2024: The Good, The Bad, The Lessons, and What's Next

As we step into a new year, it's the perfect moment to pause and reflect on the experiences of the past twelve months. 2024 was a challenging yet dynamic year, featuring significant highs and lows. Let’s take a closer look at what I loved, what I learned, what worked, and what I plan to continue into 2025.

What I Loved

In 2024, I was excited by a resurgence of trends that brought both functionality and style. Here are the standout favorites.

Brown...Everything

This year, I fell in love with the rich, warm brown tones that we saw trending everywhere. These tones bring a touch of elegance to anything. For example, imagine a classic brown leather planner cover that can easily transition from a professional meeting to a casual coffee date. The shade is so versatile but also effortlessly elevating.

My modern organic design style fits so seamlessly with this earthy trend and I'm here for it.Thinking I need a brown leather planner going into 2025 now...

Retro Inspiration

I've been fascinated by the trend of retro influences making a comeback, especially in planners and organizational tools. Vintage planners and accessories captivate me with their nostalgia and charm, offering a refreshing contrast to modern designs.

With their classic leather covers and intricate detailing, vintage planners provide a tactile experience unmatched by digital tools. There is just something about writing in a beautifully crafted planner and watching the leather age. It romanticizes the daily schedule, the ritual of to do lists all while celebrating the past.

Burgundy

In 2024, burgundy saw a significant resurgence across fashion and interiors. This rich hue brings elegance and sophistication, adding class and a bold yet refined statement. As an accent color (like the addition of the "you're her" planner card that I brought out this year), it creates a warm, inviting atmosphere and infuses depth and character. Its ability to blend with both modern and traditional styles is particularly appealing.

Effortless Style

The trend toward effortlessness has resonated with me, especially as I adopted the "use it up" philosophy to declutter my life. Embracing "less is more," I've learned to appreciate simplicity in my closet, makeup collection, and planning choices. Using a streamlined weekly planner with digital tools like Notion has allowed me to express my individuality yet maximize my existing resources - the key to the "use it up" idea. I've got perfectly good supplies at home. This shift to a relaxed, efficient planning routine has been liberating, making my schedule feel intentional and refreshing.

Assessing What Worked and What Didn't

In assessing my strategies, it became clear which practices had a positive impact and which did not.

What Worked

Curated Planner Inserts

My planner inserts are first and foremost designed out of a personal need before I determine if I should sell them in my shop. Each insert begins as a solution to a challenge I face in my daily life, ensuring that they are practical and beneficial. My well-thought-out planner inserts have proven to be invaluable tools in tracking the aspects of my life that matter most. These inserts include:

Yearly Goals with Quarterly Progress Checks: Setting clear yearly objectives and regularly assessing my progress has kept me focused and on track throughout the year.
Habit Trackers: Utilizing both weekly and yearly formats for habit tracking has allowed me to monitor my behaviors consistently, reinforcing positive habits and identifying areas for improvement and promoting accountability.
Word of the Year: Choosing a guiding word each year has served as a powerful motivator, reminding me of my intentions and helping to keep me accountable.
Meal Planners: Designed to simplify meal preparation and grocery shopping, making healthy eating more manageable.

Planning and regularly evaluating my goals were transformative in 2024. By using a planner to organize my week, I not only kept track of tasks but also felt accomplished with each item I checked off.

Accountability Groups

This year I started the EO Edits Reset Collective over on IG. Sharing my objectives with a friends and a community of like-minded people has boosted both my motivations and success rates. I'm hoping to do so much more like this in the future!

Embracing the Journey

It's important to remember that the journey of planning and achieving goals is not always linear. As I learned, you're not always going to get it right, even with meticulous planning. Embracing the ups and downs is part of the process, and having a structured approach has made navigating these fluctuations much more manageable.

What Didn't Work

Procrastination Station

Despite all my plans, I still found myself plagued by procrastination, which often stemmed from a fear of failure, especially when I lacked actionable steps for tasks or a clear vision of my goals. This uncertainty created a mental block, making it difficult to take the first step. I found myself caught in a cycle of avoidance, paralyzing my ability to act and pushing launches, projects, and more to next week, next month or "someday". I know better. Someday doesn't happen. Recognizing this pattern was crucial in understanding how to overcome it.This year taught me the importance of getting clear on the end game, figuring out steps to take but more importantly, keeping things simple.

Exploring My Branding Journey

Unlike any other year, I felt a profound connection to my own aesthetic. In 2024, working through the EO Edits brand was a significant process that required ample time for exploration. Initially, I believed I had a clear vision of how I wanted to present myself and my work. However, as I delved deeper into the branding process, it became evident that I needed to invest more time to refine my approach. Instead I rushed it. While I was producing work that I loved, it takes time to truly understand how I wanted everything to look and feel. This journey was not just about aesthetics; it was about aligning my visual identity with my core values and the message I wanted to convey. And being honest, it's still a work in progress! Always changing and evolving.

Refining my branding has been a transformative experience. It has taught me the importance of patience and the value of taking the time to explore. In a world that is always rushing, I wish I gave myself permission to slow down. Once I did, I felt more equipped to present my brand in a way that is true to who I am.

