The Ins and Outs of 2024
I mentioned in the Making Meaning pattern course that I’m not one for resolutions, but I am one for setting intentions. I’ve noticed a trend this year that people are writing lists of what’s IN for them and what’s OUT in 2024. So after reflecting on 2023 and looking ahead to this year, here’s my In versus Out audit.
What’s Out
Impulse Spending: from makeup to clothing to stickers, I’m emptying my carts and taking an audit of what I actually need this year. This doesn’t mean never splurging, but it does mean I’m making lists of what is missing and needed, and making an intentional plan to fill those gaps.
Saying Yes: This category also encapsulates feeling guilty/feeling overwhelmed/feeling resentment - this is always the path I go down. As Ryan is always telling me ”You don’t have to do it! Stop saying yes!” So, I’m not saying yes unless I’ve considered the ways and the extent in which I am comfortable being involved in a thing. Do I want to be in charge of the PTA event? No! But can I take on a specific task and just be a helper? Yes!
Assigning Value to Quantity: I’m leaving behind feeling guilty if I don’t create a certain number of punch needle pieces each year. Some fibre artists are prolific makers, and I felt badly looking back at 2023 and seeing how little work I felt I produced. This year I’d rather focus on the amount of time I spend being creative rather than the end result.
Comparison: As per above, comparing my work, my productivity, my success and my creative path, to other artists is also out in 2024.
What’s In
Taking a Creative Leap: This is the year I’m signing up to take Bonnie Christine’s Surface Design Immersion Course. I’ve been daydreaming and dabbling in surface pattern design and have decided it’s the season to commit to pursuing this path. I’d love to see a fabric collection of mine out in the world someday.
Adding More: More weight training, more vegetables, more sleep. I love reframing healthy choices not as taking away or abstaining, but as adding in. I think this is a great mental shift for many areas of life. What are you adding more of?
Reading Less: Okay, let me explain… first, I read 67 books in 2023 (7 were audiobooks and this does not include art or reference books). I consume books quickly – I read on my phone and I read physical books, I read in short bursts when I have a few free moments, I read over my morning coffee, I read during lunch, and I read in the middle of the night because I have terrible insomnia. Reading is a great habit, but I want to slow down a little so I can think a little more about what I’m reading, remember more about each book, and also I need better habits for when I wake up in the middle of the night (more on that in another newsletter). So that’s why I’m saying yes to reading a little less in 2024.
Memory Keeping: We’ve made some amazing memories since moving to Malaysia, and I don’t want to forget the big trips or the every day moments. 2024 is the year I’m going to do a better job of documenting our family life. I like the ease of the Project Life app, but I’m still deciding the aesthetic I’m going for. I like both Shannon Pages and Wilson Wilson. Any thoughts/opinions/suggestions?
Another Idea: 24 for 2024
I really enjoy the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast and each year she, along with and her sister/cohost Elizabeth, share their lists of goals for the year, so this year it’s a list of 24 for 2024. In 2023, Ryan and I created our 23 for 2023 list and it was a list of restaurants to try and family outings. Some listeners create a list of books to read, or recipes to make, or a mix of things to do and try. You can listen to this year’s episode “Revealed! Our “24 for 24” Lists of 24 Big and Small Things We Want to Accomplish in 2024” here. They also have a free printable for creating your own list.