My final post for the year was always going to be a review of my annual goals. It’s something I do every year anyway but I love sharing it with you all too. Here’s my 23 goals for 2023 review post.
BUSINESS
Reach my income goal
Oh, I really wish that this was even close to happening. Summer was my slowest season of business ever before but it picked up in Q4 when I joined a former freelancer’s agency. Hopefully, she’ll have more work for me in 2024.
Pay tax bills early
I can’t really say I’ve made any progress here, purely because I’ll just pay them when I have the money to. It might end up being the day they’re due or it might be just after Christmas, who knows?!
Get a new client every month
Another failure so far. I’ve had some enquiries but I either haven’t been the right fit or I’ve been ghosted after an initial call or trial piece. That’s why I’m still looking for other opportunities. However, October was good with two more clients but one wasn’t what I was expecting so I didn’t sign the contract.
Update biz website
Oh, this isn’t going very well! This is something I should be working on when business is quiet but alas, I decided to procrastinate instead! One thing I need to do is go through it with a fine toothcomb to note what needs changing. Otherwise, it feels like one massive job, which is too overwhelming!
Post consistently to blog and social media
When you’re feeling down, posting to social media is the last thing you want to do. I was inconsistently consistent with my business Instagram and now I’ve decided to take a break from it. I’m not really getting any business from it so why put the effort in? However, I do want to start afresh with it as soon as possible.
Work out of the house once a month
I didn’t do this much during the summer but I have most months! It’s been tricky with such low income but hopefully, that will change now. Ideally, I’d like to work out of the house once a fortnight but once a month is still okay.
BLOGS
Post 3x a week to TEE
This was very ambitious of me and currently, I’ve floated between posting once or twice a week. Overall, that’s not bad. Whilst it’s not my goal, it’s progress towards it! Over 90 posts in 2023 works out at around 7 a month. I’m there or thereabouts so I’m taking that as a win in my 23 goals for 2023 review.
Update old posts
One thing I need to fit into my schedule is updating old content. However, I have not. Right now, my priorities have changed, and maybe see if I can add this as a task into my future routine. My website doesn’t get enough traffic just yet to bother with it. I’d rather create new content first!
Design media kit
Oh, I’m not sure I’ll ever actually complete this goal! Sure, it probably means I’m not a ‘proper’ blogger but right now, working with brands isn’t a priority for me.
Work out strategy and schedules for TRM/SWS
My other blogs have definitely taken a backseat in recent months. Whilst TEE content is pretty regular, I just fell off the wagon adding another two blogs into the mix. I’m sure I’ll kickstart them again at some point but TEE is my main blog baby!
Get back to writing eBook
Ironically, I’ve barely done work on this in 2023 but I’m actually rebooting this project in November. I need some fun writing time in my life so I decided to pick my eBook writing back up in Q4! My aim was to write 500 words every weekday but I only managed that for a week or so.
MONEY
Save £5000
Oh dear, my savings goal is dead in the water. I wish I could’ve saved more but honestly, my income has been so unstable that saving hasn’t been my main goal.
Make £1000 in side hustles
I’ve saved about £500 so I highly doubt I’ll be able to save £500 in two months! From the summer onwards, I managed at least £50 a month from just surveys so it’s a nice little pot to add to and I hope to continue it into 2024.
Stop needlessly spending
I’d say this has been an enforced success. My income has taken a dip so whenever I’ve spent money, it’s been for an essential or for something I really, really want. However, I would just love a bit of frivolous spending every once in a while!
Work on a more positive money mindset
Again, this has definitely been a struggle but it’s also meant I appreciate my income more. I managed to start organising my finances better and started tracking them properly for the first time ever. 2024 will be a big year for me financially and I’m ready for it. However, this is probably the goal that I’m most proud of in my 23 goals for 2023 review.
Diversify income
Again, I really should’ve spent my spare time working towards this but it felt more appropriate to apply for new clients/jobs and work with the clients I do have. I’ll be pushing this goal into 2024 too as I organise my time better.
ORGANISATION
Set up all routines + apply them
I’d give myself 8/10 for this. I’ve cemented my weekly reset and monthly reset routine as well as seasonal morning and evening routines. On top of this, I’ve implemented a money routine into my life as well as updated my planning routine. I’m not perfect about doing them every single week but I do them most weeks.
Stick with bullet journalling
Well, I did for so long. However, after doing loads of research into layouts and designs, I decided I don’t think bullet journalling frequently is for me. I have zero artistic ability so it was hard to set up a different layout every week. I did stick to my yearly collections journal to track everything from my sleep to my TV watches. I’m going to continue making one of these every year but go back to a traditional diary for daily/weekly planning.
