Hey Sweeties,
What a year 2018 has been, and I unfortunately don’t say that too positively and that seems to be the vibe I have picked up from a lot of people strangely on their own reflections of this year. I am ending 2018 in a really good place both personally and professionally, but thinking back to last Christmas and where I was brings back some not very nice memories and certainly the few months following were a struggle.
When I read back through my 2018 Goals post (here), even though I was writing it at the time unemployed (but free from an unkind employer) there was a lot of optimism about the months ahead. This year has just turned out to be a bit meh really, that’s the only way I can describe it. I haven’t suffered any personal or family loss (thank goodness), but overall this year just didn’t quite go to plan in all the ways I tried to coordinate it too.
Career
I think it’s important to note here (a point I am sure I have made several times) that I am very achievement driven and a bad year is one where I haven’t gained a lot professionally. Having spent so many years working my arse off to get myself into the right career industry and position, to be knocked down twice has been crushing, particularly in such an important year for me.
I thought handing in my notice on 2nd January (here’s why) was going to be the only blip, but then low and behold it happened again mid-August when I got made redundant. By this point I had really become fed up -and I HATE to say this- with female managers, but it’s true, I am very passionate and supportive of women in business but female colleagues can be the worst for letting you down.
Fortunately, in October, a year since my ordeal began and just as I was bracing myself to go freelance and all the risks that would bring (when not properly planned for), I started a new marketing role. The office is lovely, my colleagues (many of them women) are lovely, my boss (a woman) is exactly what I need. So far, I have no complaints and I am just so, so thankful things seemed to have worked out.
Here are some Career 101 posts I have written in 2018 fueled by my own experiences, that hopefully you guys may find useful:
One Job Mistake – Five Things to Learn when a Job doesn’t Work Out here.
Channel your inner Gwyneth: How to Consciously Uncouple from your Place of Work here.
Is your dream job just a myth here.
The Career Advice you didn’t get Taught at School here.
Work Experience: How to Get it & Why it’s Important here.
Travel
As 2018 has been really rocky on the job front, I understandably couldn’t plan for any additional trips to those already in the calendar. As per my 2018 Goals post referenced earlier, I had trips planned to Cardiff to see The Script (here is where I stayed), Cambridge, Edinburgh (read about my hike up to Arthur’s Seat) and Mexico (here).
Unfortunately my weekend away in Cambridge didn’t go ahead as I went down with gastric flu on the day we arrived that basically put a stop to any sightseeing. My poor husband, he was so good about it but I basically ruined our anniversary weekend. Hopefully we can arrange another trip to Cambridge in 2019.
Health & Wellbeing
2018 has been quite a test to my mental and emotional health; experiencing a few knocks to my self confidence, as well as having to dedicate a large portion of time to recovering from high stress and anxiety while desperately trying to maintain my glass half full outlook.
I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason which can be hard to remember at the time of something not going right, but on reflection I often see how something bad happening, triggered something positive. It’s like when I wrote about the importance of experiencing failure (here), in the example of my time training for the 10 Tors challenge, I had a wonderful time walking for a different team which wouldn’t have happened had things gone to plan.
But as the saying goes, onwards and upwards and 2019 is certainly going to present some very new challenges. Here are some posts I wrote this year that you may find helpful –
Getting back your sass -How to get back to you after a negative experience here.
The Importance of Investing in Yourself – in Work and in Life here.
Panic Attack at Work: Five Pieces of Advice to Help you Feel Safe here.
Blogging
Understandably, towards the end of the year ClaireySweetie has really suffered and my dear little blog even celebrated its 5th birthday this month and… I missed it!!
However, on a more positive note I had some really fun opportunities and collaborations in 2018 and I hope 2019 sees me get back on track. Here are some 2018 blog highlights –
Chocolates for Chocoholics Workshop – High Quality Luxury Chocolate here.
All Aboard London’s Newest Open Top Sightseeing Tour with Megabus | A Photo Diary here.
Treat Yo Self | Rose and Mesh Watch from Forge & Foster here.
The Elephant at the Market in Newbury – Tasting the New Spring Menu here.
2019
Well my Sweeties, all that is left for me to say now is a big thank you for keeping with me if you’ve been around these parts a while, and to any new followers this year for joining the journey. I hope 2018 has been good to you and I wish you and your families a wonderful New Year and all the best for 2019!
Until next time x