Socials Growth

What truly didn't work in 2024? As we reflect on the challenges of the past year, it's clear that many of us share a common sense of frustration, particularly when it comes to the ever-evolving algorithm that governs social media platforms. I understand the sentiment all too well. To be completely honest, my Instagram account barely saw any growth this year, which was incredibly disheartening.

Despite my dedication and effort, it felt as though I was shouting into the void, with my carefully crafted posts failing to reach the audience I had hoped for. It was easy to feel as if I wasn't doing enough or that my work was somehow lacking, even though I poured my heart and soul into every piece of content I created, genuinely loving what I was sharing.

However, I found a silver lining that helped shift my perspective. I was forced to take a step back and truly appreciate the incredible community I've built so far. EO Edits is now 6 years old and the connections I've made with my followers and fellow creators have been invaluable, providing support and encouragement even when the numbers didn't reflect my efforts. It served as a reminder that engagement isn't solely dictated by algorithmic success but by so much more.

Moreover, I was relieved to see that my shop earnings remained consistent throughout the year. This stability was encouraging and allowed me to focus on what I truly love: creating and sharing my work. The products I offered in 2024 have been some of my favorite, and the positive feedback from you all reinforced the notion that quality and passion still resonate deeply with others. So THANK YOU! Despite the challenges faced on social media, the unwavering support from my community and the steady performance of my shop provided a much-needed boost, reminding me that success can be measured in various ways beyond mere follower counts.

What I Learned

Reflecting on this past year, several key lessons have emerged that will shape my approach in 2025.

2024 Pack

Specificity in Goals

One significant takeaway was the realization of how important it is to be specific about my goals. Previously, I often set goals, thinking they were specific but coming to realize they were still too vague and were tough to track. This year, I made a point to break larger ambitions into clear, manageable milestones. For instance, instead of saying I want to make more money, I set a specific, clear, and measurable goal of an exact amount, knowing what I needed to bring in each month to achieve this. This approach made my goals not only more achievable but also more satisfying when I reached them.

Redefining Self-Care

Another vital lesson was discovering what self-care means for me personally. It's more than just pampering; it involves habits that support my mental and physical health. I’ve brought practices to my daily rituals like slow mornings, more consistent journaling and taking 10, 15, or 30-minute walks when my schedule allowed for it. More importantly, I realized that self-care isn't only about doing tasks you enjoy; sometimes, it involves tackling something you don't love doing, like fitting in a workout, which feels tough at the time but can be incredibly beneficial to your overall well-being.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we prepare to welcome another year, I’m eager to implement the valuable lessons from 2024 into my plans for the future.

Getting More Specific

Being clear and specific with my goals will continue to be crucial. Moving forward, I plan to outline actionable steps to reach my objectives, enabling me to track my progress effectively throughout the year.

Slowing Down

I’ve learned to appreciate the importance of taking the time I need without procrastinating. By slowing down just enough to maintain consistency, I can enhance my creativity and produce work of higher quality.

Growth that Matters

I recognize that the success of my shop is intrinsically linked to my financial goals. So to say that I don't wish for more followers in 2025 is a load of BS. Of course I do! However, I am convinced that nurturing and engaging with the supportive community I already have, regardless of the number of followers is the most important thing. By cultivating authentic relationships and doing work I love, I'm confident I'll hit those defined financial targets.

Prioritizing Health and Wellness

Lastly, prioritizing my health and wellness is essential. And I know, I know. I feel like I set this goal every year. This year, I want focus on being active and eating well more for my mental well-being than anything else. Living a wellness-centered lifestyle is like upgrading life to the deluxe edition! It not only improves quality of life but significantly impacts my creative flow and acts as the ultimate cheat code for concentration and mood, essential for cranking out those creative masterpieces on the daily. In a nutshell, embracing a wellness-centered lifestyle is the ultimate hack for a happier, more creative life. It’s all about nurturing the body, mind, and spirit while having a blast along the way!

Reflections on the Year

2024 was a time of growth, self-discovery, and pushing through challenges. From discovering new favorite styles to refining my self-care practices and goal-setting methods, I gathered many invaluable lessons. As I step into 2025, I carry these experiences with me, ready to embrace new opportunities and continue building a fulfilling life. Here’s to a promising future filled with intention, well-being, and effortless style!

Now it's your turn! Consider the following:

What did you learn this year? Think about the challenges you faced and the lessons you gained.
What achievements are you proud of? Celebrate your successes, big or small.
What habits or skills would you like to carry into 2025? Identify the positive changes you want to maintain.
What goals do you want to set for the upcoming year? Visualize where you want to be by the end of next year.

Grab your planner or journal and let the fun begin! Writing down your thoughts not only organizes your mind but also sparks personal growth. By carving out a special spot for your responses, you create a focused space that boosts clarity. Plus, it’s a blast to look back at your entries and see how much you’ve evolved! Writing helps you remember better, too—it's way more engaging than just thinking about it. And let’s not forget the accountability factor: putting pen to paper makes you more likely to chase those goals and dreams. Whether you're jotting down daily musings, setting big dreams, or reflecting on life’s adventures, keeping a planner or journal is an exciting way to dive deeper into your journey!

Here's to a wonderful 2025! -Emilee