Last year I shared my “ins and outs” for 2023 and as someone who loves a list, I found it handy to sum up a whole bunch of things I wanted more of or less of in my life. It made it much easier for me to prioritise things that aligned with those goals (for lack of a better word) and I found myself coming back to look at that list throughout the year.
Prioritising my wellbeing was at the top of my 2023 “in” list which is admittedly very broad, but encompassed a few things that I was working on, like getting more sleep (did not happen), reducing stress (literally made myself sick on more than one occasion from stress), managing my lipoedema better (okay I actually did pretty well with this), going on silly little walks regularly (silly little walks happened but definitely not regularly), taking care of my skin health (feeling like I’m nailing this one!) and doing things that nourish my soul more often (I’ve gotten better at this for sure, but still a long way to go). It turns out that 2023 was actually quite shit for me in terms of my health and wellbeing – I wrapped up the year with not one but two specialist referrals trying to figure out two separate health challenges, and a sprained wrist from October that still hasn’t healed properly is going to need some further rehab this year.
A family member’s cancer diagnosis meant I spent part of the year living in another city, supporting them (and thankfully they’re now doing well). I tried to prioritise my mental health a lot during this time, but I feel like I really fell out of my routines then and still have not managed to pick them up again consistently – something I’m keen to work on in 2024.
The highlight of every week for me is the time I spend at Kura Pō learning te reo Māori
While I was away, I made an impulsive decision to sign up for Kura Pō Te Reo Māori (Maori Language Night Classes), and I started those when I returned to Tāmaki Makaurau. They have been such a healing balm for my soul, and it’s been wonderful to reconnect with my culture and continue the reclamation of my reo.
At the the top of my “out” list for 2023 was saying yes when I’m feeling no, and I’ll be honest – that’s definitely something that I need to continue to work on!
And that brings us to 2024. I’m really keen to try and prioritise my wellbeing again this year – physical, mental, financial and my wairua (soul). I’ve got some fitness goals that include walking up a bunch of volcanoes (I’ve walked up one so far); getting back in to regular gym workouts for my mental health (I’m currently going 1-2 times a week which is pretty good, but I think I’d benefit from a couple more visits a week); finances are a big focus this year as I need to cover my lipoedema management (it’s not funded by our healthcare system or covered by my healthcare insurance), plus we’re keen to get married at some point so need to dial back the little treats and ramp up the savings; and my soul just … I can’t keep living a life of work/eat/sleep/repeat, ya know? I need more than that.
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I’ve said yes to a lot of adventures already this year – flying in a helicopter (actual bucket list dream!), visiting Hobbiton, trips away to spend time with my friends and whānau … and there is so much still to come. I’m going to step out of my comfort zone and have booked tickets to three concerts, plus I have two trips to Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington – one in just a few weeks!
Part of what fills my cup is writing, so here we are, finally writing the longform version of this post in late April – despite publishing my list on Instagram at the beginning of January. I keep coming back here and looking at this website and wondering if it’s time to shut it down, and I’m still on the fence about that. There’s a lot of big changes and uncertainty in my life at the moment that I can’t talk about, which makes it difficult to write around, because they’re SUCH big parts of my life it feels weird to leave out when I’m oversharing everything else. But I miss writing about fashion so maybe that’s a good place to focus my writing again. We’ll see.
Also super keen to just live my best life being apologetically me, which means shrinking myself (both physically and my personality) is most definitely on the out list. Here to take up space babes! 🎇
In for 2024
✨ Quality time with friends + whānau
✨ Being unapologetically me
✨ Going for walks in pretty places
✨ Cooking at home
✨ Taking up space
✨ Saying yes to adventure
✨ Self care
✨ Community
✨ Prioritising rest
✨ Spending more time in nature
Out for 2024
❌ Giving my all for/to people who don’t give me a second thought
❌ Spending money on shit I don’t need
❌ Shrinking myself in order to make others feel more comfortable
❌ Negative self talk
❌ Doom scrolling
❌ Uncomfortable clothes
❌ Making excuses for other people
❌ Hanging on to things “just in case”
❌ Apologising for my boundaries
Would love to know one thing that’s in for you for 2024 and one thing that’s out?
Loved this Meg, a wonderful piece to read x
In for me: making time to be creative / it really fills my soul with happiness
Out for me: setting unrealistic expectations for myself
Thanks e hoa! Love that you’re making time to be creative, I think that’s so important. Feels like I’ve not done enough of that over the last couple of years and you’re right – it really fills my soul with happiness too! Here’s to waving ka kite to unrealistic expectations 👋🏼
Loved this and I do hope you keep on sharing the parts of your life you can because it helps you to do it and it helps me to see it!
In – Exploring my new city (just moved).
Out – Justifying my needs to others.
Thanks Deborah, I am so glad it’s helpful! Love your ins and outs, what city have you moved to – that sounds very exciting!