In this post, I’ll be reflecting on my incredible 2023 and setting intentions for 2024.
It’s been a LONG time since I’ve posted anything on the blog, but I felt that an end of the year reflection was needed.
As you can probably tell from the title, 2023 was my favorite year yet! And I’m planning on making 2024 even better.
I started this year with a lot, but I’m ending this year with a lot more.
I’m really proud of myself for the work I’ve put into my life this year – not only financially, but mentally and emotionally, which I think is more important.
I came into 2023 with less than ideal mental health, but I had hope and a lot of motivation.
If you remember my reflection post from last year, the rest of this post will attempt to follow that format. (It might be unorganized, but oh well. This post is mostly for me to look back on and serve as a guide for the new year!)
Keep reading to see an honest reflection of 2023 and where I’m at now, as well as what I’m focusing on for 2024.
How It Started
I started off January STRONG!
I started playing pickleball, gratitude journaling, deleted my dating apps to focus on my mental health, and I even had the experience of going to an NHL game for the first time ever (go Rangers! Even though they lost that game). I was also in 2 college classes while balancing my full-time marketing job during that semester.
I carried this momentum up until about April, when my consistency with pickleball and journaling tapered off. I got back on dating apps only to find disappointment.
But I started to put more of my focus into something else that I had wanted for myself this year – friendships.
I went on Bumble BFF in March and met a wonderful friend on there! Through her I’m now friends with 3 other people.
Another thing I did in my gratitude journal (the one from earlier this year) was write out affirmations and I even manifested some of the things I have today! I had never done that in the past but I think I will continue to do it moving forward.
Although I wasn’t that consistent with journaling throughout the year, it has contributed to many of my accomplishments this year (which you will see in the next section of this post).
(As a side note, the quote below is a powerful reminder for anyone who is manifesting and writing out affirmations)
To bring anything into your life, imagine that it’s already there. – Richard Bach
How It’s Going
I didn’t create a “word of the year” for myself in 2023, but if I had to sum up the year in one word, that word would be – challenge.
I challenged myself a lot this year. And it paid off.
Here’s a list of my accomplishments from this year in a nutshell:
- I started a gratitude journal for the first time
- I started a new hobby
- I made the Dean’s List at school while balancing my full-time marketing job
- I traveled to a new place ~somewhat~ on my own
- I restarted therapy
- I made a new group of friends
- I surpassed $50k in investments across all my accounts
- I spearheaded new and interesting projects at work
- I continued to put myself out there – for new opportunities and experiences
- I went on a job interview for the first time in years for practice
- I entered a new relationship with someone I swear I manifested
- I reached $100k net worth
Most of the things on this list, I would have NEVER done just a couple of years ago, or even last year.
It takes courage to put yourself out there and and change your life to make it what you want. But challenging yourself to do that pays off, I can guarantee that.
Looking Ahead to 2024
I’ve never been a fan of New Year’s Resolutions. Most people forget about them by the end of January so I feel like that’s not even worth it.
Instead I like to set goals and intentions that I can focus on throughout the year.
Some of my intentions for 2024 include:
- Grow the new relationships I formed in 2023 and nurture the older ones
- Give myself breaks when I need it
- Continue to challenge myself and put myself out there
- Prioritize my mental health before anything else
- Declutter my space more
Some of my running* goals for the new year include:
- Increase my income at work and increase my non-work income streams
- Reach $200k net worth
- Stay consistent with at least 3 days of exercise per week
- Travel to one new place
- Move out of my parents’ house? (question mark because it’s not planned for this year)
*This is just a “running list” because I created these goals on the fly while writing this post.
My word of the year for 2024 is commitment, because I feel like I’m in a place in my life where I need to fully commit to the things in it in order to grow them. Friendships, relationships, work, school, self-care, hobbies, etc. are all important to me, and by committing to them I can ensure that I’m giving them my all.
I encourage anyone and everyone reading this to set goals, intentions and even a word for the new year and do their best to live by it. Here’s to a successful and positive 2024!