My word for the year 2022 is chaos. The chaos has lasted throughout this entire long year, on both a micro and macro level. I found myself frequently overwhelmed as I navigated numerous locations and additional life changes. While the year was a lot, the chaos was not necessarily all negative — it was just packed with loads of activities and updates.
My work life saw a lot of activity, including my first promotion, raise, work trip, certification training program, and more. Before my current role in tech, I worked with nonprofit companies where I didn’t have these opportunities, so I fully embraced and flowed with the changes. I made some adjustments to my “side hustles” to accommodate more time for my new responsibilities.
My personal life was also eventful — the biggest changes included moving into my first solo studio apartment in San Francisco by the start of the year — and then making the radical move out to embark on my “digital nomad adventure” near the end of it. In the midst of it all, I also manage to survive COVID twice.
Needless to say, many intense world events were happening in the background the entire time as I continuously attempted to adapt to my new situations. Another challenge was finding the time and energy to continue nurturing the relationships in my life, though I did consciously provide as much time and support as I could to some of my loved ones.
As I find myself finally slowing down during this holiday season, where I am hosted in my sister’s peaceful house in the desert, I am processing this chaotic year — and gradually recovering from the burnout over a 2 week break. There is much to be said about another historically challenging year, and given the nature of the chaos, it may feel difficult to write it all neatly. In any case, I wanted to share my reflections of 2022.
- It’s crucial to find and implement a consistent, effective self-care routine (wherever you go). I enjoy starting my day with a short meditation and completing an entry in a guided journal over coffee/breakfast. One of my favorite journals is the Five Minute Journal, which helps with checking in with yourself and setting your intentions for the day. Throughout the day, I aim to stay grounded in every space I occupy by using mindfulness practices. Other basic wellness habits including staying hydrated and getting some kind of movement (ideally outside — even for only 30 minutes) each day makes a world of difference.
- Listen to your gut if you are not feeling a location, situation, person, etc. Give things just enough time to do a “vibe check” — if you are not feeling it, excuse yourself gracefully, remembering that not everything/everyone is going to be “for you”. Get comfortable with setting those stronger boundaries, with respect, and honoring your intuition and tastes.
- Live a more intentional, minimal life. Resist the urge to take on all of the things. Slow down and prioritize — and know when to say no, even when you might think you want whatever it may be. Give yourself time to focus and don’t let tempting distractions deter you too much, if it doesn’t feel aligned.
- If you are navigating a new situation, trust that you have all the answers within you or that you have the ability to figure it out. Even if there is something you don’t know at the moment, don’t be afraid to ask for help or to set aside some time to research how to navigate it. Anxiety can come naturally, especially with frequent or unexpected changes. Try to make peace with the fact that “the only constant in life is change”, and get ready to adapt as needed.
- Speaking of new situations — Know that “nomading”, as glamorous as it can be, comes with many challenges. Frequently traveling as a remote worker, or a “digital nomad”, is a unique lifestyle — and anyone who chooses to embark on this journey should anticipate some difficulties. This includes constant logistics (including planning itineraries and syncing with others), carrying/shifting heavy baggage between locations, occasional tech issues, and fatigue from changing time zones (and managing time between travel and work). Also, it can also be difficult to say hi and bye to friends, both new and old, in each location — and there are other countless potential “travel fails” that can happen along the way. However, at this point in my journey (coming up on 3 months soon), I still believe that the pros outweigh the cons.
- Learn how to critically observe different situations and consider what would feel right for you (versus what is not in alignment). As I continue to explore different places and interact with so many people, I pay attention to all of the details in each environment. Taking in a glimpse of the various sceneries and lifestyles, I think deeply about what would genuinely feel right for me right now, or possibly in the future. I consider what I may need to do to obtain these things for myself — or if there are certain elements of it that are beyond my control I simply trust that the right situation will present itself at the right time in my life.
- Remember to focus on what you can control. Sometimes easier said than done, but accepting the limits of your control can be liberating. Letting go helps you become lighter and can eventually help you build resilience. If you’re having trouble with this, contacting a trusted loved one or a clinical professional could help.
- It’s fun and fulfilling to continue to try new things! Whenever I had the time or opportunity, I tried a bunch of new activities. In 2022, this included skateboarding and aerial yoga in the United Kingdom, axe throwing in Montreal, and snorkeling in Barbados. There are also some things in the past that I may want to revisit that I have tried a few times — highlights in previous years include surfing (Morocco and Pacifica), target practice in Los Angeles, escape rooms, and writing courses in the Bay Area (including Screenwriting in Berkeley).
Looking forward to seeing what experiences may come for us all in 2023. Whether pleasant or difficult, we have the opportunity to see the growth opportunity in each experience — whether is an obstacle or a victory.
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