Tomorrow is back to reality as I've been 'off' from work aka working from home since December 23rd and it's been super relaxing. I've enjoyed every day of my flexible schedule and the ability to enjoy the holidays to the utmost degree but it will be nice to get back into a real schedule.
Today, I am enjoying my last bit of relaxation, getting my room and life in order as well as taking time to reflect... which is where this post comes in.
I've done a post like this for the past few years and I really enjoy them as it feels like a truly fresh start. I try to set goals at the beginning of the year and I have succeeded with hitting them in the past.
However, in 2019, I don't think I hit any of my goals and for various reasons... one of the biggest ones being that I got fired. In 2019 I wanted to lose more weight and save a decent amount of money which I didn't do. I was unemployed for 6 months therefore, I wasn't saving any money because I barely had any. Also, because I was home pretty much every day and was very stressed and anxious, therefore I ate a little more poorly but I did go to the gym a lot more which was amazing.
A few other 2019 goals I didn't hit:
- Finish my book: I did not finish the book I have been writing for a few years and I think I was most disappointed in this goal. I was inspired at times and I got some done, even had some new thoughts for it but ultimately I failed... and that's ok. I am almost done with an e-book I'm hoping to release in the next few months so that is exciting!
- Consistency: I failed with my podcast and Youtube channel (YT was more consistent though_ but I'm trying again in 2020. They are two creative outlets I really enjoy, I just have to find my footing and not try to be anyone I'm not.
What I Did Accomplish in 2019:
- Writing: I wrote pretty consistently for FabFitFun starting in April 2019 and also had an editing position with Byrdie that helped bring some in some income. I am really proud of the work I've been doing with FabFitFun -- it's an amazing website that needs more credit
One of the biggest and most unexpected accomplishments of the year was for sure discomfort. I was uncomfortable leaving my job of four years at Laura Geller, uncomfortable and very unsure of starting somewhere new and discomfort when I got fired. It was uncomfortable to be unemployed for 6+ months, to go through the stages of filing for unemployment and telling people I didn't have a job. It was one of the hardest lessons of my life but I learned a few things.
- You can and will survive: Not having a job is not the end of the world. This might not be true for everyone but I have a really good family, live at home with my mom, and was able to get through with the savings I had, as well as some writing and editing jobs. It was very uncomfortable and scary but I survived and I realized I could really survive anything.
- Listen to your gut: I knew leaving Laura Geller was the right decision as I had been thinking about it for a year. However, I knew the moment I received the offer letter than the place I was headed to was not right for me. I knew it when I gave my resignation, knew the first day at the new job, and was almost grateful that I was fired. I will never do that again... I will always listen to my gut and do what I know is right for me.
- Everything happens for a reason: If I never got fired I would've never been able to look for the job I wanted or analyze what I really wanted to do with my life. I thought I wanted to get out of the beauty industry but I realized through this process that it was where I belonged. It's what I know, it's what I'm passionate about and it's what excites me. If I didn't get fired I wouldn't have realized that and I definitely wouldn't have gotten the job I have now.
My 2020 Goals:
Let's get this out of the way... I'm putting the same few goals on my list as I have the past few years: lose weight, save money, finish the book. This is going to be the year because I refuse to fail again.
Now for the real goals...
- Accomplish my low-buy/no-buy: There is a post coming on this next week but I hinted at it in my saving money post from a few weeks ago. I'm going to do this, I have to do it because I'm pretty sure my sanity, my finances, and my life depends on it. I am going to be purchasing virtually nothing this year in terms of frivolous items. All the details will be revealed next week as I gather myself and really set some boundaries.
- Put more into my brand: I have been taking the past few days to really make a 'brand' for myself. I want to rethink what Royally Pink is and help identify what it means to me and to other people. I want to focus on myself and my side hustle, which includes the blog, my books, some guides & e-books, my podcast, and my Youtube channel. I want to channel my energy creatively and I need to stop being lazy.
- Laziness and energy fatigue: I am always tired. There is never a time when I am not tired and every weekend I take a nap around 3 PM. I am somewhere between an infant and a 90-year-old. Sometimes I'm not even tired but purely lazy and I don't feel like doing anything. I want to try to combat these feelings in the new year though I am not sure how. What I might try to do is just really fight them and work through them whether that is picking up my laptop when I don't want to, putting my phone away to escape a distraction, or pick up a book. I need to be more productive at home if I want to accomplish the things I so deeply want to do.
- Read at least two books per month: This was the first year in a while I didn't hit my reading goal. I wanted to read 50 books and only read 37 (I know it's still not that bad). Most of that is because I ended my Audible subscription to save some money and because I've been addicted to podcasts. I have a lot of books on my to-read list and would like to make a dent in it; I'm vowing to read at LEAST two books per month but I'm hoping to exceed that goal by a lot.
I definitely have a few more goals than this like finally getting my tattoo, journaling and meditating daily (or at least 3-4x a week) and de-clutter my possessions but these are the goals that will take a little more work.
What are you planning to do in the new year?
Top Posts of 2019
Top Products of 2019
These are the items that you guys loved to shop the most on my blog and social media this year!
*Clearly it was all about handbags which is no surprise. You are my PEOPLE!
- Rebecca Minkoff Edie Flap Shoulder Bag
- Kate Spade Molly Tote
- Tory Burch Fleming Tote
- Tory Burch Perry Triple Compartment Tote
- Rebecca Minkoff Edie Flap Crossbody Bag
Thank you all for an incredible 2019 and I can only hope 2020 is just as awesome!
xoxo
B
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