Set up Notion
This was something that I’ve worked really hard on, especially in Q4. I love the clean aesthetic of Notion but adding in a pop of colour, especially to coordinate with my blog and business colours. It’s taken me quite some time to get used to and I have used a template. However, I’ve spent the last three months making it work for me, rather than against me. I don’t think I’ll ever fully give up Asana but all of my personal, goal-setting and blog planning will be on Notion from now on.
Keep up with weekly + monthly reviews
I’ve only missed one monthly review (June) and 12 weeks out of 52. I’m not entirely sure why those June or those weeks were missed but it’s not as bad as I’d originally thought. My monthly reviews are much more detailed so I’m thrilled to have only skipped one! It’s another goal I’ll continue to work on in 2024.
HEALTH + FITNESS
Track healthy habits daily
I definitely went through phases with habit tracking, starting off strong in January. As always, I sacked it off for a while and went strong through the summer before picking it back up in October again. It’s always something that I strive to get better at though so I’ll be opening up the app every night in 2024.
Workout 3x a week
I think I did 3 workouts total in 2023. Will do better in 2024. Next.
Get outside 3x a week
Another massive fail because self-employment has made me a hermit. I actively will be working on this in 2024 because I need more sunlight and my hips are starting to crack.
Complete a fitness challenge
Once again, I obviously didn’t achieve this. I’m not sure what challenge I’d like to try but it might be easier to plan my workouts in advance.
SELF-CARE + WELLBEING
Meet 4 internet friends IRL
I met one (Hollie) back in February for the Kelsea Ballerini concert but really didn’t try hard enough at all. I’d love to see internet friends on my UK travels in 2024 because it would definitely make my trips even more fun!
Use up 40 Project Pan toiletries
In 2023, I’ve actively tried to use up the toiletries that I have and only purchase items when I’m running low and running out. However, my stash seems to be larger than ever. I’m not buying any toiletries in 2024 until I actually need them.
Take myself on a date every month
I’m not sure I did this every month but I did every other month. I went to the cinema, took myself to lunch, got a massage, and ran errands. These are the sort of things that fill my cup. Let’s have more of that in 2024!
Sunday self-care sessions
Again, I don’t think I did this every single week but I did wind down earlier on Sunday nights. From about 8pm, I’ve been getting into my pyjamas and just chilling out. Some weeks, that’s meant a face mask. Other weeks, it’s been 2 hours of reading in bed. It’s a lovely way to end the week and feel refreshed for a new one.
TRAVEL
Travel 1st class on the train
Another no. I’ve done much less travel than I had planned due to a lower income. However, it’s okay to prioritise essentials!
Try 18 new eateries
I managed to go to 16 new eateries, but 13 of those were during my trip to the Lake District in the summer. This is still a goal for me in 2024 because I want to try more local places!
Visit 10 cities/towns
I managed to visit 12 different places in 2023 although most were towns or cities that I’ve been to before. Hull is so hard to travel from to new places when you don’t have a car!
PERSONAL
Set up 4 capsule wardrobes
Something I fully achieved! I’ve added fewer items to my wardrobes than ever before and have tried to just wear what I have. For the most part, I’m working from home so I need to work out a way to have more transitional pieces.
Read 50 books
I’ve only managed 43, which I definitely sad about! However, I fell out of love with reading towards the end of the year because I was trying so hard to reach my 2023 goal.
See 30 theatre shows
Another no. I only saw 10 shows in 2023 because of lack of funds. But that’s okay because 2024 will be a better year for me.
Start my theatre scrapbook
I’m not a creative person so I’ve no idea why I thought this should be a goal for me.
Watch a musical every Sunday night
Oh look, another fail. I’ve watched the odd movie but I’m much more of a TV show kind of person. The only movies I’ve watched a lot of in 2023 are Hallmark Christmas movies!
Bake once a month
I’ve only baked once this year and that was to make a marble loaf cake for Christmas! I’ll try again next year.
Get to an Arsenal Women’s match
This is such a massive bucket list item for me but it’s so hard when games get rescheduled at the last minute to be on TV. I’d pencilled in games but when the earlier trains to London on a Sunday don’t get you there until 12.30, you miss the game!
So my 23 goals for 2023 review was pretty disheartening. I’ve achieved very little this year and in all honesty, just want to get a new year started. It’s okay to admit that the year was a write-off and start preparing for the new one. However, I think it’s important to look back and still do my 23 goals for 2023 review, even if it was disappointing.
If you enjoyed my 23 goals for 2023 review, you can find all my other goals posts here. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram ready for 2024!
