I started monthly recaps last year, as a way for me to try self reflect and celebrate the achievements of the month. It sounds silly but so many of the time they tend to just fly by and I don’t really appreciate them as much as I should. However, my January recap is a little different because it wasn’t just a whirlwind of work. If anything it was a bit weird to adjust to not being rushed off my feet and working. Let me explain:
Holidays!
I decided to take a week off in the same week everyone else headed back to work. After a chilled festive period we headed to St Lucia for the week to get away. I still remember packing and just being completely stressed out because I couldn’t decide if I should take my laptop along or not. Seriously, that was a thing. I was so worried because everyone else was coming back to work and I was adamant I was going to “miss” something. I ended up leaving it at home and, guess what? Didn’t miss a thing. Actually being offline for a while was a really good way to just detox.
ALL the esports
When I got back I went 100% into writing a bunch of content for Red Bull Esports. I really want to focus on improving my writing this year and adding more value in the content I produce. I’m really happy with what has gone out in January. Here’s a quick recap, all of these articles are on Redbull, if you click the headlines it will take you to the articles:
What you need to know about Competitive Rainbow Six Siege in SA
The 3 lessons JabhiM brought back from Red Bull Kumite
How I got my job: The esports tournament organiser
Will Galakrond’s Awakening help Hearthstone growth in SA
My own platforms
I’ve been pushing out a lot of YouTube content thanks to Trinoc who has come on board to help me film and edit. Rather than share all the videos (there has been a few), I wanted to share my 2020 showreel with you. This one was edited by the incredible AlternaTV who I wrote about last week, in how to make money from your YouTube channel:
Watching this back was a bit emotional for me. It’s really hard to wrap my head around how much I was able to accomplish in 2019. Obviously now, looking at it I’m immensely proud and also critical (I need to work on so much!) but it really does feel like a big achievement to get so much done. On a personal note, looking at it now it was an even bigger achievement because of where I was mentally. 2019 was a tough year for me, I found out I was sick and would need to be on meds for the rest of my life and I also spiralled into a really bad place in my head. I know everyone harps on about mental health and sometimes it feels like it is being glamourised by those wanting to grab more engagement or following. I’m not sharing this for that, but rather because I’m using this post as my own self reflection. I think it is normal when we live life online and require validation, views and clicks to pay the bills that we’ll inevitably find ourselves struggling. Our self worth (and income) is measured completely on how strangers on the internet view us. That isn’t normal or healthy. I’m still struggling, but hoping that this year I can find more clarity and a way to move away from this insane need for approval and praise.
And that’s my first recap done! I’ll try do one each month this year, for me and for you.
