At this wonderful time of year, when everyone is summing up their achievements and flaunting their successes, I thought, why not talk about what went spectacularly wrong? Instagram-perfect stories are rarely the full truth—and I’m all about the truth.
Burnout
Let’s start with the heaviest topic. I’m the classic shoemaker without shoes. I burned out so badly it’s embarrassing to admit—but here it is. I thought I knew everything about burnout, but apparently, there’s a whole new dimension (or rock bottom). My burnout wasn’t caused by overwork (though there was plenty of that) or being undervalued—it stemmed from a deep conflict between my values and reality. The worst part? When things got bad, I convinced myself to “just push through” again and again. After all, I could handle it, right?
Fitness and Movement
I had grand plans: daily walks, yoga several times a week, and cycling around Lake Ülemiste from spring to fall. Reality? Barely any walks, embarrassingly little yoga, and I cycled exactly *twice* this season. The way my body looks now—nope, not happy with it at all. At my age, being simply slim doesn’t cut it anymore.
Health
Naturally, neglecting my body and ignoring all the warning signs led to full-on consequences in August and September. Burnout morphed into depression (thankfully mild), but I couldn’t manage it on my own. Let’s just say, I don’t want to imagine what a severe case looks like. I’m okay now, thanks to my brother for spotting the warning signs and the help of a therapist and psychiatrist. Oh, and losing my voice for two weeks and suffering through a brutal bronchitis in September? Definitely a wake-up call—though only in hindsight.
Family
Some days were so bad I gave my family next to no attention. I just wanted to lie down, stare at a wall, and do nothing. How do you explain that to kids? And how long should a partner put up with it? Even visiting or calling my parents required me to gather energy like I was running a marathon.
Blog
I had big plans for my blog this year, but, spoiler alert—nothing happened. No Reels, no regular content, nothing. And the results speak for themselves. I also gave up on my English blog almost as soon as I started. I thought duplicating posts would be easy, but doubling up on Stories when you’re already stretched thin? Nope.
️ LinkedIn
Same story here. LinkedIn is crucial for my work, but my profile has been incomplete for years, even though I teach people how to perfect theirs! Regular posting is key, and, well, my activity there is laughable. Copy-pasting from Instagram doesn’t work, and writing tailored posts takes time I didn’t make.
Career Course
I planned to create a career course—and stopped at the planning stage. The worst part? The course already exists in English. It just needs a refresh and to be translated/recorded in Russian. That’s it. And I couldn’t even start.
Reading
I’ve been lamenting my lack of reading for years, but this year I hit a new low—I didn’t finish a single book. My to-read list keeps growing, and I even have most of the books downloaded and ready.
Business Without Strategy
I left my job without preparing for self-employment. Even though I made the decision in spring, I couldn’t find the energy or time to create a strategy or detailed plan. Despite all the MBA lessons and entrepreneurial advice about not diving in blind, I did exactly that. I have scattered ideas and some clarity, but it’s not enough.
Moving Mistakes
A minor issue in comparison, but still frustrating. During the move, I trusted too much and relaxed too soon when it came to choosing professionals for design and repairs. Big mistake. Even the pros mess up, and now we’re living with their mistakes.
Yet, despite it all, things are slowly aligning as the year ends. For 2025, I’ll set specific goals—those work much better than vague ideas.
10 fuckups of the year
