January in Review

Published on by Isabelle @ Nine Tale Vixen

For all the excitement of a new decade, honestly my January hasn’t been all that eventful? I do have a few updates for y’all, but it mostly feels like I’ve spent my time regaining my footing, in preparation for the coming months.

(I’ve decided to try putting my monthly reading updates into their own post, so that’s not being covered today but will be up soon!)

Goals Check-In

Reading & Blogging

  • Read 10 books for #StartOnYourShelfathon. ✓
    • (I’ve actually read 16 + DNF’d 1 from my priority-owned-TBR.)
  • Read 3 books for #YARC2020. ✓
    • (I’ve actually read 6 books by Asian authors.)
  • Prewrite and schedule all January posts before I return to college. 🗙
    • I had quite a bit of back-to-school prep to do, including preparing to take a Spanish placement exam, and I wanted to try to catch up on some Goodreads reviews.
    • But I haven’t missed a post date, at least.
  • Bloghop at least once a week. ✓
    • The real goal was 3-5 times per week, but I’m glad I set the goal low and realistic since I can check this one off too. Once I get into the rhythm of this semester, hopefully I’ll be able to bloghop more!
  • Finish updating internal pingbacks (stretch goal). 🗙
    • I got pretty busy, preparing for then actually starting a new semester. But I made decent headway, so I’m satisfied with my progress.

Academic/Career

  • Meet with academic advisors; come up with plans for future semesters, summers, internships, etc. ✓
    • While a lot of things are still up in the air (waiting for the school-to-school transfer application to open, waiting to hear back from summer positions, etc.) I have a much better idea of what paths are open to me!
  • Continue working on research project. ✓
    • Galileo’s letters are actually fascinating, but don’t ask me about them because I don’t really know what I’m talking about — I’m just helping out.
  • Finish Spanish Duolingo. 🗙
    • Since I basically had to restart from the beginning of each lesson, even trying to test out of as many levels as possible has taken a really, really long time. (I’ve reached Level 5 up to about checkpoint 5, and Level 2-3 on the remaining lessons.)
    • I also currently have a 26 day streak, which is a personal record.

Personal

  • Until I return to college, practice driving every day and play piano at least a few times a week. ✓
    • Okay, I didn’t practice driving every day. But I passed the behind-the-wheel road test to get my license, which was the purpose of all that practice!
    • Piano wasn’t really a priority, because it always stops being fun when I try to force myself to do it. But I did enjoy several sessions while I was home.
  • (And, of course, spend quality time with my family.) ✓
  • Journal every night. ✓
    • So far this year I’ve missed only 6 days — close enough!

Month Highlights

  • My 21st birthday was this month. I didn’t really celebrate by doing anything special, or even getting a cake, which was fine by me. 
  • As I’ve already mentioned (and shared with pretty much all my Discord server friends), I got my driver’s license at long last! Well, okay, the actual card isn’t yet in my possession, but that’s just a technicality. 
  • In case you didn’t make the connection, as a Californian citizen I am now legal to drink and legal to drive.
    • Though honestly I’m not a huge fan of either, so there’s no chance I’ll do both together, don’t worry.
  • One sleepless six-hour redeye flight later, I’m back on the East Coast for another semester. Most of my classes this semester are related to linguistics! A big change from pharmacy to be sure, but one that makes me incredibly happy.
  • I’ve met up with most of my friends at least once or twice since I’ve been back, and I have classes with some of them. Definitely looking forward to having some semblance of a social life again, LOL.
  • After a bit of paperwork, I’m once again all set to work at the on-campus writing center! (I first tutored last fall, but couldn’t make it work with my class schedule after that first semester.)

A Few Good Posts

Best of Nine Tale Vixen

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Best of the (Book) Blogosphere

  • What goals/plans did you achieve this past month?
  • Are there any that you didn’t quite reach? Will you be trying again next month, or moving on to other pursuits?
  • Of the many awesome posts I couldn’t include in this roundup, are there any that I should make sure to hop to?

12 thoughts on “January in Review”

  1. Yayyy for reading all those books Izzy and congrats on getting your license! You accomplished quite a lot of your goals so woooo, I sometimes think as a whole we’re way to harsh on ourselves for wanting to constantly accomplish lots of things. Not that, that’s going to stop me from striving to accomplish lots because honestly, who doesn’t love ticking things of a list? I’m glad you’re happier with your major now though love 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful Feb ❤

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    1. thanks Clo, and I hope you have an awesome february too! 💕

      lately I think I’ve been going back and forth between setting a lot of goals so that I can check off more things (because I def agree, getting through lists is so satisfying!) and setting just a few to focus on … so I’m working on the perfectionist and overachiever tendencies, but it’s a battle against 20 years (!!!! holy wow when did I get so old, lol) of bad habits 😅

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  2. What is your birthday date? We must be pretty close together because I also celebrated my 21st birthday this month too 🙂 It sounds like you had a very productive month, keeping up with the blog while also getting busy with all the prep for going back to uni. Yay for being able to meet up with friends quite a bit too!

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    1. my birthdate is the 13th, what about you? (and happy belated birthday btw!) I think I actually know more people born in January than any other month, though maybe it just stands out to me because of the proximity to mine 🤔

      yup, it’s definitely been a busy month in mostly good ways. i hope your january was good too! 💕

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  5. Pingback: February Preview – Nine Tale Vixen

  6. I read this post while I was writing my own monthly post, so I must have forgotten to comment, but thanks so much for including my post! I feel like you just slam-dunked January and I really look forward to seeing how your February goes, and to our buddy read(s)

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