What a weird year. Everyone else out there writing their 2020 recaps probably has started the same way. But it's true for all of us. That said, like many have pointed out already, because of the physical constraints of this year it allowed for growth in other areas of our lives. This was the same for me, and I'm grateful I got to spend time on things I traditionally wouldn't.
Travel
Usually my Fiancé and I try to travel abroad a few times a year. Last year we went to Australia and Ireland, the year before we went to Nicaragua & Puerto Rico. This year, travel was out of the question, so we explored areas near our home. We went on multiple camping and river trips. We finally took the trip down to see the Grand Canyon. We drove through Yellowstone in the middle of a late summer blizzard. Despite not getting out of the country we still adventured throughout the year.
Wedding
We couldn't have the wedding we wanted during Covid. Too much risk to the family and friends we care deeply about. So 2021 will be the year we get married, and hopefully with a vaccine it will be quite the party.
A "failed" Launch
I joined a gumroad challenge to build and sell a product in 14 days. This pushed me to get out of my comfort zone, and focus on finishing a project I start. I launched Zero to Developer and only had 2 purchases on launch day. Since then, from posts on my website, twitter, facebook, and medium I have sold a total of 6 copies for a total of $158. Compared to the massive launches of other creators out there I considered this a failure. But like all things, it's a learning opportunity. And my takeaway is that I need to build an audience. I intend to do so going into next year by posting more regularly here, on medium and on twitter. I also intend on publicly working on projects next year and sharing my journey. I want to build my own credibility for products I develop in the future.
Going Remote
My work closed the office permanently due to Covid. So now I'm 100% remote and I've been enjoying it so far. In the coming years I want to make sure I give myself clear boundaries so as not to over-work/over-stress myself. Once the world starts opening up I want to make sure I have constant events on my calendar to interact with friends and family so I don't become a complete hermit at home.
Fitness
This year I had a few good months of improvement but didn't have enough consistency. I ran over a mile every day in March, which is a tradition I'd like to start by doing the same thing again this coming March. I also want to work on a more active routine. Ideally I'd like to get some form of exercise of varying degrees every day. Waking up earlier is probably the best way to do this, but fixing my sleeping habits is going to take some work
Next Year
I'm exited to see what this next year has in store. I will keep making small bets and keep gradually building my life. Compounding interest says that small improvements on a micro scale are significant as time passes. My motto going into next year is the same that I have had for the past few months. "Action Begets Motivation".
Keep going!