My best of 2019 list {books, technology, business, self-care and everything in between!}

Written By Andrea Shirey

It’s everywhere right now - the best apps of the year, the most downloaded songs, the best or most popular everything has people reading the lists and thinking about what topped their own personal lists. Honestly, that’s how I got here, writing this post. 

I love a good reflection time. I’m a big fan of taking some time at the end of whatever it is to look back -- whether it’s when I finish a client project, at the end of the month or quarter, and especially at the end of the year. There’s something so great about pressing pause before we dive into the next, new thing. 

I’ve been thinking about this post for about a month and jotting notes down on my Trello board (⇠ hello one of the best applications I re-started using in 2019). I would hear a song and it would make me think of my go-to work music and how that changed a bit this year. I’d hear myself say a phrase and realize, wow, I really grew in that area this year. I’d open an email and be so glad I joined their email list. And well, you get the point.

So this is my own Best of 2019 List full of odds and ends that will maybe help someone else reflect on their own year.

Or maybe it will just be a line in the sand for me -- a place I stood on December 19, 2019 that represents the woman I was on this date.

I like to think that Future Andrea will appreciate the opportunity to look back someday and see where she was at 40 years old, what mattered most, how she spent her time, and what she still had yet to learn. 

Note: Some of this list is silly, a bit is serious, and all of it is from my heart. I have linked a few affiliate links because those are things I love and use. If you were to purchase them too, it would mean I get a small form of compensation but you get a great deal, too. So it’s a win-win. 

Self-Care

  • After listening to a ton of podcasts on beauty and all things self-care, I began the process of switching to clean skincare, haircare, and beauty products. This site was a huge resource for me and was where I started. I trashed everything from Bath & Body Works (along with a few other brands) and started by switching to Kora Organics and Dermalogica for almost everything I put on my skin. I slowly transitioned my hair care products (thanks to my fabulous hairstylist) and I’m still in the progress of cleaning out my makeup (but I have cut the number of products I use there in half).  Oh, and the Henry Rose perfume has become my favorite scent by far for a clean perfume!

  • I invested in some custom HIIT workouts and had a pretty decent routine of walking the dog and doing those three to four mornings per week. However, I lost my mojo about September and haven’t been able to get it back, yet. I’ll get there! 

  • I stopped drinking alcohol. I drank too much (for me) back in May and after that, I gave it all up. I didn’t foresee other benefits like weight loss (hello wine calories I do not miss), my skin got better, I saved money, and I felt better. (Disclaimer: I had one glass of wine last weekend and I realized I didn’t miss it at all)

  • I discovered I like guacamole and now I want to eat it all the time! 

  • I achieved a huge reading goal (52 books!) (I gave that its own section)

Reading

Personal Technology

  • I took full use of Apple’s update and the Screentime app to set my own social media limits. I set limits on how long I could be on Instagram daily (30 minutes) and moved the app into a folder inside of another folder so it’s harder to find. 

  • I deleted my entire personal Facebook account (ranks up there with my best decisions of 2019) and kept the profile only to manage my One Nine Design Business Account. This basically eliminated my News Feed. 

  • Any time that I had to be “scrolling” Insta was replaced with my Kindle. I carry it everywhere and read in 5 or 10-minute chunks, something I didn’t use to do. I basically started reading at a pace of one book per week. By the way, I barely read any business books - they were all fun fiction and historical fiction, mixed with a few biographies. 

  • My most used technology was my Airpods followed by my Kindle


Favorite Podcasts - Personal

Favorite Podcasts - Business Related

Favorite emails to land in my inbox

I subscribed to a few emails that I love getting in my inbox:

Business-y Highlights

  • I was named the Mid-Ohio Valley Entrepreneur of the Year and presented the award at the MOV Entrepreneur Expo in September by Clutch MOV. A huge honor! 

  • I stopped using MailChimp after having it be my email marketing hub for almost three years and switched to MailerLite

  • I started using Acuity as the only way to schedule an appointment with me and it was one of the best business decisions I’ve made (goodbye back and forth emails!)

  • I resumed using Trello to organize my business and I forgot how much I loved it! 

  • I was a conference presenter at the Nonprofits Lead Conference in May, at the WVNPA Conference in September and I co-facilitated the very first Digital Communications Accelerator course at Marietta College this fall. It was an honor to be associated with these groups doing incredible work for our area nonprofits.

  • I hit all of my business goals for 2019 and made some major shifts in productivity and efficiency! This was in part due to investing in my first professional course with Shannon Mattern — Wordpress BFF and amazing marketing expert!

  • I re-designed my website to be more helpful to nonprofits (my ideal clients) and launched the Nonprofit Resource Library just this week! 

  • If you know me, you know I fully embraced using my Simplified Planner for everything - home life, work-life, and all the things! it is the cornerstone of how I stay organized!

Personal Growth

  • I turned 40, had a weird birthday (Scott, I’m still sorry for how I was a mess that day) and then actually started to love myself for exactly who I am at this age. (Side note: it has probably been my favorite year on earth so far).

  • I re-learned that friendships are sometimes just for seasons and it’s okay when those seasons end. This year, I had some end and others begin a new season. When I look back at it, it really has been a perfect balance. 

  • I embraced letting go of stuff. We tried to sell our very big home (and finally rented it) and purchased a much, much smaller home. We gave away a TON of “stuff” and moved just what we needed and had room for. No basement, very small garage, and practically no storage. It was cathartic and emotional and exactly what we needed. We love it. 

  • I stopped looking around for what everyone else was doing and did what I knew was right for me. I used data to make business decisions instead of comparison. I practiced positive affirmations to help me parent better and to be a better spouse. I continue to work on this one but I made big steps forward this year. 

  • I embraced knowing that no one can make me feel a certain way. I feel how I feel because of me -- maybe because of a limiting belief, a hang up, or an insecurity. When you acknowledge and practice that no one else is responsible for how you feel, it’s incredibly freeing! 

  • I started a very personal journey of exploring my own faith, my beliefs in evangelical Christianity, and unwrapping some of those beliefs. This one is ongoing but I want to remember that it all started in 2019. 

  • I made small strides in handling my social anxiety and I shared about my journey with depression publicly for the first time in this article. (Thank you Clutch MOV for helping me share my story)

Well, there you have it. It’s been quite a year and I am so very grateful for all it held — for the quiet, sad moments and the joyful celebrations. For the questions, for the answers, and for the unknown. For the memories, good and bad and for the gift of being present at this very moment in the life that was meant for me. I hope you’ll take some time to reflect on your 2019 before it’s over, as well, and tell me what you learned! Leave me a comment or find me on social media!

Until next time,

Andrea 💜

Andrea Shirey http://oneninedesign.net
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