WOW 2018 Reflections and 2019 Goals (A Long Post)

December 29, 2018

Hey everyone! I'm gonna post this because well... the year is almost ending!




Okay, I'm gonna be blunt: 2018 sucked. It was terrible. I had a bad time overall. 

But I'm not going to focus on that. Right now I'm going to reflect on the goals I set for this year! And then make some new ones! You can find last year's post over here.





1. Use My Bullet Journal MORE EFFICIENTLY in Order to Procrastinate LESS

Um... it's not that I didn't use my bullet journal at all but I definitely notice a huge difference between the beginning of the year and the end of the year. I definitely filled in less pages during autumn and seemed to be filling in pages just to make the journal seem bigger?! xD

I thought about quitting the whole bullet journal thing before deciding that I do actually need a bullet journal to function properly these days or else I'll be twice as messy.


2. FIND A NEW FAVOURITE AUTHOR

I stated last year that I had my eyes on these authors: Akemi Dawn Bowman, Neal Shusterman and Brandon Sanderson.

I read Starfish and really enjoyed it. Summer Bird Blue comes out in Scotland next year so it'll be printed in Ireland in 2019 as well and it'll take a little longer to appear in my library. Also, I follow Akemi Bowman on Twitter and listened to some interviews and just really like her personality? I would be devastated if I didn't click with her writing.



And Neal Shusterman... ooh boyy! I read Unwind this year and it was honestly so good. I wanted to read the rest of the series but kept putting it off because I wanted to check out other books and bla bla bla. And the thing is, he has so many books coming out so I need to catch up. I'm glad I finally read this stuff. Good stuff.



Brandon Sanderson... eh... I was supposed to have read one of his books but I was so darn lazy and also fell into a reading slump so... perhaps next year? Like, early next year.

But I liked American Panda by Gloria Chao so that was a plus!


3. Read 62 Books in 2018!

I failed on this. I technically read 50 books according to Goodreads but a few of those were simply chapters of a webtoon series that I don't really like so technically I've read 40-something books but that is really painful for me to admit to? Especially since I have a lot of free time. And I mean a lot.


4. Read More Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Sci-Fi, Mystery and Literary Fiction

Here are the charts:





I had a bad reading year.

As you can see, I only read 6 Fantasy this year which was a massive fail on my part. I read 2 Historical Fiction, which is better but not by much. Only a slight improvement on the other genres. I did read less Contemporary but it still ended up as half of the books I read without much effort?

And I mainly got 3.5 star reads so that disappointed me a lot. Like it's almost making me wonder why I even bother sometimes? But that's being overdramatic because I've always been a reader and if I'm not a reader, then what am I?


5. Read at Least Two Geek Girl Books

Blimey Cow GIF


Definitely didn't do that.

Part of the reason I even wanted to do this was because I wanted to bring back memories as it's my favourite series and another part was because I wanted to boost my Goodreads reading challenge. 

The reason I didn't get to do this was because I kept procrastinating and bla bla bla.

Maybe better luck next year?


saved by the bell shrug GIF



6. Spanish


I believe I started off well (?) but eventually I just started to avoid it (had a schedule and messed up) and just ended up focusing on Korean during a major language slump I went through. I did buy a Bible in Spanish, though it turned out to not be the version that I preferred the most? I might get a new one but I won't throw away the old one.

I did start doing mini reviews in Spanish this year, which I'm grateful for because it's another way of showing where I need to improve and I still haven't finished writing the ones for this year gosh darn it


7.  Become Intermediate or At Least Basic 3 A2 in Korean

Animated GIF

It's sad how true this gif is.... :(  :( (I'm lowkey joking, though xD)

I did learn some more Korean but got confused on which resources to use. My knowledge on Korean has definitely improved but not by a huge amount. I was supposed to watch Korean shows with Spanish subs this year but I forgot all about that. I wanted to improve my Spanish first but it seems that everything is getting all confused an twisted.

However, I have a lot of useful grammar in one of my notebooks and I got a silicone hangul keyboard for my laptop! I'm hoping to improve on that next year. And also speaking, my gosh.


8. Bring Back YouTube Recommendations

Okay, from now on I'll just include recommendations if I ever feel like it. If I don't bring recommendations, I can always replace it with something else.

This is Somewhat Reserved, gosh darn it, not YouTube Reserved!

