Week 1 of 2022 and it feels like Groundhog Day!

As new restrictions, closures, and cancellations due to Covid were introduced this week I thought it was Jan 2021 again.

However, an entire year has passed and with it, many personal highs, lows, and in-betweens.

In an effort to share more about what my life as a multipassionate portfolioist is like, I’m sharing my wins and realizations here. I was hesitant to share this publicly, but when I thought more about transparency and “walking my talk”, I realized that if my words (and structure) could inspire others to reflect more deeply, then it would be worthwhile.

Using these 10 life design categories (thanks Ness Labs for the inspo) was vital, and I encourage you to use these or alter them as you see fit. Perhaps, like me, you’ll also use them to think about your 2022 intentions? Mine are in progress…

If you’re wondering what I mean by “multipassionate portfolioist”, I see it as pursuing multiple projects, interests, projects, and simultaneously (or at least in rapid succession) in diverse contexts. Our portfolio of life activities make us who we are so perhaps we’re all portfolioists. I’m simply “naming and claiming” it and hope you find int helpful. Now, onto the long list!

1.   HEALTH + FITNESS

Wins 

• Did yoga online with The Class and Mindcamp, and then on my own Jan – June 

• Joined the Academy of Lions weekly in-person CrossFit masters (!) class Aug – present 

• 10-minute exercise sessions with Sebastian during online school

• Started mindfulness meditations before bed with Insight Timer Jan – June 

• Walked 3-4 x/week with my neighbour…behind our boys on their way to school 

• Stretched almost daily with my chest opener (aka red broom stick)

• Cooked more whole foods, baked pies, made energy balls & muffins 

• Drank more water in the am, lots of tea in the pm, and hardly any coffee

• All of us getting vaccinated and boosted

Realizations 

• I’m inconsistent because I get bored easily. Changing things up ~ exercise, nutrition, cooking, and mindfulness, is key. 

• I need variety of movement to stay motivated, being in a gym is not so bad if the class is right, morning is better for exercising as “things come up” in the pm

• Buying key staple foods before deciding what to make with them works well if I trust 

• Placing empty glasses by the sink promotes better water intake

• Good chai tea in the morning is way more satisfying than decaf coffee 

• Walking outside at the cottage is a mega boost of fresh air, relaxation, and inspiration

2.   HOME + BELONGINGS 

Wins

• Decluttered my closet (as well as Sebastian’s) which makes everything feel lighter 

• Gained new decluttering/organizing insights and strategies to help overcome obstacles by working 1:1 with clients

• Kept our online shopping under control during the pandemic despite marketers pushing us otherwise

• Enjoyed the fruits of our labour (veggies, herbs, cut flowers) for months

• Seeing our new minimalist-designed front garden come together

Realizations

• When I feel stressed, decluttering or organizing makes me feel like I’m in control of something! 

• Facilitating the Get it Done Accountability Group 3x this year not only helped participants make huge gains decluttering & streamlining, it helped me focus on my role as a transformational coach and facilitator.

• Nothing like a few neighbourhood car break-ins to get me to declutter my car = external catalyst to do what needs doing

• Gardening our back was way more fun alongside our tenant Katie – I am such a gardening newbie! 

• Selling items online (and my family’s) or giving it away on Buy Nothing is a win-win situation

• Considering a move feels freeing and scary. Staying put feels safe and comfortable. So??

3.   WORK + BUSINESS  

Wins

• New JessicaTudos.com website went live - aligns with who I am, what I believe in, and how I help others

• Integrated email marketing into my business through Flodesk & Acuity 

• Facilitated three Get It Done! Online Accountability Groups 

• Created my 100 Most Inspiring Books list along with Amazon affiliate links

• Facilitated 1:1 decluttering, organizing, and life design coaching with a range of amazing clients 

• Added 200+ new people to my community email list 

• Completed the extensive TDSB presenter/speaker application (including video footage)

• Facilitated 6 online workshops - Professional Organizers of Canada, Multipotentialite Puttyverse, Open Studio + Leela

• Created my own Canva ads for Centre for Social Innovation, Moms at Work

• Shared my expertise on FB lives with Sarah Rosensweet, Kim Cullen, and Yendre Shen

• Taught Marketing & Study Skills for 3 semesters and facilitated an organizing/life design workshop at Seneca College

Realizations 

• As a solopreneur, I wouldn’t have been able to carry out many wins above without professional help. Thanks Siska, Hannah, Nafi, Heather & Amy for supporting me in my goals

• When transferring my email list from Mailchimp to Flodesk, I deleted 200+ inactive emails (scary) and feel more confident that those in my current community want to be here

• With 1,000,000 resources to help me run my business, I must choose wisely, say no, and do less “procrasti-research”!

