Here’s what’s in:
In 2024… allow generous amounts of time to do things.
Last year, I started the habit of being more generous to myself with the amount of time I allotted to get things done.
Can I edit a shortform video in about half an hour? Probably, but if I give myself a full hour to do it, it won’t feel rushed. I’ll enjoy the process WAY more and will probably make a better video. This simple shift takes things from being a chore to being an experience.
On top of that, giving myself a moment in between activities to transition, get in the mood, and remind myself the bigger reasons why I’m doing the thing I’m about to do really improves everything.
In 2024… give stats with the eyeball test.
In baseball, there are some players who certain statistics suggest should be pretty bad, but are absolutely scary to face as an opponent. (See: Kyle Schwarber, WAR/Batting Average)
In reforestation, there are ecologically devastating ways to plant a whole bunch of trees.
In economics, some numbers can suggest mild inflation that just doesn’t match up with people’s pain at the grocery stores.
Numbers are helpful, but don’t forget their limitations.
In 2024… seek community in real life.
I’ve missed this so much.
Seriously, I can’t help but believe pretty strongly that if all the effort people put into building a massive online audience went towards building a strong real-life community, we’d take a huge step towards health.
(Like, seriously. Imagine if all those TikToks and Reels about hooking your audience and mastering the formula for posting frequency were about hosting game nights and book clubs!)
This year, I’ve met way more new people than I have in a long time. Ah, I’ve got a few group texts going now, where invites to nights outs with groups are commonplace. I wish I could say yes to a lot more of them. Still. I’ve managed to get in a lot more quality time with new friends this year and there’s simply no replacement for IRL community.
In 2024… I’m fully embracing audiobooks + drawing.
I’m an audiobook guy now. Didn’t see that coming! But being able to play one while drawing and not having to choose between the two activities when I want to unwind at the end of the day has been wonderful.
I’ve drawn a lot more and read a lot more as a result. The two activities pair so well.
Currently, my favorite recipe is to pair the library up with Everand (the audiobook platform of Scribd. Pretty strong selection!) I discourage Spotfiy for financial reasons while acknowledging I might start a book there in a pinch since Premium gives you 15 hours for free each month.