2018, a retrospective…and looking forward!

A Recap of 2018

2018 was an incredible year in a lot of ways. I got a book deal! I got married! I…had other exciting things happen that I’m not allowed to talk about yet!

Every year I make this long sheet of goals for the next year. I mean, so does everyone, right? But I try to make mine super achievable, and specific–“plans,” maybe, not goals. I split them up by category to make them easier to remember.

Here’s a selection of some of the goals/plans I had for 2018, and how I did on achieving them!

Personal Care

1. Skincare twice daily – accomplished! 
2. Maintain a healthy weight – accomplished! 
3. Spend less than xx “extra” money per month – faileddd (I discovered Aritzia exists)
4. Find an exercise/sport that I can do sustainably – accomplished! (muay thai is amazing)

Self-Improvement

1. Try to take the perspective of people making you anxious or angry. – accomplished!
2. Count back from 20 when angry and alone, or 5 when angry and with someone else. Leave if you have to. Just don’t lose your temper. – mostly accomplished! (I think it’s fair to have exceptional circumstances sometimes though, especially if you’ve been egregiously victimized in some way which is the situation I’m thinking of, so maybe I’ll count this as accomplished)
3. Buy or rent a house – accomplished!
4. Say “thank you,” not “sorry.” (Think – “thank you for your patience” instead of “sorry I’m late.”) – accomplished!
5. Do at least five good deeds. – accomplished!
6. Go outside your comfort zone. Do things that make you anxious and prove to yourself that they aren’t the end of the world. – accomplished! 

Social and Cultural 

1. Read 100 books this year – faileddddd
2. Read at least 5 literary novels – accomplished!
3. Do one political thing every month – faileddd unless you count angry twitter threads (I need to get better about this!)
4. Watch at least 5 classic films – faileddd
5. Get married – accomplished!

Creative/Bookish

1. Finish revisions on TFK and go on submission – accomplished! (and sold!)
2. Write a new book – accomplished! 
3. Revise the new book – work in progress
4. Write 1000 words a day – faileddd
5. Get better at instagram – accomplished!

Academic

1. Submit two new papers – accomplished!
2. Learn C++ (programing language) – faileddd, but I learned Matlab instead!
3. Survive teaching for my first semester – accomplished! 

It’s kind of been an amazing year, right? I don’t even mind knowing the things I’ve “failed” at, because they can just be goals for next year!

…Speaking of next year:

Goals for 2019

Personal Care

1. Skincare 2x daily…again!
2. Use whitening strips or charcoal toothpaste

Self-Improvement

1. Go to muay thai 4-6 times a week
2. Maintain a healthy weight
3. Eat a balanced diet with sweets in moderation
4. Spend less than $xx extra money a month (trying this again!)
5. Drink in moderation (cutting down to 3-5 drinks a week)
6. Anxiety: focus on letting go of things you can’t control
7. Be bold, take calculated risks professionally and socially
8. Be comfortable confronting people who violate boundaries.
9. Say “yes” to all social invitations (unless previous plans or sick).
10. At least five good deeds

Social and Cultural

1. Read at least five literary/classic novels by women or POC.
2. Watch at least five classic films.
3. Read 50 books
4. Do something political every month (call reps, protest, write letter to editor, etc)

Creative

1. Write a new book.
2. Revise the new book.
3. Submit the new book.
4. Write 1000 words a day on average (more achievable than my last version!)
5. Post to instagram daily

Academic

1. Comprehensive exams
2. Propose my dissertation
3. Submit four new papers.
4. Apply for postdoc funding
5. Submit that Scientific American invited article

…whew! That’s a lot. And that’s not even all the goals I have on my sheet, in fact, it’s just a condensed version to give you the general gist of my plans.

I think it’s fair to say I’m Type A, don’t you?

What are your plans for 2019? How will you ensure they’re achievable?