5 Standout Lessons from 2024 (and How to Reflect on a Year)
As we close out 2024 (or whatever year you’re reading this), I want to invite you to join me in reflecting on the year in a way that feels accessible, easy, and—most importantly—your own.
I used to put so much pressure on myself when it came to reflecting. It had to be thorough, meaningful, and (basically) “correct.” But that mindset often led me to procrastinate. I’d think, Oh, I’ll save this for when I have time and energy, which, let’s be honest, never happens during the final stretch of the year.
This year, I decided to approach reflection differently—casually. NO PRESH, as I like to tell my clients. My tool of choice? A Post-it. Yes, a literal Post-it. I didn’t overthink or carve out a specific block of time. I just let the question marinate: What were the biggest lessons of 2024? As answers popped into my mind—while brushing my teeth or tidying up—I jotted them down. And guess what? It worked.
If you want to try this, I encourage you to make it your own. Maybe it’s a quick mental check-in during errands or jotting notes while waiting in line. Let it be easy and light.
Here are my standout lessons from 2024. I hope they resonate with you, spark your own reflections, and inspire you as we step into 2025.
Lesson 1. Sometimes You Have to Find a Boundary by Crossing It
This one hit hard. It’s uncomfortable to admit, but sometimes we don’t know what boundaries we need until they’re crossed.
And it’s easy to fall into blame or self-judgment—I should have seen this coming! I should have planned better!
But the truth is, life is messy.
I learned (relearned?) this year that it’s okay to let myself feel all the emotions—frustration, sadness, anger—without making it my fault. Feeling those emotions is how we know something needs to change. Boundaries can’t always pre-planned. Sometimes, they’re discovered in the moment.
If you’ve been hard on yourself for being in situations you don’t like, try shifting your energy.
Process the (temporary) feelings, then focus on what you can do to make it better for yourself.
Lesson 2. You Don’t Have to Get Back to People on Their Schedule
This year, I fully embraced going at my own pace. Whether it was texts, emails, or even casual conversations, I stopped pressuring myself to respond immediately.
Life is full, my bandwidth varies, and that’s actually nothing I need to be “sorry” for.
I normalized letting people know where I stood, when I wanted to: Hey, I’ve got a lot going on. I’ll get to this when I can. I also normalized a 1-to-3-day window to respond. (You know that old adage that “we teach people how to treat us”…well, it applies to encouraging expectations too. If you’ve always gotten back to people within minutes of a text or email coming in, it’ll take both of you some time to get used to a bigger window—but I promise, you can do it!)
I did. With no apologies and no over-explaining. And you know what? It felt amazing.
You don’t owe anyone instant replies. Likewise, you don’t have to assign meaning to others’ response times. When someone doesn’t get back to me, I simply assume they’re busy or have something going on. It’s not personal, and it doesn’t have to be a big deal.
As we move into 2025, I encourage you to think about your own pace. What would it look like to honor it unapologetically?
Lesson 3. Self-Trust Is THE Most Important Habit
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know this is my hill to die on: self-trust is the single most important skill you can build.
This year, I lived through the consequences of some big decisions I made in 2023. Some worked out beautifully; others, not so much. But here’s the thing—I didn’t waste energy beating myself up or living in regret.
Regret is a feeling, and it’s okay to feel it. What I don’t want for you—or for me—is to adopt a lifestyle of regret, replaying the same thoughts and emotions on a loop. Instead, I leaned into self-trust.
I reminded myself, I made the best decisions I could with the information I had at the time.
If you struggle with regret or self-judgment, this is your sign to work on trusting yourself. It’s a game-changer.
Lesson 4. Savoring the Good Moments Is Essential
I’ve always struggled with anxiety and a tendency to live in the future. But this year, I practiced something that made a huge difference: savoring.
It’s one thing to be present; it’s another to actively enjoy the good moments in the present. Even during challenging times, there were bright spots, and I made it a point to internalize them.
(Quick lesson: Savoring is not just thinking “this is nice,” but letting yourself fully embody that feeling, without downplaying it or rushing out of it onto your To Do List.)
The practice of savoring shifted my perspective on 2024. Yes, it was a hard year in many ways, but it wasn’t just hard.
There was joy, connection, and beauty—and I let myself feel it all.
Lesson 5. Make It Your Own
This lesson started with my business but quickly expanded to life in general. It’s easy to chase someone else’s definition of success—whether it’s professional achievements, personal milestones, or lifestyle goals.
But at some point, you have to pause and ask yourself: Is this what I really want?
This year, I redefined success on my terms. I let go of things I thought I “should” want and embraced what felt right for me.
Fun fact: It’s liberating to affirm that you are, indeed, in charge of your own trajectory.
This isn’t about abandoning external goals. It’s about ensuring they align with your values, desires, and vision. Success feels so much sweeter when it’s truly your own.
Your Turn
As 2024 comes to a close, I hope these reflections inspire you to take a relaxed approach to looking back on your year. Let it be simple, light, and uniquely yours.
Here’s to a reflective end to 2024 and an intentional, self-aligned 2025. You’ve got this.
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