Let's start with the basics. Work. It's been a busy year work-wise, but a very strange one - I've been in my current role since January and have been working from home for the entire year. To be honest, I struggle to believe/comprehend how quickly the year has gone, it seems like only five minutes since I was picking up my laptop on my first day. Yet, here we are, in December and having never met most of my team - never mind the rest of the company! If there's one thing that working from home has given me, it's confidence in my work ability - I come from a journalism background, and this is a marketing role. Luckily, journalism skills are extremely useful and transferable, and a lot of my role focuses around copywriting and content creation, which is obviously a large part of my background, so I felt comfortable throughout the application process and starting the role. But it's easy to get caught up with imposter syndrome, especially when you're not around your team on a daily basis and can't absorb the environment and knowledge in the same way, so it's been tricky at times - but I've had nothing but great feedback. And that's made me feel much more confident in my abilities, and position within both the team and company as a whole - if I can produce such high quality work having never really been immersed with the company, having never met anyone in person and from my living room table, imagine how much better it'll be when we return to the office and can fully collaborate?! It's exciting, and I feel happy with the progress I've made this year - and I definitely know my worth career-wise.
On a personal level, my confidence has also grown this year. I've really continued to adopt a 'take no shit' attitude, and know my worth here too. I've focused on things that bring value and happiness to my life and, on the whole, it's really paid off.
This year has been a weird year for friendships, though. Some friendships have become even stronger than I ever thought would be possible. Some friendships have died an unfortunate death. Some friendships have been revived. It's been wild. And, with the pandemic and its repeated lockdowns (praying we manage to escape a fourth one), it's kind of to be expected. I think something that's really important to remember is that we don't always know what other people are dealing with, and sometimes, you need to put yourself first. I personally am the type of person that generally keeps myself to myself - if I have something going on or I'm struggling, you probably won't know about it.
This year, a lot has happened in my life, and I've had to make decisions that have been difficult and sad. I've ended friendships that I thought would last forever because I had to, for once, put myself and my own mental health first. I've seen a lot of 'it's all support your friends and their mental health until the bad bits of mental health come along and then they're gone' going round, especially on Twitter and, if I'm honest, it doesn't sit right with me. I think we should all support our friends and their mental health, in good times and in bad times, but I do think there's a line - when trying to help and support your friends in their tough times has a negative impact on your own mental health and wellbeing. I felt a lot of pressure this year to be the friend constantly there when something went wrong, I put my friends' happiness and wellbeing over my own and was left questioning my actions (can I see this person or will that person be upset and feel betrayed?) and making decisions based on how other people would feel about it, rather than how I felt. I was spoken to in a way that I did not appreciate and wouldn't stand for from anyone else, so why should I put up with it from a friend? It went on for a while, and I tried to let it go, tried to dismiss it under the excuse of 'they're having a hard time' but the truth is that, if you're being made to feel shit and your own mental health is being effected by someone else's problems, you should draw a line and put yourself first. I distanced myself from a situation for a while and eventually the friendship ended. It's kind of heartbreaking, because I truly thought that it would be a friendship that lasted forever but, unfortunately, it wasn't. And, weirdly, I think it was for the best. I'm a lot happier, and I really hope that they're doing okay and are happier too.
To Say we were in at least some form of lockdown until July, I've managed to pack a lot in this year. It's been bottomless brunches galore, road trips and so much food. I've been to London a few times (and my brother even moved there!), we've done trips to Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, and gigs are back(!!) so I've packed a good few into the back end of this year - it's been great.
Oh, and I made some big (or maybe not that big) appearance changes. Perhaps most notably, my trademark full fringe is gone. I made the decision pre-lockdown three that I was going to grow my fringe out, and I'm rather surprised I managed to keep that going - but here we are, fringeless! I also cut my hair to above shoulder length, as opposed to it being right down my back as it was last year. And, I got a nose ring - wild, I know.
Looking ahead to 2022, my focus remains on myself and being the best possible version of me. I am extremely focused on my work and the ways in which I can develop my career - I certainly have a dream job and I'm very much determined to make as much progress as possible in order to get there.
In my personal life, I want to have as much fun as I can. I'm in my early twenties, I want to make memories. I want to spend time with the people closest to me while I can. Covid-permitting, I want to travel - at the moment, I've got a trip to New York booked so I'm really hoping that will go ahead.
Another goal of mine is to save money. I've done pretty well at this since the start of 2021 but I would like to step it up in 2022 - and, kind of linked to this, I want to revamp my wardrobe. Not because I want new clothes but because I'm making a conscious effort to be more sustainable and, to be completely honest, there are a lot of things in my wardrobe that I don't wear. I think it's important to have a collection of clothes that represent you, that you genuinely love, but are also staple pieces - after all, there's nothing an accessory can't do. I'm over fast fashion, and as much as I love to shop, I've come to really appreciate the importance of shopping sustainably and, when possible, from independent sources.
I also need to focus on my health - 2021 has been a rollercoaster for me in terms of health. I've been unwell far too many time to count and I really want to get it under control so there'll be a heavy focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
On the whole, 2021 has been life changing. It's a year that has been so all over the place and one that certainly won't be forgotten any time soon. Despite another year in the pandemic, I've achieved a lot and experienced a lot. I've made fantastic memories and I'm really happy with who I am as a person today.
I also need to give a quick (but big) thanks to all of my blog readers. It's been pretty inconsistent from me on here at times but I still have such a huge love for blogging. Onto bigger and better things next year. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year!
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