2022 Year in Review

Friends,

Just like that, here we are at another year’s end. It’s true what they say that time seems to speed up as we get older. I truly can’t believe it’s already December 2022. 

I’ve known I wanted to write a year-end blog for some time, but I’ve been unsure of the feel I wanted it to have. I’ve written this post and deleted it a few times. Nothing, until now, has felt quite right. 

On the surface, it’s been another typical year. The kids are getting taller, the dogs are cuter by the day, and my business continues to grow with every session. But, upon deeper reflection, this year has been different. This year for me, like the moon, was a demonstration of phases. It’s been a year of feeling stuck, challenging changes, growth, and ultimately contentment. I’m different now at the end of 2022 than I was at the beginning. While I could blog about the accomplishments of EK Photography in 2022, the wins in my business wouldn’t have occurred without the growth in my personal life. So, instead, I’d like to tell you a little about MY growth this year. Maybe my words and experience will speak to you and inspire you in some way as well.

At the start of the year, I was feeling stuck, so much so that I considered going back to a 9-5 job. Typically January to March is a slower season for me, but this year’s slow season felt especially slow and it made me question if I was meant for something else. 

After struggling to pinpoint why I was in a funk and spending way too much time in my head asking questions that just produced more questions and fewer answers, I decided to pick up the book Atomic Habits by James Clear (I’ll link it HERE. It’s incredible.). Now, those who are close to me are probably laughing because I am an exceptionally organized, routine-oriented, Type A person. However, by the time May of 2022 came along, I felt anything but myself. In his book, Clear presents a methodology for creating good habits and breaking bad ones. I didn’t have any bad habits but I wasn’t exactly thriving with good ones either. Along with Clear’s book, I also regularly listen to the Kick-A** Stepmom Podcast (again, linking it HERE. If you’re a stepmom, subscribe to all the things she offers. It’ll change your life). The podcast’s host, Jamie Scrimgeour, prescribes a super basic outline for a life focused on self-care.  Meshing these two powerhouses’ approaches together, I’ve adopted a philosophy that I take into every new day: move, fuel, create, rest. It’s simple. Doing each of these four things everyday and every day is one I’m proud of.  What does each of these four pillars look like for me? Here’s a little snapshot of my routine…

Move- Anyone who follows me on Instagram knows I am a Peloton fanatic. My bike is pretty much my most prized possession in this house. Using Peloton’s platform, I move my body in the form of Power Zone riding or weight lifting for a minimum of sixty minutes every day. It’s taken me some time to find the magic recipe for success, but a combination of programmed cardio and lifting heavy weights has improved my mental health by leaps and bounds. My body craves my time in my home gym and I am simply a better mom, friend, wife, and professional because of the time I put in on the bike and the mat.

Fuel- This one was one of the toughest routines to develop and stick with. I love food, especially chocolate peanut butter ice cream, but I realized several of the choices I was making about what I was putting in my body weren’t helping me feel my best. I don’t diet, I still eat french fries off the kids’ plates, but I also am much more mindful about what I put into my body and how it makes me feel. If it isn’t adding value, I’ve let it go.

Rest- A little out of order but one of the biggest changes I’ve made this year is an acceptance of and appreciation for sleep. My husband and I both work from home but we rarely see each other. Staying up late seemed to be the only time we could catch up on the couch watching something on Netflix. But trying to keep his night owl hours was draining me. He enjoys YouTube at 3 AM and only needs a few hours of rest to be his best. I realized I needed a lot more than that. Now, most nights I’m in bed by 10 PM, if not earlier, and I prioritize a minimum of 8 hours of sleep. Anything less and I don’t feel my best the next day. Quality sleep is no longer a luxury, it’s a requirement.

Create- Once I got each of the aforementioned three things dialed in, my desire to grow as a creative accelerated. I’ve shot more weddings, family, senior, branding, portrait, and mini sessions this year than ever before. I’ve attended classes and workshops, experimented with posing and editing, and tried a host of new gear. I’ve valued my worth and experience with confidence and continued to expand every aspect of my business from the client experience to the behind-the-scenes website and social media work. I regularly say, “I feel like it’s all falling into place” because, truly, my business is doing just that.  

So, in review, how has 2022 been? It’s been a year of phases, a year of personal growth that’s in turn helped my business grow. I’ve simplified my priorities and given my full focus to each of them every single day. Life is good, I’m content, and I’m excited to see what next year brings.

All my love and gratitude for another wonderful year,

E :)