2024 is Done, 2025 Begins - Things Take Time

Orlando Almario -

When I revisit my first public goals post from 2021 and the absurd number of things I set out to achieve, it’s hard not to laugh at my over-ambition. Comparing it to my 2024 post, where my goals were much more realistic and focused, makes me genuinely happy.

It seems like wisdom comes with time, yet I still haven’t managed to fully achieve everything I set out to do.

My 2024 Goals:

  1. Publish Adventure in Hender’s Castle or secure a publishing contract.
  2. Stick to a healthy diet and lose another 10kg.
  3. Publish more content, aiming for 52 "things"—one per week.
  4. Practice piano three times a week.
  5. Read more than I did in the previous year.
  6. Learn a new language.
  7. Make more personal video logs.

How Did It Go?

We haven’t published Adventure in Hender’s Castle yet, but the Aventuras Bonitas team is stronger and bigger than ever. The game is shaping up beautifully, so I don’t see this as a failure. However, 2025 is the year we must release this game, no matter what.

I stayed consistent with my diet and exercise habits. In fact, towards the end of the year, I joined a running group and ran longer distances at faster speeds than ever before. While I didn’t lose the additional 10kg, I’m now in the best physical shape of my life.

In terms of content, I published 12 blog posts, uploaded 3 videos to my YouTube channel (growing from 200 to 364 subscribers), and shared 2 new illustrations on Instagram. While I wrote three times more than I did in 2023, I created fewer videos and fell far short of my goal to publish 52 "things."

I didn’t practice piano as much as I’d planned, read less than in 2023, stopped learning German on Duolingo halfway through the year, and barely made any personal video logs.

Reflecting on the Year

Technically, I didn’t meet any of my goals 100%. But when I look at how much I’ve grown, I feel proud of myself.

A few years ago, I realized I could split my aspirations into two categories:

  • Things I want to achieve (goals)
  • Things I want to become (habits)

I still believe in this structure. However, I’ve learned that defining goals requires considering the time available to achieve them—or committing to making the time. Striking this balance is tricky. Time is limited, after all.

My Goals for 2025:

  1. Publish Adventure in Hender’s Castle on Steam.
  2. Expand Aventuras Bonitas by launching more projects and growing the team.
  3. Maintain my exercise routine and increase the weight I can bench press (currently 50kg).
  4. Practice piano every week.
  5. Learn a new language.
  6. Read more than I did in 2024 (this should be easy since I barely read last year).
  7. Make more videos—both public and personal.

The fact that these goals are nearly identical to those from 2024 tells me that achieving meaningful things takes time. It also pushes me to develop tools to better support my habits and track my progress more effectively.

Let’s see how 2025 unfolds!