A Look Back On 2024 With New Goals For 2025

Last year, I wrote 6 Simple Goals For 2024: A Wishlist For The Year Ahead.

Out of all those goals, I completed zero. Zilch. Nada.

Well, actually, that’s not fully true. I nearly completed one. I nearly received 50k views to this website in 2024. Considering I barely wrote on here and with all the Google algorithm updates, I’ll call that a win! I was only around 500 views off my goal so I was close.

Even though I didn’t complete any goals in 2024, I’m still going to set them for 2025 because I have a compulsive need to set goals, write lists, and plan things out. But this year, I will action them. In fact, that can be my first goal right there…

But, rather than look at the things I didn’t achieve in 2024, here’s what I did do and honestly it was a pretty cool year despite not doing what I set out to do.

I set up a film photography instagram account.

I feel a little bit like I’ve been cheating on digital photography the last year. I LOVE my Fuji camera and the photos I take on it, but the process of film photography, and the film photography community, is something I’ve fallen in love with.

I look back on my film photos way more than any photos I take with my phone or digital camera. I also love the excitement of getting my photos back from the lab – it’s a surprise every time even if it is a bit scary that every photo might be a dud. I feel less pressure too with film in some ways. Although the pressure to make sure the camera is set up right in the first place, I don’t feel the need to edit my photos – something I liked doing but took too much time for me. I could never decide on a style so just being able to take my film photos and run with them is wonderful. 

If anyone enjoys film photography, I’m sharing my film photos and travel adventures over on @hartyshootsfilm. 

I did a charity challenge

Now this was something I did on a massive whim. I saw an Instagram advert for a Cancer Research challenge in September to run 100 miles over the whole month. I don’t even run so I don’t know what I was thinking. But I signed up, got my trainers on, and got out there nearly every day to stomp the pavements of Leeds. And do you know what, I really enjoyed it.

I might not have run the whole 100 miles but over the month I covered over 150 miles through a combination of running and walking. It helped that I was doing a lot of walking on holiday during September but I reckon I ran around 70 miles in total. And raised over £200 in the process so thank you to everyone that supported me and helped fund research for something that I’m sure has affected a lot of people that read this.

We did a spontaneous trip to Canada

This trip was totally unexpected and I’m lucky that I’m able to just say yes to a once in a lifetime trip to Canada. But when Chris’s parents asked if we wanted to join them on their trip to Banff and Vancouver, we couldn’t say no. It was 2 weeks of gorgeous scenery, good times and adventures that will be incredible memories for the rest of our lives. I’m sure I’ll write more about this so keep your eyes peeled!

Other holidays to Scotland, Lisbon and Porto

Apart from Porto, Scotland and Lisbon were both places we’d been to before. I love all of them. Scotland for the relaxation and great walks in the countryside, and Lisbon and Porto for the food, culture, and weather.

I’ve written about our trips to Scotland and Lisbon (I’m yet to write about Porto) and hopefully they’ll help you if you’re planning trips for 2025.

So my goals for 2025. What do I want to do and what do I want to achieve?

Read 12 Books

I had this goal last year and I don’t think I achieved it but this year I’m going to do it (this applies to everything from now on). I’m halfway through my first book which has been very much helped by reading before bed instead of scrolling on my phone. 11.5 books to go!

Write 12 Blog Posts

My lofty goal of 52 blog posts last year was a big number so there was no wonder I didn’t complete that. 12 posts feels a lot more reasonable though and I have a lot of travels I haven’t written about yet. Time to get myself organised and get writing!

Run 5k

After completing my charity challenge in September, I’m determined to run 5k in one go. I’ve attempted this several times but never quite got there. But after running fairly consistently in September, I get why people lace up their trainers and get out there. It made me feel more confident, I could feel my fitness improving pretty quickly and it got me moving. Time to do more of that in 2025.

Grow My Film Photography Instagram Account

I’m really enjoying being a part of the film photography community. It’s super supportive and encouraging and I can’t wait to get more involved in 2025. I’ll be taking more photos, interacting and engaging more, and hopefully heading to some events at my local lab! Started the year with just over 400 people on @hartyshootsfilm so I can’t wait to see it grow from there!

Monetize My Blog

Something I’ve been meaning to do for a while and I just haven’t. Mainly because I just don’t think I have the traffic to bother but I’ll never get anywhere with that attitude so this is the year to earn a little bit of income from this blog.

Work With A Brand

I’ve done a few collaborations a long time ago and really enjoyed them. I’d love to do that again, especially working with some cool hotels in some cool places. Maybe combining it with my film photography would be good. I work on the brand side of blogger outreach in my 9-5 job so hopefully that will come in handy when reaching out to brands to work with from the blogger side!

Start A Pottery Course

I actually had this booked in for the new year but unfortunately it got cancelled. After going to a short pottery class last year I loved the process and can’t wait to learn more. The plan is to book onto another course and then hopefully join as a member at the local studio to continue practising my skills.

There’s loads of other stuff I want to do but I’d be here all day. Also, that list above already looks like enough and I need room for things like walking, going to the gym and socialising. Just all the little things in between that usually end up being the things I’ll look back on fondly at the end of the year!

What are your goals and wishes for the year ahead? Have you got any big goals or any plans in your diary already? Here’s to a great 2025!