I Worked 240 Days Last Year and This Is All I Have to Show For It: My 2023 Recap

Too many calls and meetings makes this Weakened Dad a dull boy.

A guy sitting at a desk watching a Zoom call while everything is on fire around him.

Happy New Year! I’m back from my holiday break and I’m ready to steamroll anything that gets in my way this year. Not really but I’m ready to get back to work. At the beginning of a new year, I always find it beneficial to reflect on the year that has passed. I did this last year and many of you found my recap post useful. 

But first, let me take care of some housekeeping items. For 2024, I’ll be publishing a minimum of two articles a month. I may publish more depending on my time and desire but you can count on something every other week. 

I’ll continue to write about things I’m interested in. There is no specific niche to Weakened Dad. I write about what I’m thinking about and what interests me. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who reads, subscribes to, and comments on my writing. I don’t take your support lightly.

2023 In Review

I started a daily work journal in 2018 to be accountable for my time. Before my work journal, I felt like my days were passing without any recognition. The older I get the more I value each day. I think most people are like this. Keeping a journal of any kind is a fantastic way to acknowledge the time you’ve had while also keeping a record for reference. 

I worked 240 days last year, and I had 20 weekdays off. I quit my job of 3.5 years in October and started a new one. I left my old job because I didn’t feel challenged enough and my growth opportunities were limited. My new job is much different and has bigger challenges. The ability to grow is also greater. I’ve never found leaving a job to be difficult. I view my work as a means to an end. I’ve made great friendships at my previous jobs but my work was always the focus. If I’m not growing, or feeling challenged, I’ll make no quarrels about leaving to go somewhere that will give me what I need.

Here are the words I used most to describe what work I did:

• Calls

• Updates

• Work

• Articles

• Substack

• Reports

• Emails

• Meetings

• Website 

• Team

After reading this list, I think it’s pretty clear why I left my last job. I felt like there was an endless list of calls, emails, and reports. It felt like I was talking about work more than actually doing work.

At the end of each workday, I like to write about my impressions and feelings. Doing so helps me contextualize the work I did and its meaning. Here are the most common words I used to describe my days:

• Nice

• Good

• Walk

• Lunch

• Family names

• Busy

• Great

• Done

• People

• Morning

• Better

Even if my work wasn’t exactly challenging or what I wanted to do, I still tried to find positivity by rediscovering my why each day.

2023 was a year of change, and finding a new job was a top priority. I applied to 28 jobs, heard back from 5, and had 11 different interviews. I know there has been a lot of frustration around finding a job lately but I didn’t find the process too difficult. I found it enjoyable. I was fortunate to have a job so I was under no pressure to find a new one. I was able to take my time and be selective.

My 2024 Plans

My plans and goals for this year will be more personal than professional. I fell short of my health goals and I have paid for it. I’m creating a list of my daily non-negotiables. I’m going to focus on daily goals rather than larger, long-term goals.

Yes, I understand it’s important to have bigger goals but the small things we do each day add up to big things. My practice of journaling daily has resulted in more than 1,200 entries. I’ll share what my daily non-negotiable items are in a future post.

Reading is an ongoing goal. I hit a real stride at the end of 2023 thanks to my kids sleeping better. I slacked off a bit during December but I have a stack of books that I’m excited to read this year. I like to rotate through different genres for each book I read so I don’t get burned out on a given topic. As good as business and self-help books are, I need to read fiction. I think more people should read fiction. I read or listen to The Count of Monte Cristo each year because it immerses me in a world beyond my own. I love the experience of getting lost in a story.

Financial goals are always important. I’ll be focusing on investing more this year than I have before. I’m behind in my retirement goals and need to pick up the pace. Materially, I have everything I could want. I would like to spend more money to do things with my family, too.

Substack Goals

Now that I have a year’s worth of posts published on Substack, I’m much more confident in my ability to share my writing without being self-conscious. I’ve browsed through dozens of interesting Substacks only to find fewer than five published posts. It seems like many people get caught up with being consistent, or they just lose steam. I get it. Writing can be difficult, and it’s extra challenging when you overthink things. 

I want to publish at least two articles per month. I want to connect with more people on Substack. I want to write articles that tell other people’s stories. I’ve been focused on my point of view for the past year. I’d like to share the stories of people who inspire me with the hope that they inspire you. I’ve never been one to be concerned about subscribers but it would be nice to grow my subscribers beyond 100. I’m sure I can reach it quickly if I put more focus on it.

Lastly, I want to hear from you more. I want to see more comments and suggestions. Yes, I write these articles for me but I want them to be entertaining for you as well. Don’t be shy about letting me know what you think or what you want to read.

As always, I’m appreciative of your time.