9. Plot (in a panster way) and Write at Least Two Stories

I did plot both those stories (woo hoo!) but didn't actually complete them? So yeah... that sucks.


10. Learn How To Make Jollof Rice

james mcavoy success GIF

I did it! And ugh, it's so good!

I have to admit, there were some times where it was too soft or too hard but now I fully know where I messed up. This is the part where I should show you pictures but my phone takes suckish pictures. And I don't know where the camera is so... :(

At least I can rest now and can proudly say that I am no longer a phony Nigerian!





I'm going to split the 2019 goals into these parts:  Books, Language, Writing, Computer.

1. Language: Watch Korean stuff with Korean subtitles, no subtitles or Spanish subtitles. I wanna improve fast. especially since I've failed to do that this year.


Finish watching Korean YouTube videos with subtitles in that YouTube playlist so that I can learn those sentences. (I basically have a playlist with videos that have subs in English and Korean so that I can learn the sentences)



And get started on HANJA (Korean chinese characters which aren't really needed in order to learn the language but are still used at times). I have actually started this so far. The reason I'm doing this is so that I can kind of get used to writing in Chinese characters before actually learning Chinese.



And take down vocab from that most common words list on Pinterest.



Also take down all the grammar notes and sentences that I need to. ALL.



Subscribe to 5+ Spanish-speaking YouTubers because my Spanish level needs to IMPROVE FAST.



Read an entire book in Spanish (por favor)


(Also not picking up French anymore after school because I'm just not ready for it yet) *shrug emoji*


Maybe start learning Mandarin Chinese in the summer of 2019. MAYBE.



2. Books

First of all, I need to decide on a Goodreads goal. And since I was way too hyper about my goal this year I guess I could settle for 57 books to read next year? Doesn't seem too huge and also hopefully I'll be able to overtake this goal!



Read more Fantasy, Sci-fi and Mystery/thriller. Especially Mystery/thriller.



More books set in Non Western countries.



Catch up on older series and read as much NEAL SHUSTERMAN as possible!



Also this list of books, man (cross off in green after you read each one): Mistborn - The Final Empire, Purple Hibiscus, SABRIEL (Shanti's recommendation), My Absolute Darling, Anne of Green Gables, Pachinko, Binti. 1q84 and Kafka on Shore, Homegoing by Yaa Gasi, Andora's Folly by Abigayle Ellison and Where the Woods Grow Wild by Nate Philbrick, I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith (Shanti's recommendation) 



And since I'm still on the search for favourite authors, the top four authors to check out next year are: 1. Banana Yoshimoto, 2. Neil Gaiman, 3. J R R Tolkien - Lord of The Rings (I know, everyone and their MUM has read this) 4. Sabaa Tahir

Re-read stuff. Hopefully the first two Geek Girl books and maybe Solitaire?




3. Writing

Basically finish the stuff that I didn't finish this year. 

idiot facepalm GIF


Perhaps focus on them on completely separate ends of the year (but from January-March I'd like to finish something) and also maybe start writing that novel that I'd like to...potentially publish.

faint fainting GIF


And why neglect writing when I've even written this post?




4. Computer

Get rid of all those tabs on top of my screen! I'm tired of them! And maybe get my laptop fixed? That would be nice....


Some Changes?


In 2019, I'm hoping to CHANGE THE STYLE OF BLOG POSTS/BOOK REVIEWS. I feel that they need to look more interesting.

 Also, I'm not going to post a review/mini review on EVERY BOOK I'VE READ especially if I end up with mainly 3/3.5 star reads. After all, Goodreads exists.

I need to read and write a reaction to my letter to my future twenty year old self (which will soon become my present twenty year old self) that I wrote in 2017 *screams*

And I really want to get a job next year. So yeah.

Now what about you guys? Tell me stuff that happened and/or resolutions if any? Good books you've read? Anything? Let's go!


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17 comments

  1. I didn't make my reading resolution either, I'm currently 45 books behind so rip, lol.

    I hope you achieve all of your 2019 goals, happy new years!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reading goals are tough! xD

      Same and happy new year in advance!

