The year 2025 is around the corner... it's crazy how a year ends in just a blink of an eye! I could hardly remember the events that happened this year. It was a crazy roller coaster ride, but life will always be worth living regardless. :)
I'm not the type of person who sets sky-high goals. I'm in between being an optimist and realistic, so I mostly try and follow short-term and easily achievable goals. This way, I could keep my motivation and avoid being discouraged and/or disappointed.
So for next year, these are some of the goals that I've already put my mind to. I could always add more in the future depending on certain situations. :)
I ended up listing six goals so far... Let me talk about it one by one.
- Become more serious about learning Japanese.
I have been learning the language here and there, but I never really focused much on it. I guess the last time I actually took it seriously was 10 years ago when I was still teaching in the English academy.
I don't have any concrete plans of visiting Japan, but learning the language would be beneficial for me in so many ways. For one, the majority of my students are Japanese and my minute knowledge of the language has helped me a lot of times in my classes with beginner students. How much more if I improved, right?
Another reason is my affection for Japanese culture, tradition, anime, and so on. I think learning the language can help me to better understand and appreciate them. I won't be able to do it every day, but I'd at least study a few hours a week.
- Try to draw or paint more.
This was actually part of my goal for 2024 and I was able to achieve it somehow. I've painted and practiced sketching many times this year and I want to continue doing so.
Of course, my goal is to improve... but more than that, painting or creating some artwork is something that relaxes me. It's something I do for my mental health... aside from anime and manga, of course! :)
- Be more consistent with exercise.
My family and I have been trying to live a healthier life this year, especially for my mother. So, my goal is to be more consistent with it. I also want to go for more walks whenever my schedule allows.
I love eating, so having strict rules when it comes to my diet would be really difficult. Instead, I'd rather exercise and eat the things I want in moderation.
Exercising has also helped me have a healthier sleep. I no longer suffer from insomnia which is a huge plus. And since I work from home and my job requires me to sit for long hours every day, exercise can be of great benefit to promote blood circulation. :)
- Maintaining a good rating at work by doing my job well.
As I've mentioned, I work from home as an online ESL tutor. I've been doing so for the past 10 years and I really find this job enjoyable and fulfilling.
For us to have more students, we need to maintain a good rating. For the past years, I've been able to maintain either a 4.9 or 5-star rating. I'm always very grateful to my students because my schedule becomes fully booked in just a few minutes.
We're paid per class, so having a fully booked schedule means a lot to me. It's great to have a job that I could truly enjoy, so I'll keep doing my best next year, too! ^^
- Engage more on HIVE. <3
Another goal I had for 2024 was to become more active on HIVE. I was able to successfully do it. Although not every day, I'm able to post at least three or so times a week.
I've met a lot of interesting HIVErs and like-minded people here, so next year, my goal is to engage more. I want to try and explore other communities on the platform as well. :)
I'd love to grow my account, but I'm currently powering down for financial reasons in the real world, but hopefully sometime next year, I could finally do so.
- Spend more time with family and friends.
I don't like parties or huge celebrations, however, I love spending time with my family and really close friends.
There were several times when I refused invitations from my friends this year, but they understood because they knew I'm not good with crowded places. When I accepted my friend's invitation last week (it was a small and special celebration), they were very happy. We plan on having small get-togethers next year, so I'm looking forward to spending it with them.
In addition, I want to visit my grandma soon. We haven't met in person for years now, so one of my goals is to visit my father's hometown together with my parents... hopefully, next year. It's quite costly to travel, but I'll do my best. :)
These are my goals so far. I was able to achieve most of my goals for this year, so I'll try to do the same next year.
Thanks for reading and see you around! Have a good one! (^^,)/