Reflecting on 2021: Lessons Learned

Behold, the 2nd part of my 2021 reflection blog posts. Lots of things were realized this year. Let's talk about it!

Month by Month

So this year I stepped away from bullet journaling and tried the Passion Planner for the first time. I gotta say, I really, really loved it. It worked great for me and I used it pretty consistently throughout the year. One of the things I liked about it was the end of month reflection section, where they ask you a few questions about the past month and how to improve on the next. One of those questions was about 3 lessons you learned in the past month, and after diligently answering it for 11 months, turned out to be a great resource for this very blog post. Initially I was just going to write them out to see if I could gather an overall yearly lessons learned, but I think it'd be fun to share what I had written after each month here. Kind of like a little window into my past mindset, and how it changed throughout the year.

So, without further ado, here is a look at the lessons learned each month, according to past me in my planner!

January

• having a lot of free time doesn't mean I will get everything done
• I NEED rest days or I will burn out like crazy
• sometimes the difficult thing is worth it

February

• Inconvenience is temporary
• Literally just putting my clothes away helps my mental state by like 1000
• Be patient. Take breaks each week

March

• Got depressed/burnt out lol
• Taking time to partake in my comfort stuff is good
• I need to go outside lol

April

• I HAVE to eat produce every day. It makes my mouth and head feel better
• Sometimes just doing it sooner and not hesitating is the way to go. Especially with big long-term goals that require a lot of effort from me
• It's okay to advocate for what I need

May

• Remember to take time for myself
• Pay attention to my body
• Taking time can be good

June

• Not to overbook myself
• A break is good
• Keep in mind what I'm striving for!
• Also, remember what brings you peace

July

• Sometimes distance *is* needed
• Take time when heated
• A support system is more necessary than I thought

August

• Being with people who care about you really does hit different
• I do need to watch my tone/reaction. My stress management or lack thereof is affecting others. But additionally, there are those who know how to deal with that
• I need space lol

September

• You don't know you don't like something until you try it
• Traveling really is good for me
• Don't bite off more than you can chew

October

• It really is down to having friends where you are. They really do make the shittiest of situations way more bearable
• Too stressed to think of more

November

• Definitely rooted in California
• Do what you need to do
• I can pursue and execute.

Overall

Based on my monthly reflections, some recurring themes are self care, patience, and listening to my body. Self care in particular continued to be a learning experience, especially how to maintain it in order to avoid burn out. I did a lot this year, especially in the second half, but I still struggled with balancing relaxation and productivity. I think I'm finally realizing that I cannot be productive without relaxing, that the two go hand in hand. Rest days in particular are crucial.

Patience is also something I struggle with. When I know what I want, I like to go for it. I don't want to waste any time. But I think I need to unlearn the thought that time can be wasted, and be comfortable with waiting. While taking action isn't always a bad thing, biding my time in order to collect and prepare myself is also beneficial, especially when it comes to finances.

Listening to my body was a crucial lesson, and one I engaged with quite frequently. I've been learning to be more intentional and aware with how my body is acting and reacting, and noticing patterns. Diet, exercise, rest... even activities I used to enjoy as a kid. If it brings me joy or makes me feel better, I should make the time and space to include it.

While those were definitely messages that cropped up most frequently, there were others that were more like epiphanies. I realized the significance of having a good, strong support group nearby. After years of moving around, I didn't realize just how necessary and important it was to have one for me, until I had moved away from one I had established. I learned that I do have a sense of home, something I never thought I would have, and that it is in California. I learned that what motivates me most is progression. Most importantly, I learned that you can't know you don't like something until you try it. And that the time spent realizing you don't like the thing is not wasted time. It's something that's really stuck with me throughout the year. And finally, I felt reassured in proving to myself again that I am capable enough to pursue and execute my goals. There were so many things that I found initially overwhelming, but I was able to tackle them and achieve it.

What are some lessons you learned in 2021? Were there any similar to the ones in this blog post? Let me know!