As the year comes to a close, I wanted to reflect on the year and what exactly happened. Here are the highs and lows of my 2017 in review.
What A Year
I traveled a lot. 5 new countries, to be exact! Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and New Zealand. I even expanded my horizons domestically, traveling on a few media trips to destinations like Scottsdale. I saw the Grand Canyon and the solar eclipse. Finally, I rediscovered places like Reno and Livermore. The best part? I racked up miles on work trips and have a lot saved up to spend.
I took more risks. Risks in content, risks in my career. I left the comfort of a 9-to-5, always a leap of faith for any entrepreneur. I said no to lots of projects that weren’t a good fit for my brand. When I deserved more compensation, I asked for it. I worked with more brands, and repeat partners, than ever before.
I shopped less. With the shift in my income source and payment schedule, my priorities shifted and I subsequently spent less. I’ve always lived a minimalist lifestyle, and with the addition of increased travel content on the blog I found myself less and less gushing over fashion must-haves. Despite sharing the sales and promotions, I didn’t actually shop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. I still love clothing and accessories, but I drastically decreased my spending on fast fashion in 2017. Poshmark has also been a wonderful resource for parting ways with pieces I no longer wear. Additionally, in 2017 I did to a makeup no-buy.
I invested in my body. This year I started to ramp up my fitness routine, adding Barry’s Bootcamp into the mix. On the other hand, I listened to my body and rested frequently, and finally floated at a float spa! I shared my thoughts on Botox on the blog, as well. This November I also tried CoolSculpting for the first time and will be sharing my results soon.
I finally learned my food allergy. Quite possibly the most important health revelation of 2017, I now know how to avoid carrageenan which was causing my severe allergic reactions. While there are foods I miss terribly, I feel a lot better now.
What’s Next
More travel. This starts with a fun little trip up to Lake Tahoe in just about two weeks. In 2018 I will continue my progress on 30 by Thirty. I will say yes to more travel opportunities that truly excite me and that you will love.
More video. I filmed, produced, and published 53 videos on my YouTube channel this year. Although I only commit to one upload per week, 2018 is the year I really want to take things to the next level. My channel grew less than 1,000 subscribers this year, so I need to be more creative with both my content and incentivizing viewers to stick around for more. Time to think outside of the box. More collaborations with other creators are also on the docket.
More professional development. Whether that’s learning Portuguese or Python, I want to bring more learning back into my life. I seriously considered a coding bootcamp in 2017, but the timing did not align right.
More saving. I’m not certain 2018 will be the year I buy a house, but it will be the year I save more. The cost of housing in the Bay Area isn’t slowing down any time soon, and a part of my soul cries every time I realize how much I’d be saving monthly paying a mortgage rather than rent.
Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to read my blog, watch my videos, and engage with me on social media. I hope this year has brought you important learnings and plenty to look forward to in 2018. I wish you all a Happy New Year!
Marette Flora @ Floradise says
I have been using Poshmark to sell clothes I don’t need as well! It’s been great! I plan to use more video in 2018 as well. Good luck with your new year’s goals!
Jenny says
Sounds like you had a fabulous 2017. I’m excited to see what 2018 brings for you.
Taylor Smith says
What a fabulous 2017!!! We are hoping 2018 is the year we get to buy a house, too because of how much we’d save on a mortgage!
Crystal @ Dreams, etc. says
Carrageenan is so bad! I don’t have an allergy to it, but it’s one thing I try to avoid because of some things I heard about it a few years ago. Looks like you had a great year!!
Live Laugh Love says
I am so happy for all things you have accomplished! I wish that your new goals will go as good as the ones from 2017! xx