2024 Wrapped

My 2024 in review

January 04, 2025

Hello everyone!

It's that time of year again: where I post my highlights of the year, and promise to do better next year (we'll see if it happens).

In early 2024, I set myself the following "goals" for the year. Some we hit and some we missed, but that's the nature of progress.

Physical and Mental Well-being: This really took the bulk of my effort this year, as a number of health issues finally caught up with me (don't neglect your health during graduate study, kids!). That being said, I do think I'm in a much healthier place in December compared to January.
(Re)Finding hobbies: this one also went quite well! In addition to my old hobbies (cross-stitch and watercolours) I also picked up some new ones (embroidery, macrame, and cyanotyping/sunprinting). Reading for joy remains elusive at this stage.
More Science Communication: In all honesty I didn't really do as much of this as I would have liked (I did become a Wikipedia user/contributor and did some work there). But, this does remain an interest of mine, so I'll keep aiming to work on this in 2025.

Anyway, onward and upwards!

January: I started a new job at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (working in analytics and public health), and also submitted the first version of "Fragmentary and Dispersed" to Hunter Gatherer Research.
February: I went to the Eras tour 🤩
March: My best friend and I took a lovely camping trip to Booderee National Park
May: I participated in the 2024 International Symposium on Archaeometry (see right). I also completed the first round of edits on "Fragmentary and Dispersed".
June: I started a new hobby - embroidery. I'm still developing my skills, but hope to continue into the new year.
September: I started yet another new hobby - cyanotyping/sunprinting.
October: I took a (long overdue) holiday with my sister, and also acquired pet rats!
November: I saw Hozier in Sydney 🤩
December: "Fragmentary and Dispersed" is published!

A photo of me at ISA2024

Here are my goals for 2025:

Continue focussing on my health and wellbeing - keep the momentum going with this.
More science communication - this was the goal I didn't hit in 2024, but it remains a priority with me.
Live more sustainably - towards the later half of 2024, I made a conscious effort to live more sustainably - buying less, making more eco-friendly choices, and so on. I actually surprised myself with how easy it could be in some aspects, so I'm going to try to keep the momentum going on this one as well.

Until next time, Brianna ❤️