      Thanks for reading. I always appreciate it ^^

      Delete
  2. OMG, Grace, this was definitely a long post hahahahha. LOVE IT <3 So many great things filled your 2018 and I'm super happy for you! I know I don't always comment, but trust me when I say I always read your posts on my phone (where it's hard to comment because I suck with technology hahahaha). I'M SO GLAD I DISCOVERED YOUR BLOG THIS YEAR AND I'LL DEFINITELY BE LOOKING FORWARD TO READING MORE OF YOU DURING 2019 !!!
    Thanks a lot for reading me, too <3 I WISH YOU A STUNNING 2019 FULL OF AMAZING THINGS, GREAT BOOKS, more progress and growth and stars to wish upon <3
    Kisses!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh my gosh! Yeah good things happened despite it not being my best year xD

      Oh that's okay. I should personally do that more often since I'm always on my phone xD

      Thanks so much because I feel that I'm lacking xD And your blog is literally goals. With you being bilingual and also getting to read so much and design and also blog about everything on time!

      Hugs!

      Delete
  3. I hope you have an amazing 2019999999. Also loved reading this. :)

    Nabila | Hot Town Cool Girl

    ReplyDelete
  4. I haven't read Unwind, but I've been hearing about how good it is for years! I really need to find some way to get it in 2019. Wonder if my library has it...

    Don't beat yourself up so much about not making your goals! Especially the reading ones; I'm of the opinion that you should read what you want. If you didn't want to read the others at the time, you should just read what you like. There's no shame in sticking to one genre if that's what you enjoy reading.

    Also, there's a ton of things I wanted to do in 2018 that I didn't get to for one reason or another. But I'm going to reevaluate this year, and see what I can do to make some headway in 2019. My unsolicited advice: Don't worry so much about what you didn't do before; just do what you can with today. :)

    I think it's really amazing that you plan to learn so many languages! I'd love to learn some--eventually. Once I actually catch up on my other goals. :p

    Happy 2019 to you!


    Alexa
    thessalexa.blogspot.com
    verbosityreviews.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'd really like it!

      I know but I guess I really want to find another genre that I can read as easily as Contemporary YA, I guess? Something I can be immersed in just as quickly ^^

      Yeah, I should try to remember that advice. Sometimes focusing on bigger goals makes me to lose sight of the smaller ones that would help achieve them.

      Thank you! I'd be very interested to find out which ones you're planning on learning xD

      Delete
    2. That makes sense.

      Well, I'd like to get back into French, since I learned some in high school, but have basically lost most of what I learned at this point. Also, I'd like to eventually learn the language of Ghana, since my dad's family is from there.


      Alexa
      thessalexa.blogspot.com
      verbosityreviews.com

      Delete
    3. French is pretty challenging but I'm sure you can do it!

      Ooh, which Ghanaian language do you want to learn? I've only heard Twi. It sounds pretty cool.

      Delete
    4. Yeah, I've retained a little bit in regards to reading it, but actually speaking it, I was never good at.

      Twi's the one that I was looking at, yeah! Not sure when I'll be able to do that, but I'd like to someday.


      Alexa
      thessalexa.blogspot.com
      verbosityreviews.com

      Delete
  5. OK, I can't believe I'm just seeing your blog ;0 I totally didn't know you were into languages - I love that! Also, you really need to read Brandon Sanderson. He's seriously one of my favorites. I just listened to the audio for Mistborn - so good!!!!! Good luck on your goals!

    keturahskorner.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hiiii! Thanks, I need to work a lot harder, though xD

      I'll try! I have a feeling I might like him as well.

      Thanks again!

      Delete
  6. I hope that your 2019 is better than your 2018! It's great that you are setting these goals. I am always afraid to set goals for myself (because what if I fail???) but reading posts like this helps to inspire me. Even if I "fail" I can always set new goals and keep moving forward. Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally get you! So far this year I'm already scared that I might not succeed in my goals.

      Thanks. I really hope it helps even if you don't make resolutions.

      Thanks again!

      Delete
  7. Happy New Year! I hope this year is a lot better than 2018. (I had a really amazing first year, but I'm a bit nervous about the next year and how it will be). Also, Unwind is TERRIFYING. 12 year old me was TRAUMATISED aaaa. I want to do a cool sport thing like a triathalon or a marathon or a long run, and I want to read at least 52 books ( I read 52 in 2018, which was way less than previous years rip), and be more engaged with politics. ANyway, I always enjoy your posts and you are great and keep going <3 :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's great!

      I hope you achieve your goals.

      Thanks so much ^^

      Delete

Keep it all clean, man. Well, if you really wanna curse, use minor swear words. And I mean the minorest of minor ones.

"Or what?" you ask in indignation.

"Or else."