My 2023 resolutions were:
- Find a new job
- Get through level ten guitar on Yousician
- Read 12 books
- Run a marathon
I actually only completed one of them, finding a new job, but it was certainly the most important! I'm pretty happy with how my year went anyway.
By April, it was pretty clear I was not on track for running a marathon in May. I spent January and February studying for interviews, and felt too distracted (and cold) to make time for training. However, I have been seeing a personal trainer twice a week since May, and feel great. I also completed a six-month daily yoga streak! I had to break the streak in November because of a surgery, sadly. Most significantly, I lost about 12 pounds over the summer by doing intermittent fasting, and waking up to do a fasted walk every morning (a 2.5 mile loop around Primrose Hill and Regent's Park). I hit <140 in September and have maintained it the last few months.
Hobbies
After an Easter trip to Lisbon where we met several bi/trilingual people on a walking tour, I felt very motivated to learn another language. Since then I have been studying Spanish. I currently have a 233 day streak on Duolingo, and I started working with a Spanish tutor twice a week back in August!
I have also kept up crochet, though I've been trying to limit how much time I spend crocheting. It seems like it is a bit of a time warp, and I usually crochet in the evening. By limiting how often I "indulge" in crochet, I've found I have a lot more free time, and have been filling it with things like walking, yoga, and playing with Freya. That being said, I did finish some projects I'm proud of, including a Padme doll for my friend, and a sampler blanket for Fallyn (which she took to school for show and tell!).
Self improvement
I did a few professional development workshops at work, about 6 weeks each, including one on giving feedback and another on being a team lead. I also sought out opportunties to work in PHP, and feel a lot more confident in my full-stack abilities, at least at Tumblr. I am hoping to step up at work even more this year to increase my job security. I really like this company and want to stay as long as possible.
Lastly, I spent a lot of time and money on my skin in 2023. With my age and recent weight loss, I noticed some new signs of aging. I did painful, expensive appointments all year, including a mix of micro needling, Sculptra, Sunekos, and fusion and IPL facials. I also invested in some at home skincare products like VO/Obagi moisturizers and an LED eye mask, and have been taking collagen supplements since August. I believe my skin has improved, so I plan to keep up with my new routines in 2024
