The year 2023 began for me with recurring dreams about giving birth — symbolic of a new beginning.
And create a new beginning I did. Ready for change, I set big goals: Decide where to live. Get a higher-paying job. Buy a house. Travel to a new country.
I accomplished every one of those goals. Further, I had several breakthroughs in therapy and established my most consistent fitness regimen in years. As December wound down, I felt damn proud of how far I’d come in 365 days.
Then, on December 30, anxiety about the new year crept in. It taunted, What’s next?
I wrestled with the thought. Other than two weekend trips in the spring, I had nothing on the books for 2024. No Instagram-worthy announcements. No major home projects. No exotic destinations. Truthfully, I felt disappointed as I acknowledged this reality, already missing all the excitement 2023 brought (especially after what felt like years in limbo during the pandemic).
After marinating on the topic more over the past week, I’ve reframed and come to two conclusions:
1. Years are not one-dimensional, confined to either character development or plot progression.
2. Some years are more about sowing than reaping. This is okay. Unexpected flowers may still bloom in a season of sowing.
With this, my goals for 2024 primarily focus on sowing seeds for the future. However, I am leaving room for blooms and beautiful surprises.
2024 Goals
1. Stay within the parameters of my budget, saving and investing each month.
I plan to be laser-focused on my finances this year, get back on the budgeting bandwagon, and build my savings up again after an expensive 2023.
2. Travel to two new states.
For me, no year is complete without some kind of travel. I already have a weekend trip to Chicago planned for the spring, which will allow me to tick Illinois off my list of states I’ve yet to visit. The other state is TBD.
3. Establish a side hustle that generates additional income.
I am extremely blessed that my full-time job allows me to pay my mortgage, put food on the table, and fund luxuries like boutique fitness classes. Nevertheless, I have ambitious savings, investment, and travel goals. Picking up a side hustle will help me achieve these goals more rapidly, as well as allow me to flex my entrepreneurial muscles.
4. Fund a trip with side hustle earnings.
As you can tell, money and travel are the two main themes present in my goals. I like that this particular goal can scale up or down. At a minimum, I’d like to pay for a weekend trip to the aforementioned second state using income from my side hustle. In an ideal world, the second income stream would fund a multi-week international trip in early 2025.
5. Continue to build community in Greenville.
Five months into life in South Carolina, I am happy with my decision to move here. In the upcoming year, I will continue to put down roots, cultivate friendships, and get involved.
6. Finish at least one room in my house.
As I build up my savings, any major home projects (like my long-term landscaping ambitions) will have to take a backseat. Even so, I’m determined to finish decorating at least one room.
7. Increase workout regimen to 4x per week.
I love my pilates classes, but I’d also like to add yoga into my routine for a total of four workouts each week.
8. Plan something fun for New Year’s Eve.
New Year’s Eve has felt lackluster the past few years, so I want to be more intentional about the holiday this year. I will proactively plan something I know I’ll enjoy to ring in 2025.
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