What Worked & Didn’t in 2024 (Part 1)
It’s the beginning of a new year, so of course I know I should be reflecting and remembering and goal-setting and all that jazz. But honestly, all of that feels way too serious for today. So I’m copying an idea I saw from the writers over at Coffee+Crumbs discussing what DID and DIDN’T work over the past year. (Check out Coffee+Crumbs for yourself. You’ll quickly see why I was inspired.)
So, without further ado, here is my totally random and completely non-spiritual list of what DID work for me in 2024. (Check back next week for a list of what DIDN’T.)
(By the way, the links I use in this post are not affiliate links or anything. I’m not making any money by sharing these suggestions, although maybe one day…)
Hello Fresh
My absolute least favorite household chores are meal planning and grocery shopping. I LOATHE them! In February we received a coupon to try out Hello Fresh, so we jumped on it. All I want to know is where has this been all my life?!?! Yes, it is more expensive than planning our own meals and buying our own ingredients, but I’m at the point in my life where it’s hard to put a price on my sanity. We don’t order a Hello Fresh box every week, but when we do, it’s worth every single penny.
2. Goodr Sunglasses
I have to have sunglasses on when driving during daylight hours, but a good pair of sunglasses is hard to find (or afford). My sister gave me a pair of Goodr sunglasses last spring for my birthday, and I’ve never gone back. I love them! They work great in the car on sunny days, and they survive being borrowed and thrown around by the kids. They’re super cute, very affordable, and feel just right on my face (not too loose or too tight). Love them!
3. Iced Coffee in Bulk
I love having coffee in the mornings, but there are a few things that make this challenging for me:
I don’t drink caffeine, so Decaf is a must.
I’m SUPER picky about the flavor
I’m partial to using fancy syrups, sweeteners, and creamers, so making my coffee concoction can take a minute in the mornings
I don’t often get to finish drinking my coffee while it’s still hot (and luke warm is gross!)
So after struggling with my coffee habit for a few years, I finally concluded iced coffee was my best bet. Last January, I started making a large pitcher of coffee every Sunday night and keeping it in the fridge all week. Now, all I have to do on weekday mornings is pour some cold coffee over a (HUGE) cup of ice, add my creamer, and go! It’s pretty brilliant, if I do say so, myself.
4. Pics in my Journal
I’m a journal-er. I write in my journal a few nights every week. And I write all kinds of things - Scripture verses, Bible study notes, prayers, lists, recipes, events or conversations I want to remember - all kinds of things. This past year, I started adding photos from my phone to my journal, and I love it. It’s so cool to look back through my journal and be able to see pictures that go along with the memories I’ve recorded. I print the pictures with a neat little contraption called a Sprocket. (My mom gave me mine as a Christmas gift, but they go on major sale from time to time, so keep your eyes peeled!) It works with an app on your phone where you can select and print specific pics onto photo paper. Then the back of the photo paper pulls off like a sticker! It’s quick, easy, and awesome.
5. StepBet
I know goal setting is a good thing. And I can set goals with the best of ‘em. It’s the follow-through that always gets me. I have the best of intentions, but usually the lack of accountability makes it easy for me to fall off the wagon. This past fall, however, I tried out an app that helps you set a goal, track it, and achieve it all by providing the most motivating incentive ever - $$$. Basically, you pay a $40 join fee and the StepBet app uses your past fitness info (on your FitBit or AppleWatch or whatever) to help you set personalized daily and weekly step goals. Once you successfully complete the challenge within the established timeline, you “win” back your $40, plus you get to split the remaining pot with other members who successfully finished the challenge. You’re basically betting on yourself. I was determined to get back the $40 I had invested, and I did! I had days when I had to get on the treadmill at 10pm to meet my step goal. I even pushed myself to get my steps in on Christmas Day and the week after when I had pneumonia! It felt SO GOOD to set a goal, watch my progress, and succeed! I’m already signed up for a new StepBet challenge that starts soon.
6. Baggie Drawer Organizer
Ok. This one is of those little things that makes a HUGE difference. All 5 of us pack our lunches every weekday. We try to use reusable containers as much as possible, but plastic baggies are still a necessary staple. (Especially for the youngest… anything I send will end up in the cafeteria trash can, so I might as well save myself some tears and use baggies.) My mom gifted me this cool set of baggie organizers so that I can fit all the different sizes in one drawer. This completely eliminates the frantic digging through the drawer to find the right size baggie, or the frustrated drawer slamming that happens when the box of baggies won’t fit back in the drawer right. Like I said, it’s a little thing that makes a HUGE difference.
So now, do tell! What worked for you this past year!
