0 In Goals/ Life

Looking back at 2020…thankfully

Looking back at 2020 is a difficult one. What a forsaken year this has been, right? I’m sure we’re all happy to see the back of 2020. I can’t quite yet tell if 2021 will really be better, but at least there is hope out there!

It’s a year that I’ll be keen to forget. I’m sure I’m not alone, but the Brit becoming ill with Covid in March was one of the worst times of my life. So scary!

So many of our plans got cancelled of course, like everyone else. We had planned to travel to England, go to Canada, Sweden and finally set off on our honeymoon. Well, we know where this one ended up, right?

It also means that this year we didn’t see family at all. A first for me! But I’m so thankful my mum came to visit last Christmas!

We meant to attend weddings, which were also cancelled sadly. A lot of babies were born too and we still haven’t met any of them, including our very own nephew who is now six months old.

But anyway, let’s look at the brighter side of things. Of the goals and plans I had for 2020, some did come true!

>> More mindful meditation. I’ve done more yoga than ever before and meditation too. Sometimes just a good 5 minutes in the morning or at night. It has really help with the stress and anxiety of this year.

>> Read 40 books. At Christmas time I’m 44 books into my 40 book goal, so I’ve accomplished my 2020 Goodreads challenge. I’m quite happy considering I didn’t read for like two months of the year. You can probably guess which ones.

>> Discover new-to-me places in Scotland. This was the silver lining of our “year at home”. We visited our region more than ever before, exploring unknown parts and old time favourites.

>> Save more money. Another bonus of being at home doing nothing. Although I did spend some money on books, exercise equipment and clothes, and other treats, I mostly saved. For Christmas, I even gave myself the present of repaying a huge chunk of my student loans.

>> Return to Spain. Well the plan was to attend a friend’s hen do, but in February the Brit and I went to Sevilla on a last minute ‘sun’ holiday. It was amazing! We’re so fortunate we managed that trip before global lockdowns.

>> Fitness. One of my goals for 2020 was to run the Edinburgh half-marathon. It was cancelled of course. But I ended up signing up to the virtual challenge and running the half by myself in Stirling. Local friends cheered and made it all the more special. I also spent a lot of the year doing short workouts at home. Honestly, I’ve probably not been this fit in like 10-15 years, and it’s fun! And, bonus, it helped with my mental health!

>> Writing. This wasn’t really a goal of mine for 2020. It simply started coming to the foreground over the summer when I was feeling less anxious and had all this extra time. I started writing poetry, and even got published in a few journals! I also wrote the first draft of a novel that I’m quite excited about. Hoping I can finish it properly in 2021!

Things I’ve enjoyed in 2020

Books: My Sister the Serial Killer, Findings, Mexican Gothic, The Midnight Library, The Hunting Party and the Crazy Rich Asian trilogy. And I must mention the Zoom book club I joined over the summer, it’s been a nice way to read outside my usual genres and socialise during this time.

TV: The Queen’s Gambit, The Mandalorian, The End of the F***ing World, Schitt’s Creek, Black Books and we binged New Girl and Game of Thrones.

Movies: Jojo Rabbit, Little Women, Emma, Knives Out, Enola Holmes and The Old Guard.

Podcasts: The Bechdel Cast, Black Men Can’t Jump (in Hollywood), Sex Power Money, The Guilty Feminist, The High Low (r.i.p.), and David Tennant does a podcast with…

Games: Among Us for playing with people on Zoom and loads and loads of puzzles!


Looking back at 2020, it was awful yes, but I can see the good that came out of it. Smaller pace of life, reconnecting with friends, exploring closer to home, and lowering our carbon footprint.

Will you be looking back at 2020 or are you just look forward to 2021?xx

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