2023 Goals

Sorry for the late post about our goals for 2023, but better late than never, right?

Hey, maybe a good goal for next year is to have the post about our goals for 2024 ready on time! 😅

I still believe that taking the time to look back on the past year and think about how we want to steer the coming one is a beneficial and healthy exercise. It gives me peace of mind, at least.

That’s why I’m here, writing down what’s on my mind for 2023 and reflecting on what I’ve seen from 2022.

2022 Retrospective

Last year, I organized my goals into four categories.

Savings

❌ If I had to give myself a grade on those points, I would barely pass. I did somewhat keep track of my finances in an excel spreadsheet that is becoming more and more complex (and complicated), and I established a savings plan with semi-automation, but I probably didn’t fulfill any of the last three points. Now reading the third point, I laugh at myself for calling myself clever… hahaha. How easy it is to write goals that don’t mean anything… 😅

Wealth and fitness

❌ It really bothers me to read the points now and see that I have to fail again. But it wouldn’t be fair if I passed. At this point, maybe the problem was that I was too demanding, because I still consider myself in shape in the sports field.

But I didn’t run a marathon (although I did some half-marathons during some training), I didn’t even come close to 20 pull-ups (maybe 10), I finished around the high range of 75kg and probably above that percentage of fat, processed sweets, carbonated drinks and beers during the week… were tried too many times, I didn’t exercise my memory at all, and meditation was a yes but no.

Enjoy life

✅ I’m going to allow myself the luxury of giving myself a green light for this block. But without getting too ahead of myself, because there are several points that can be improved, such as activities with Diana alone, and contact with family beyond parents and siblings.

As for discovering new places… although there were no cool exotic trips, we still tried to make outings and discover new parks and places, even if they were close. The rest of the points are pretty well fulfilled.

Personal growth

❌ I failed again. I didn’t get any certification, I didn’t develop a routine of reading books in English, I didn’t take a course to manage emotions, I didn’t regularly write on my blog (although I did publish a few articles), I didn’t stick to a vocabulary system throughout the year, I didn’t do anything consciously to try to be more sustainable, and I didn’t take any courses on synthesizing…

So there you have it! A big fat fail, and well deserved! I want to think that there have been other things that I have done… I listened to podcasts that gave me more knowledge about marketing, finance, software development… some in English to practice my listening… I picked up the MBA from The power MBA at the end of the year… I tried to improve in terms of organization and planning… I don’t know, as the saying goes, “who doesn’t comfort themselves is because they don’t want to!” But looking at the defined points… yeah, pretty deficient.

2023 goals

To be honest, I have made a Notion page where I have captured them, but I am going to take this exercise, which comes almost with a month of the stolen year, to present it in a more minimalist way.

• Keep it simple

I would like to be able to seek simplicity in everything I do. I always tend to the complex, the detail… and I want to change that approach, in everything I do. Excels, software, blog…

• Personal Brand

I would like to create a personal brand, with a community both on Twitter and in the email list (newsletter).

• Planning

But not for planning but for trying to improve efficiency. The time I have is the one I have, and it is quite limited. But being aware of this, set achievable goals and use the minimum necessary time for each one. This point is somewhat linked to the first one. Keep it simple. Plan by quarters, looking back to pivot on what is necessary. And above all, not to reach the point of letting myself drift into the ‘we’ll see’ approach.

• Living the crazy life

I don’t want to lose sight of this point, which I consider fundamental, and where I could encompass topics related to Diana and Lúa, organizing cool vacations, trying to meet cool places, continuing to have at least the same contact with family and friends…

• Health

Beyond topics that cannot be controlled, I would like to take the means to make everything in order. Mouth, belly… And in addition to this, continue to maintain weekly exercise routines, maintain intermittent fasting during the week and, at least during the week, try not to eat crap. In terms of mental health, try to take up and incorporate meditation as a regular routine.