Some things are better left in the past. I have a plethora of bad habits I would like to leave in 2024. But also, there are some good things I’d like to take with me into the new year.

The “Ins and Outs” trend has always been fun to look at. Seeing what other people are bringing into their lives and kicking out. Being appalled when you read the words “Turtleneck Sweaters” underneath someone’s ‘out’ category (turtlenecks are in fact a winter staple). I finally decided to take a stab at it myself for 2024. Below are my ins and outs for this year. I hope to build some new, healthy habits, and leave behind some negative ones.

in:

• going to the library
  • Any time I say “I want to go to the library more”, the first reaction I receive is “You should use Libby!”. Yes, I do use the Libby app to check out eBooks, and I love it! However, I would like to physically bring myself to the library more often. I am so lucky to live near such a beautiful library that is well funded and taken care of. There aren’t many places where you can simply exist without spending money. The library is a third space I can be for free. Plus, I like the feeling of a physical book and I also like taking photos of what I am reading. I highly recommend getting a library card this year if you haven’t already!
• daily outside time
  • This was a goal of mine in 2023, and it’s something I’ve gotten better at in the past year. I feel so much better once I’ve had a breath of fresh air. I am so often cooped up at my desk and I let the day pass me by. Every day, I would like to either go for a walk or just find ten minutes to stand on my porch.
• writing
  • I used to be so embarassed by my own words. There’s absolutely no reason for that to be the case. In 2024, writing is IN. You will find me journaling, writing down ideas, and blogging.
• home cooked meals
  • What’s not to love about a homemade meal? I feel so much better when I’ve eaten something cooked at home, versus DoorDashing or eating out. Additionally, becoming confident in cooking is a major goal of mine in 2024. I’m not yet comfortable cooking meats, but it’s something I’d like to work on this year.
• dnf’ing books I don’t like
  • Reading books I don’t like is an experience I know all too well. And I’m even worse about buying books I don’t like. In combination with my goal of going to the library more, I hope to simply DNF (did not finish) books I am not enjoying. There is so much media to consume in the world. So many books, games, movies, shows… Life is too short to read something I am not enjoying.
• eating enough protein everyday 
  • Making sure I’m eating enough protein everyday is something I struggle with. I hope to be more intentional about my protein intake, to ensure I am staying strong and healthy in 2024!
• mindfulness
  • My 2024 has been off to a somewhat anxious and stressful start. As much as I would like to feign blissfulness on the internet, that would simply be untrue. I feel stressed about my lack of a job. There is constant noise in my head that won’t stop. And I can’t seem to catch a break. I’d really like to practice mindfulness and step away from my thoughts. Just take a moment to breathe, and focus on that alone.
• bingo night
  • And on a lighter note, I’d like to announce that bingo nights are IN. Before the end of 2023, I went to a bingo night at a local bar and had the best time. The audience was so fun and so were the announcers. I’m looking forward to going back sometime in 2024!

out:

• comparing my life to others on social media
  • Whenever I scroll on social media, I find myself wishing. Wishing I had different clothes or hair, wishing I lived somewhere different. I think we all know the adage “comparison is the thief of joy” very well. In 2024, I’d like the comparison to stop. I’d like to appreciate the things I have and the things I am able to experience.
• dampening my personality to fit in with others
  • This bullet point mostly applies within my personal life. I have no problem being myself online, but in social situations I often change bits and pieces about myself to fit in better. A lot of the time I feel weird or off putting for just being myself. The need to change stemmed after I moved to a new state. Making friends can be extremely difficult, so I did what I could to appease others. In 2024, I no longer want to dampen my personality just so people will like me more. If they don’t like me for who I am, then I don’t deserve to have a spot in my life. And that’s that.
• hard liquor
  • Last year I discovered I feel TERRIBLE after a night of drinking any kind of hard liquor. The day after is extremely unpleasant, so I’ve simply decided to kick hard liquor out of my life in 2024.
• endlessly scrolling social media 
  • This bad habit of mine ramped up significantly in 2023. I’ve gotten a little bit better at not constantly scrolling on social media. There are just so many other things I could spend my time doing. Do you know how many books I could’ve read? Games I could’ve completed? I can’t tell you the answer, but I’m sure it’s a lot.
• doordash 
  • DoorDash. Out. Need I say more?
• sunday scaries
  • I want to do everything in my power to rid myself of Sunday Scaries in 2024. The anxiety that comes the Sunday before work is not worth it. I’m currently between jobs, and I sincerely hope I have the opportunity to work somewhere that does not cause me as much anxiety as my previous job did.

It has almost felt cathartic to type out and explain my ins and outs of 2024. It feels like a chapter is closing and I am about to embark on a new one. I hope to build some better habits in 2024, and leave the bad ones in the past.

What are some of your ins and outs of 2024?