I think I wrote a list of things I was looking forward to at the start of 2020. And well, we all know how that turned out.
So I’m back to write another list of things that I’m looking forward to as I imagine 2024 is going to be quite the year.
It’s going to be an unpredictable year to say the least with a lot of exciting things that I’m in the middle of planning. I hate to be one of those very vague people that say ‘watch this space’, but really, watch this space, as 2024 is going to be one hell of a ride and I’ll be taking you along with me.
Well, mostly on my other channels, but I’ll keep the blog updated as always!
1. More travel
I think this one goes without saying. 2023 was a great year of travel with 2022 being just as good. I have fully contracted the travel bug and I’m hoping to see more of the world in 2024, ticking off another (hopefully) five or more new places.
I’m always vlogging our travels so I can look back on these in the future, but you can see our 2023 trips to New York, Las Vegas, Norway, Marrakech, Krakow, Amsterdam, and our road trip across the East Coast of America on YouTube.
Nothing is booked yet for 2024 except for our New Year’s travels, but we’re not visiting anywhere new in that time. After going back and watching all of Race Across the World, I want to travel all over Europe, all of South America and across Asia and Canada.
So, where to start?
2. Being 27 on the 27th and entering my Saturn Return
Another reason I think 2024 is going to be a great year is because I turn 27 on the 27th day of March. All the stars are aligning this year, plus I’m entering my Saturn Return in 2024 if you believe in that kind of thing.
Apparently as you enter 27 and in the lead up to your 30th, you go through a life changing phase where huge life moments happen. And I’m very much ready for it.
There’s something exciting about turning 27 on the 27th and I hope it brings me really good luck next year.
3. Making big life decisions
2024 is the year things are going to change. I’ve hinted at it quite a few times in recent blog posts and in podcast episodes.
Life has been quite consistent in recent years in terms of where I live, my job and my surroundings. I’m very much someone that likes consistent change, to be outside my comfort zone and to be experiencing something new.
So 2024 is going to be a year of big changes and making some life-changing decisions. Again, I hate to be vague but – watch this space!
4. Starting in the year in New York
There’s nowhere I like to spend January 1st more, than in New York City. This will be my fourth time spending New Year’s Eve in New York and I couldn’t be more excited.
I love the energy of New York, especially on the first day of the year as I feed off of it when creating my list of goals for the year ahead.
Being in the place I love the most on the first day of the year sets me up for the next 12 months and gives me that spark to want to achieve my goals.
5. Creating a new list of goals for the year
If you’re a regular visitor to this site then you’ll know that I love making lists and I especially love making lists of goals and targets.
Writing my list of goals for the year ahead is one of my favourite things to do around December/January. It gets me excited for the 12 months to come and what I can work towards and achieve.
I start to visualise my goals, my life and what that looks like and I usually put together a vision board for the next 12 months.
As usual, I’ll be sharing my list of goals for 2024 so keep an eye out for this next month!
6. Working on my YouTube channel and vlogging more than just my travels
I’ve written before about YouTube being my favourite channel to create and consume content on, and I’m very much looking forward to creating more YouTube content in 2024.
Although it’s definitely the platform that takes up the most of my time when it comes to editing and putting a video together, I really love having those videos to look back on from time to time.
I just know in years to come that I’m going to love that I’m able to sit down and watch our trip to Norway in 2023 or our trip to New York in 2022.
I have ideas for my YouTube channel in 2024, and I want to start sharing more than just my travel videos, venturing into lifestyle vlogs and things that I get up to in my day-to-day life.
I’ve got some exciting things coming up in 2024 and I can’t wait to document them all on YouTube!
7. Season 4 of the OC podcast
I was pleasantly surprised to reach 50 episodes of The Orlagh Claire Podcast this year. It’s something that’s definitely taken more of a backseat as I’ve struggled to find time to record, but I’m glad that I’ve kept it going when I can.
We’ll be moving into season 4 of the podcast in 2024. I’m looking forward to seeing what topics I come up with in the new year. And maybe see what guests I can have on the podcast as I’d love to bring this aspect back.
8. Running my first 5k and working towards 10k aka becoming a running girly
You might not know, but this year I’ve been doing the Couch to 5k program. Having never ran anything more than 1km in my life, I have this urge to be able to run 5km without stopping.
I accepted the fact a few years ago that I simply would never be a runner. I could never keep going, never had any stamina and hated every second of it.
But in 2023 I changed that narrative about myself. With the winter months and darker evenings, I haven’t been able to run as much as I would like to. But I’ll be running in New York when I go on my trip at the end of the year.
I’ve given myself the challenge to run my first 5km before the end of February, 2024. I’m looking forward to see if I can do it.
After I achieve the 5km, I want to keep building and see if I can get to 10km. Finding a 5km race and getting my first ever running medal is on my bucket list in 2024.
9. Continuing my Duolingo and broadening my language skills
A New Year’s resolution that I have kept up all of 2023 (and probably the only one) has been Duolingo. I’ve been learning Italian every single day of this year and am currently on a 400 day streak.
I’m looking forward to keeping up with this streak and even broadening my language skills. Perhaps into French, Spanish and maybe even a more obscure language.
10. Moving out of my flat in East London
I think it’s time. We’ve been in our flat in East London for two and a half years now. The longest I’ve ever lived in one place (apart from my family home back in Ireland).
I think we’re due a change of scenery and moving on from East London and Canning Town. It’s been a pleasant 2.5 years and I love our island very much, but it’s become monotonous.
And like I said above, some big life decisions are being made in 2024. One of them being moving out of our flat, which I’m very much looking forward to!
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