Hi how are you? I hope you are feeling fresh and reinvigorated for the coming year.
Last year I’d hoped to start writing in this space regularly again, and it didn’t happen for a variety of reasons (I have a draft of a newsletter that goes into the why, written over a year ago; it’s deeply personal but also something that will, I think, resonate with others— I’m trying to get up the guts to hit publish). But the beauty of life is that things are always shifting and changing, and I’m now in a place where I can commit to being here regularly.
Erin said she felt like 2024 was going to be a tough year socially and politically; I don’t doubt it. I’m not sure if I should feel glad that things feel more settled in my personal life so I have some mental space to concern myself with whatever fresh hell is going on in the world at large or be irritated that we can’t just get a freaking break already. (Probably the answer is both.)
I scroll TikTok for about 15 minutes at night while I make my cup of Sleepytime Tea. I’m often hoping for funny cat videos but lately have been landing more often on $10k Christmas hauls from 15-year-olds (access to money does not buy a personality as there’s no POV behind any of the hauls, it’s just a grab bag of Lululemon and Aviator Nation— I truly don’t understand the point). More in my age bracket, I’ve found myself annoyed with the mommy vlogger varieties lately; there’s just so much STUFF, and then videos of them trying to manage the stuff in their home. Also, the beige-y grayness of everything is killing me (I daydream about a 90s kitchen, honestly).
My biggest achievement of 2023 was making quilts for my kids. It was the first time in a while that I a) set a deadline goal and met it b) was proud of the results c) spent time and energy on something that aligns with my values (creating an heirloom my kids can keep and use forever, using my creativity, creating from a stash of materials I already had).
My kids didn’t care that much about the quilts; the baby does enjoy rolling around in his, but it’s a full-size quilt so a bit much for a toddler to use in any practical way. But MY focus/ resourcefulness/ creativity is what I am most proud of and want to bring along with me into the new year.
In 2024, I’d like to be ~*influenced*~ on how to stay focused on working towards the things that matter to me. I already know what I value, I’m guessing you do, too. (I’m pretty sure it’s not the latest Stanley cup.) Can we talk about how we keep showing up for ourselves, our families, and our communities, even when Bad Stuff happens and derails our plans?
That’s what I’m interested in exploring in this space, and I hope you are, too. (I’m thinking there will be some book reviews and journal pages thrown into the mix, too.)
All that to say, here are the goals I’ve set for myself in 2024. There’s a lot of reading, journaling, working out, and showing up for my kids— and I feel really good about that.
2024 Goals
This year I’m again using the MakseLife system. I went with an undated monthly for goal planning and I think it’s going to be perfect. I’m using that in conjunction with a standard-size Traveler’s Notebook for my daily carry (planner and journal combined). I’d like to do a video on my current planner stack; stay tuned.
Personal
Read the Hardcore Literature syllabus.
Plan!! Months, weeks, days. Complete daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end reflections.
Work on improving my attention span. No specifics yet as I’m not sure how to go about doing this, though I need to. Feel free to drop suggestions in the comments.
Fun & Recreation
Prep for Iceland trip by participating in 6 or more group hikes.
Make time for art journaling with Get Messy, including Collage Club.
Observe Yay it’s Wednesday Cake by baking my way through Snacking Cakes by Yossy Arefi.
Work & Learning
Create content for Spine Label. This is my kidlit newsletter (in a previous life I worked in youth services at a public library) I started last year; unfortunately I didn’t have the time to dedicate to it like I thought I would.
Share monthly goals and weekly actions on The Workbooks.
Write and share 50 pieces of flash memoir.
Participate in the Writerly Love community.
Family & Relationships
Differently Wired Club
DIR Floortime trainings
Continue reading with my oldest every night
Read a poem a day to my toddler
Monthly date night with husband
Continue learning about self-directed education
Health & Wellness
Complete The Loving Parent Guidebook
Continue getting acupuncture weekly
Continue working out 4-5x/ week, with a stretch goal of reaching 500 Fit4Mom classes by the end of the year. (I am currently at 252 classes; this is a goal I will need to stay focused on to achieve, but it’s doable if I consistently hit 5 classes per week.)
Spiritual & Personal Growth
Read The Daily Stoic
ClubMakse
Read/ listen to the books on Casey’s PDA parenting list
Write a daily gratitude list in my Hobonichi
Use my journal as a soft place to land, as often as needed
Financial
I will net $10k from Substack. A stretch goal for sure, since my current income is zero. I don’t have plans to monetize this space but would like to make money from my kidlit newsletter.
Continue selling items we no longer need/ want on Kidizen and Marketplace
Physical Environment
Plant a garden in the spring.
Make time to prep meals and snacks weekly
Find a cleaning and decluttering routine that works for me/ our house.
Add items to my wardrobe that fit this season of my life, with an emphasis on items that are handmade/ secondhand and made of natural fibers.
I’d like to share how I’m breaking these down into smaller goals for January and specific actions for this week, but as this newsletter is long enough, I’ll save that for another time : )
I loved this newsletter. we have a lot of similar goals and dreams! I've been thinking this week about how to make decisions on the things that really matter and how this is the year I really want to follow through on gardening (i have a bad track record of getting really excited and planting stuff and then totally abandoning it by mid-June!)
I’m so happy to see you in my inbox. I loved reading this (thanks for the mention 🥹, but not just because of that!). I really appreciate your goals breakdown and laughed at your accurate read on social media culture at the moment. To a 2024 that we can hold in our journals and with our people. ❤️