Personal & Bookish Reflections on 2018!

Hello 2019! Goodbye 2018! As the new year begins, I’d thought I’d take some time to reflect on 2018 on a personal level, share some highlights, and discuss my bookish habits of last year.

2018 was rough year (for me) at times, but I did accomplish a lot of things big and small, on a more positive note . I don’t set New Year’s resolutions anymore, but rather personal goals that I’d like to achieve throughout the year. I’m continually working harder on putting my self first and practicing more self-care.

I used to treat self-care as a reward (which was the wrong way of thinking) and it led to such an anxiety overload. I felt I was making too many commitments and not enough time for myself. I want to work harder on making more time doing the things I love and saying “yes” to more things in life. I also got back on track with budgeting & saving money which I’m very proud of. It’s been difficult, but I’m doing pretty well. I think it definitely helped that I hardly buy books any more either.

Like the past year, I worked on trying to be aware of the current events around the world without letting it completely bog me down. And I’m working even harder to detach myself from social media. In doing so, I found I was reading more and less screen time was great for me. I also got a new job which I enjoy and I hope it will further my career! Lot of great opportunities are coming my way and I couldn’t be any happier!

First off, my 2018 bookish goals! I purged a lot of books from my collection (see my KonMari post), got back into reading manga all the time and tried to read tackle some of the books that have been sitting on my bookshelves for the  longest. I set my goal to 200 books, but sadly only made it to 150 books. So for this year I set the bar to 150 books! I’ve learned how to manage my time a little better and to make more time for reading in my busy schedule. I got to do some buddy reads which was fun and decided for 2019 that I’m going to get back into reading challenges. It’s been a few years, but I’m ready to try again. For 2019, I’ll be participating in the Romanceopoly Challenge for sure (maybe a few more, but I’m not sure yet)! I’m also going to try to participate in at least one readathon!

In 2018 I got to do so many new things and mini adventures, here are some of my highlights!

I went on a weekend trip to the Smoky Mountains, which I haven’t been to since I was a kid. It was good to just simply be in nature and see the sights. The Smokies are so beautiful and I had fun walking various trails and even hiking up to the highest point in the mountains, Clingmans Dome. If you love the outdoors the Smokies, is a place you should definitely visit.

Speaking of outdoors, I also took a local trip to Eastern Market for their annual Flower Day event. I haven’t been in years and it was nice to hang out with friends and look at all the flowers. I almost bought them all since I love gardening so much. The weather was  so nice!

One of my best friends (check out her blog!)  got married in Ludington, MI and it was awesome getting to be apart of her special day! She had a wedding on the beach and thankfully the weather cooperated. I had a fun time dancing the night away at the reception and traveling to a new place in my home state.

In November, I went to Youmacon! It’s the largest anime convention in the Metro Detroit area. I went with my friend Katie and we had a blast attending panels, meeting some awesome people, and shopping in the Artists Alley. More to come about the convention soon!

I saw Disney’s Aladdin Musical!! Being the huge Disney nerd that I am, I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to see the show. The show was phenomenal! From the elaborate set designs, special effects (the magic carpet scene was so good), choreography, to the original songs -everything was fantastic!

I took a trip to Chicago for my cousin’s baby shower in March and while I was there I got to do a little retail therapy. Before I left to back home, my mom and I took a trip to the Field Museum. That museum is more massive than I remember! My favorite exhibit hall was the Dinosaurs! If you like historical museums, this is a must visit!

Last but not least, a reflections post wouldn’t be complete without some goals that I want to work on throughout the year:

• Continue time management skills
• Budget in order to travel more
• Get back into exercising more
• Continue to expand my reading horizons
• Focus on having a more positive attitude
• Try new experiences/pick up a new skill or re-visit an old hobby
• Making self-care a higher priority

What are your reflections on 2018? Have you set any goals for 2019? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!