i swear i'm done talking about last year after this

Reflections on a sh*t year

Nothing went to plan in 2024.

• I was supposed to get a career-starting job by month three, but I had 100+ rejections instead.

• I was supposed to blow up on Substack, but I got about 5 new subscribers.

• I was supposed to be in the greatest shape of my life but, I ended the year heavier than I wanted to be.

2024 was supposed to set the pace for the rest of my life, yet that didn’t happen.

I’ve had enough time to moan and groan about how hard 2024 was for me.

All the hardships weren’t for nothing. I learned a lot about myself and I documented most of that here.

Near the end of the year, I kept saying to myself: I want 2025 to be what 2024 was supposed to be.

I saw 2025 less as a fresh start, and more of a re-do.

But, the closer I got to New Year’s Day, the more I realized this was the wrong approach.

If I treat 2025 as a “re-do” year, I will try to do the same things I did the year prior. Obviously, that didn’t work.

So, here are a couple of lessons I’m taking from last year so that 2025 will exceed my expectations for 2024.

distraction comes in many forms

When we think of distraction, we normally think of social media.

Instagram. TikTok. YouTube.

And for most people, they are exactly the things that distract them.

The brain rot, short-form AI-generated content slop you find on TikTok’s For You page or the YouTube shorts section is generally seen as the culprit to all our wasted time.

But last year, I realized how much “productive” and “educational” content has distracted me from doing real work.

I occasionally delved into brain-rotting short-form content, but my Achilles heel was educational self-development fluff content.

I spent so many hours looking at how other people structured their lives and careers. Trying to live vicariously through them and to “study” what they do.

Well, studying isn’t worth anything if you don’t apply it and I spent too much time last year studying for nothing.

2025 will be the year when I can identify where my self-doubt is causing me to distract myself.

focus + consistency = fulfillment

Consistency without focus equals dysfunction

Focus without consistency equals zero growth

At the beginning of 2024, I was hyped about consistency.

Do anything enough times, and you’ll get better at it.

But what I didn’t know was that consistency without a clear focus, is destined for disaster.

So many times last year, I was trying to do so many things all at once. I didn’t have a set north start to sail to, so I kept getting lost and losing progress.

Even if I was consistently working, because I kept moving the goalposts, I never felt fulfilled.

The times when I sat down and said I was going to do one thing and did it were the times I felt most aligned with my goals.

So I might need to bust out the blinders so I don’t let distraction ruin my consistency.

shine no matter how dark it is

I get it when you know you’re meant for better things, working that 9 to 5 or that part-time job can seem debilitating.

I worked at three different jobs over the last year, all of which were unappealing.

The first job had me outside in the hot and cold, dirty from plant debris. Lifting heavy-ass plants back and forth for hours a day.

Second job was in retail but I left because of the terrible work environment and company culture.

Third job was/is food service, and I don’t have to tell you the trials that come with that sort of job.

Despite despising these jobs, I still tried to show compassion and empathy towards people I met along the way.

The whole quiet-quitting phenomenon is great. Don’t push yourself for something company that doesn’t value you.

But, devalue the job not the people around you.

Regardless of how grim the job is, the relationships you build there can be life-changing.

Wherever you are in your journey, there’s always an opportunity to create connections and show empathy.

you’re your best investment

I can’t say this enough, you and I need to start treating ourselves (mind, body, and soul) like the invaluable investment that it is.

• Eat the foods you enjoy, but also eat what you know makes your body feel its best.

• Stop staying up all night and get a proper sleep schedule.

• Read a book, take a walk, or take a nap to recharge.

• Move your body while you still can.

• And stop wasting your precious life looking at a screen and try creating something yourself.

Bake, cook, write, run, sow, sell, or whatever is that makes you feel alive.

Use money as a tool to invest in yourself.

Sometimes that means saving for a solo trip other times it means buying that program to start your fitness journey.

The last thing I want to do in 2025 is neglect myself in any way.

make every decision the right decision

As much as I want to write 2024 off, that would be a waste. I can’t simply forget about it just because it was a hard year.

I can’t sit here and believe that 2024 for that hard for no reason at all.

I have believed that it was meant to prepare me for something. To toughen my skin, harden my mind, and soften my heart.

A lot of mistakes were made last year. A lot of missed opportunities. A lot of letdowns.

But they must have happened for the right reason.

When things don’t go my way this year, I need to somehow make the most of it.

So I’m excited about this year because I feel ready for it now.

To the year to come, thanks for reading.

xx

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