Happy new year everyone! End of year posts are my favourite, as we reflect on the year that has passed and exciting things coming up in the new year. 2019 is going to be a big year ahead, with a new baby about to come any minute now and life is about to change forever.
In this post, I look back at some of the highlights of 2018, how I did with my 2018 goals and set some new goals for myself in 2019 (that I may or may not meet, depending on how I go with the baby of course).
2018 Highlights
It was a busy blogging year for me, and one where many of my blogging dreams came true! Here are some of my blogging highlights of the year:
Blogging highlights
- Hosting Jay Kristoff’s LIFEL1K3 Launch in Brisbane – who you may know is one of my favourite authors of all time!
- Speaking on a blogging panel in May with Piera Forde
- Starting a fantasy book club, The Name of the Book, and hosting monthly meets
- Being interviewed by ABC Radio National and featured in ABC News (on the front page!!!)
- Becoming Brisbane Writer’s Festival 2018 YA Ambassador and joining their Love YA advisory panel
- Monthly ABC radio chats about #LoveOzYA books
- Visiting many blogging friends in Melbourne and meeting Patrick Ness
- Hosting #LoveOzYA author, Sarah Epstein’s book chat at Brisbane Writer’s Festival
- Attending the many wonderful book launches, author events and blogging events throughout the year
Personal highlights
- Surviving 8 months of pregnancy
- Visiting Europe for our babymoon (here’s the highlights)
- Celebrating our first wedding anniversary in Paris and 13 years of being together
- Celebrating Toby’s 2nd birthday
- Launching a major project at work and being recognised for it
- Buying a new car
2018 Goal Wrap Up
Looking back at my goals of 2018 which I shared on my video here, a lot of it was focused on self care and also focusing on writing. I actually didn’t do as badly as I initially thought with my 2018 goals, so I’m pretty happy with how I went!
1. Balance and self care: Not met
This goal was focused on making more time for myself and not to stress myself out by working too hard on everything in my life. While I was great at self-care towards the start of the year, I feel like towards the end of the year I’ve gone back to my old ways, trying to fill in my time with every little thing (even while being pregnant)! This will be a major focus for me in 2019, especially with a baby on the way.
2. Relax the blogging schedule: Met
At the start of the year, I definitely wanted to relax the blogging schedule and not to post as frequently but instead, focus on quality content. We reduced our posts down from 3-4 times a week, to 2 times a week and it’s been maintainable then. Even if we’ve received a significant drop in page views, I’d rather not stress out about that because it’s a bonus that we’re all still blogging!
3. Read more owned books: Met
I nerded out here and compiled some stats about where the books I read during 2018 were from. I’m so happy that I managed to read more books I owned, rather than purchasing more books or going to the library! Also the review copies were from publishers, so they count towards the books I owned as well.
4. Read 80 books: Met
Not only did I smash this figure out of the ballpark, but I read as much as I did back in 2015! I’m not sure how I’ll go this year, but I’ve set the same goal again.
5. Less social media: Not met
I spoke a bit about my thoughts on the pros and cons of social media and how immersed you can become into it in my video here. Sometimes I find that instead of doing anything productive, it can become unhealthy being caught up in what others are doing on social media, being affected by social media drama and comparing yourself to them. While I did manage to use Facebook less, and also go on a few Twitter hiatuses, I can’t honestly say that I used social media as little as I liked. I also can’t see myself using it less next year seeing as I’ll be a stay at home mum for most of the year.
6. Focus on writing: Not met
I tried really hard to immerse myself into my WIP at the start of the year, which I have written 6k words on and was really proud of, but I couldn’t get past the mental block and anxiety that writing gave me. So I promptly gave up in February. Maybe I’ll revisit this goal in the new year, maybe not. We shall see.
2019 Goals
I discuss these goals more in my 2019 Goals video below! Subscribe to my Youtube channel for more videos.
I hope 2019 brings you happiness, health, luck and lots of new favourite reads!
How was your 2018? What are some of your goals for 2019?
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Congratulations on surviving the year! Europe sounds amazing–I spent 7 weeks there last year (I had a gap year so a lot more time). Good luck with the baby too! That’s an amazing and life changing thing! <3
Shar@virtually read recently posted…The Smashing and Dashing Character Awards
Oh my gosh this week is your due date. <3 Best of luck in 2019.
Sounds like 2018 was a stellar year for you on all fronts! Even if you didn’t attain every one of your goals, I think you can call it a major success. 🙂
My goodness, what a year it’s been! In blogging terms, you’ve such such an incredible year Jeann, media appearances, hosting launches, interviews and more! You put an incredible amount of work into your blogging and spreading the message of young adult novels, you’re a reading ambassador and I can’t wait to see what 2019 brings for you! I’m not making any resolutions this year. We’ve had such a shit start to the year that I’m just praying for hope at the moment and trying to keep busy. Here’s to a 2019 of health and happiness for us both and can’t wait to see the new family member soon! ♡♡
Kelly recently posted…Broken Things
It has definitely been an eventful year, and I’ve been so lucky to be afforded so many of these opportunities! A good idea to not make resolutions, sometimes it’s nice to see what the year brings. I’m so sorry to hear about your puppy Kels. I wish you all the best for the year ahead.
You must be super close to your due date, that’s super exciting!!! Babies are wonderful. You did so many wonderful things in 2018, too! I just (re)started blogging, and I hope to reimmerse myself back into the community and read a LOT more books than I did in 2018!
Yes, I just had a look and my due date is NEXT WEEK omg….I am so excited! Glad to hear that you have restarted blogging, I wish you all the best!
You accomplished so much in 2018 and I am so happy and thrilled and proud to see you hosted an event with one of your favorite authors of all times, that’s the dream! <3 Here's to hoping 2019 will make more of these kind of dreams come true 🙂
I hope you'll be able to practice more self care in the new year, too, I know how hard that can be, but also how so, very important it is, too. Take care of yourself Jeann, sending you all the love <3 <3
Thank you so much, it was such an incredible year!! Self care is so important, and with such a busy lifestyle sometimes I have to sit down and remind myself that it’s okay to take time out. Have a wonderful new year Marie!
I just posted my Goals post today. https://sophrilreads.com/2019/01/06/2019-goals/
I am hoping to pick up the March name of the Book pick and read along.
Mary Satterfield recently posted…2019 Goals
Yay, I hope you enjoy it! I can’t wait to see what everyone thinks of our books this year.
You had such a great year wow! I hope everything ends up working well with the baby <3 Best of luck on the new year!
Thank you so much, it was definitely an incredible year! Not long to go now (she’s due next week!)
I love all your goals from last year. I might actually have to make self care and balance one of mine. I didn’t even think about it which is a little telling to be honest!
What a fantastic year!
Jordann @thebookbloglife recently posted…My Year in Books | Goodreads
Thank you Jordann, good luck with the goals for the coming year!