change Journal, 27 June 2019
My top ten Jodi Picoult books, 20 June 2019
Find the perfect bullet journal for you, 19 October 2018 (regularly updated)
Bullet journal review: Tsuki 160gsm journal, 16 March 2020
Review: The Positive Planner, 7 May 2020
Bullet journal review: Shine Bright, 29 August 2019
Review: The Positive Wellness Journal, 9 May 2020
Bullet journal review: Dingbats Arctic Earth Journal, 28 December 2019
Review: Breathe Journal 52-Week Planner, 19 November 2018
Bullet journal review: Clairefontaine Age Bag A5 notebook, 16 May 2019
Look out for more journaling posts in the new year!
What are your key learnings from 2020?