2024: My Ins & Outs
A deep dive into my in's and out's for this year.
The new year trend seems to be in’s and out’s for 2024 and honestly that’s something I can get on board with because it feels a lot less overwhelming than scrolling back through 12 months of my camera roll trying to find cute pics to share. So here is a deeper insight into my 2024 in’s and out’s.
In:
Hydration. I am about to be the most hydrated b*tch you’ve ever seen (although I do say this at the beginning of every day and still forget that water exists - ADHD brain - so watch this space, I’ll try my best).
Reading. Duh. I read 75 books in 2023 and going to aim for the same this year. More reading less picking up my book to read and then scrolling on my phone.
Studying like Rory Gilmore. I am currently in my second year of English Lit & Creative Writing studies (I’m doing it part time through the Open University so I don’t burn out) and this year I have a specialist mentor and study skills tutor to support as disability support which is already making a huge difference compared to my first year. I find studying and staying on task difficult because of my ADHD and sometimes burnout and fibromyalgia flare ups make it a challenge to hit deadlines. But I am determined and excited to take it seriously and make the most of the support I have.
Solo dates. Book hunting in charity shops. Mid-morning coffee and cake. Cinema trips. Library visits. Outdoor reading.
Stimming freely. This is something I began doing in 2023 but this year I really want to drop the fear of judgement around it and stim to my hearts content!
Messy creativity. Writing. Pottery. Painting. Poetry. Making silly little videos. Painting my nails. Playing with make up. Decorating candles. Bullet journaling. I am a bit of an all-or-nothing kinda gal and find it hard to do something unless I know I’m going to be good at it/do it well. Procrastination and perfectionism are two of the big things that stop me from taking that first step and honestly I think my ADHD plays a big role in creating that barrier. So this year is about just starting and doing the damn thing regardless of whether it will be ‘good’ or not.
Woodland walks. Or just being in the woods actually. It’s honestly one of the very few times where I feel calm and my brain feels quiet. And I need some more of that this year.
Writing in cafes. 2024 is going to be my writing year. I have been putting it off mainly because I’m terrified to commit to something like a book. But if I share it here then I’m hoping it will hold me accountable.
Accommodating myself. Again, this is something I started doing in 2023 but this year I’m going hard on making myself more comfortable. It’s 2024 and I’m turning 30 this year (wtf!) so I’m leaving behind any shame or fear I have around making life easier for myself. Whether that is using my walking stick more in public, wearing noise cancelling headphones in loud spaces or leaving social things early, this year I’m choosing to prioritise my comfort instead of catering to others discomfort.
Structure. I have realised that I need structure and routine in order to function. It' may have taken me 29 years to realise this but better late than never! I have created a weekly schedule that tells me what I’m doing each day and a daily schedule that breaks down each day hour by hour. I will keep you updated with how well it works and hopefully my ADHD brain doesn’t get bored of it too quickly!
Nurturing friendships. In the past 12 months I have made some of the most beautiful, safe and nourishing friendships I have ever had in my whole life. Growing up I struggled with the whole friends thing and only truly feel like I’ve ‘found my people’ in the past year or so. I am incredibly grateful to have these wonderful people in my life and I am excited to nurture and grow them even more this year.
Autistic joy. Joy, joy, joy. Just more unbridled, unapologetic joy.
Out:
Doomscrolling. It is so easy for me to sit on my phone for literal hours (I’m not joking, my screen time is appalling) and absorb masses of information through social media. Some of it is important and educational information which I love. But a lot of it is pure nonsense that is just taking up space in my brain and draining my mental energy. I have such a weird relationship with social media because it’s a dopamine slot machine for my ADHD brain but it’s also a huge energy leak for me. I’ve realised the reason I’m on there so much is because so often I’m flared up or feeling burnt out and the only thing that feels accessible to me is going on my phone. It’s really hard to find the balance of feeling connected to the outside world (being disabled can be lonely) but also resting.
Masking to fit in. Nope. Not doing it anymore. It’s too exhausting and I never seem to get it right anyway. So I’m going to work on letting go this idea of ‘fitting in’ even more this year and I continue to unmask (in situations where I feel safe to do so).
Saving cute outfits for ‘special occasions’. I think opening my bookshop is going to give me some motivation to put together cute outfits and give me an excuse to actually wear them. So, I’m excited for that because I love expressing my creativity through my outfit choices and it makes a change from the PJs and sweatpants I live in at home.
Overdoing it. My most said phrase of 2023 was “I’ve over done it” and I don’t want it to be the same this year. Finding the balance is something I have always struggled with and it’s still something I’m working on. I wrote about this in a previous post that you can read by clicking below.
Arguing with strangers on the internet. It’s not worth it and I truly do not have the spoons to spare. So I will be using the block and delete button liberally this year!
Making men feel comfortable. Self-explanatory. Men have happily made me uncomfortable for my entire existence and I’m done pandering to their egos. Their comfort is not superior to mine.
Itchy clothes. As a sensory avoidant autistic I am super sensitive to itchy labels and scratchy clothes. I always have to rip the labels out before I can wear something otherwise it feels like my body is on fire. Last year I became an ambassador for a fantastic sensory-friendly clothing company called Rare Birds, made specifically with neurodivergent people in mind. I am not joking when I say, the material they use is the softest thing I have ever had on my skin. AND there are no itchy labels! If you want to try them out they currently have a sale on or you can use my affiliate link for 15% off your first order. (If you use my affiliate link it is no extra cost to you but it’s an easy way to support me if you are going to buy from them anyway. Thank you in advance if you shop through my link!).
Internalised ableism. Ew! That is so 2023. I’m going to do a separate post about internalised ableism because there is a lot to say. Stay tuned.
Being constantly contactable. I have this weird thing where if someone messages me or I have a notification I feel like I have to respond instantly. Regardless of what I’m doing, where I am or how well (or unwell should I say) I’m feeling, I feel this obligation to reply to whatever it is immediately. And I don’t want to do that anymore because it is TIRING.
Overthinking content. It doesn’t need to be perfect. Not every video needs to be amazing. Not every caption needs to be profound. Not every story needs to ‘add value’. (sharing this in case anyone else needs to hear it).
Shame. Double ew. (see internalised ableism).
Thank you for reading my first post of 2024 and if you’re new here, welcome! I’ve seen a lot of new faces pop up on my subscriber list and I’m so happy you’re here (don’t be scared to leave a comment or ask questions, I love hearing from you!)
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Happy new year!
Georgia x