Hey,
I wanted to reach out one last time before we close the year 2022.
Even though it may not look like it, itās been a breakthrough year for me. A lot has happened in the past twelve months, and since I didnāt share much on my socials or here, Iād like to do a short wrap.
I often hesitate to write such personal stories because I donāt want to sound too self-centered. But ever since I saw the rise of AI-generated posts with no personality at all, I'd liked to do the opposite this time and stay authentic as a human.
Letās give it a try.
The 2022 Wrap-up
Every time I plan a new year, I give it a title. It helps me set up my goals and focus on things that matter from a high level.
My year 2022 had the title "Reset."
I felt like I needed a second look or a second chance in some areas, and "reset" was an excellent direction for my intentions. And what a reset it was!
Here's how my 2022 went:
After almost eight years, I left my job at STRV. At that point, I reached the peak of my career by leading a team and being the creative director of a well-known and respected company. I have achieved what many see as their endgame. But I wanted to go back to hands-on design and build something of my own over time. A career change was inevitable, and I went for it.
I started full-time freelance, which turned out great. But I also had my moments of self-doubt and second-guessing about if I still got it (meaning, design skills by today's standards). I'm still not 100% where I want to be. But seeing my freelance business grow into the highest earning year I ever had definitely helped to boost my confidence.
I have moved to a new apartment after staying in the previous one with my sister and girlfriend(s) for almost five years. This step was straightforward. My sister successfully finished her uni studies, got a new job, and found her own place. My GF and I wanted to keep the old apt first, but then we got lucky with a listing we found and moved over to our dream part of Prague. (Hey-o, Karlin!).
Shortly after moving, I celebrated my 30th birthday. Not going to say I'm old now because I don't feel like it. But seeing such a number felt strange for a while. We celebrated with my family and friends. That was fun! But then I got lost in my identity, life goals, and what I wanted from life for a bit. Oh, that reminds me of my next point, which is partially related.
I started caring more about my well-being. This part will get its own extended post at some point, so let me keep it short for now. After several years of dealing with various anxieties and fears, I finally found the courage to get regular coaching and psychotherapy. It was a huge step for me in a complex topic I had been struggling with for a long time. I hope to share more soon.
I also read the most books in a single year in 2022. Having a habit of reading almost every night before I went to bed helped a lot. But it wasn't only reading that I enjoyed. It was only the start that led me to other regular habits I now repeat throughout the day. I sometimes drop the ball, but I keep working on perfecting my daily routine day by day.
I took the longest social media pause since I started my socials. I only shared a few tweets and posts this year and scrolled through the feeds a few times. Why? I felt overstimulated, didn't have time to share (new client work), and felt uncomfortable with all of those changes on various platforms. Social media didn't feel fun (or a must-have) for me.
And then there were the other "small things," such as traveling to the US again, getting Covid, going to prom with my GF, chalet and Barcelona trip with the (now former) design team, losing my Behance profile, having my longest win streak in LoL, saving and investing the most in a single year, or finally seeing Slipknot live.
All and all, it was a good year. The "reset" was successful, and it gave me precisely what I needed for what would come next.
The 2023 Plan
So, whatās the plan and title for 2023?
I want to follow up on what I started this year because I noticed a developing direction that felt really good both on personal and work levels.
My title for 2023 is going to be āFocus on myself.ā
I didnāt mention it in the list above, but I also have a personal fitness trainer now, and I started exercising regularly every other day. Similar to therapy, it was something where I needed to find courage. But I finally went for it, and it made me feel great and proud.
I want to do more of such things next year and truly focus on myself in health, hobbies, relationships, and work.
It doesnāt mean Iād be closed to the outside world and become selfish in my own bubble. Iād only like to put myself and my needs first more often. I see it as a shift in my mindset that could help me become more self-aware and happy overall.
Iāve spent so much time and energy thinking about what others may think or sayāor focusing on what others do instead of doing my stuff. So much so that it slowly confused me about who I am, what I want to achieve, and what I want to do with my life.
The following year is when I want to take at least a portion of that back, and I canāt wait to share the progress with you while I do so.
Thanks for being my friend on Substack in 2022. I greatly appreciate it and look forward to seeing you in the āsecond seasonā next year, starting with issue #15.
Have a great New Yearās Eve, and talk again soon!
A.
Links & inspiration
Stuff I'm currently digging:
š¤ FontĀ -Ā ABC Repro - Repro is a new friendly, flexible sans serif inspired by signage and digital operating systems. I love the ācircle functionā as a special font set.
š Architecture - Shed - Looking for some interior/exterior architecture inspo? Found this studio a while ago. They make beautiful minimal places.
š»Ā Website - Fey - Simple one-page landing page (#purple), with soft animations that elevate the overall experience.
š»Ā Website - Lights Factory - Typo-based agency website. I like how they work with brand colors and use them for transitions or page layout.
š Resource - Mobbin Web - We all know Mobbin for mobile screen inspiration. They now added web section as well.