• My airpods, timer, desk set up, bulletin board, and clever fox weekly planner helped me stay on track

• I truly love in-person decluttering & organizing with clients. I’m also pleasantly surprised how effective it can be online

• There are many ways to work. As a multipassionate portfolioist, I will always have multiple jobs, projects, and passions on the go, so best to accept that, find focus, stay in my lane, and build my working life around my strengths.

• I don’t want to build a big business. I’d like to be the catalyst who helps people design lives they love

• Burnout sucks. After pushing hard in the spring, I burnt out in the summer and had to learn how to reset and recharge.

4.   PERSONAL LIFE + FAMILY 

Wins 

• Managed to prevail during this unprecedented year of Covid lovingly intact 

• Visited our cottage consistently for longer visits (a respite from the pandemic). Having guests (when possible) a bonus

• Visited my parents & sister (and family) regularly indoors and out and made it special

• Found new methods to communicate as a couple and increased my empathy - what’s your love language?!

• Cooked up a storm with my mom and sister - General Tao would be proud.

• Promoted physical & mental health for Sebastian through hockey, shinny, parkour, and scootering in-person & online 

• Enjoyed 4 days with our extended family in Gananoque, ON

• Gave Ozzie a tender send-off to doggie heaven after 12 years of his special presence

Realizations 

• Despite all the challenges that the pandemic has brought, our family remains a committed strong unit. 

• Seeing my parents “weather the storm” better than myself is very inspiring

• Kids are adaptable if they feel seen, heard, and loved. Structure really helps too. 

• Often during this pandemic, I’ve wanted to be alone, get away, etc. My single friends craved connection and intimacy.  It’s funny how we want what we don’t have. I’m grateful for having connection and alone time.

• At our family reunion, the best moments were so simple – enjoying a picnic, playing baseball, watching the Olympics, sitting by the beach…no need for too much fancy stuff to enjoy each other

• We didn’t host an extended family Zoom this year (in 2020, 25 of us on 3 continents “met” in 2020) - I missed this

5.   FRIENDS + COMMUNITY 

Wins

• Committed to consistent interactions in-person and online with good friends (Thank you SP, SC, FC, CN, DM, AM, LD)

• Engaged fully in online communities such as Kate Northrup’s Origin, Make Lemonade, Jenny Shih’s MIWO, Ship 30 for 30, That’s What She Said, Make Lemonade was life and work-affirming

• Hung out at a friend’s cottage in Haliburton while our boys went to Medeba day camp 

• Enjoyed patios and supporting local businesses during pandemic restrictions

• Welcomed the new moon with my fellow GTA Origin Empresses in-person 

• Hung out with the eclectic Bass Lake cottage crowd – Survivor day + NYE lobster fest were epic!

• Dined out in style at a dinner party organized by Chef in the House = great night out after long dry socializing spell 

• Sung carols in the alleyway at the local holiday party, complete with hockey, trombones, and falling over Santa 

Realizations 

• Although my social circle shrunk, the quality of my interactions deepened  

• Having a regular Zoom date with a small group of friends is comforting, intimate, engaging, and fun

• Saying NO to online events was tough at first due to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), which then became JOMO (Joy of...)

• I have gained so much from my new online friendships, but do wonder how they will evolve? It’s new territory for us all.

• Belly laughing with other women (along with plenty of wine and chocolate) is energizing

6.   LEARNING + KNOWLEDGE  

Wins

• Completed Make It Work Online (MIWO), a 3-month intensive foundations of business coaching program

• Engaged fully in the Origin community where I’m learning about my feminine + masculine power, cyclical living, spirituality, and the “Do Less” method for sustainable life and business design 

• Published 30 atomic essays (~ 300 words) as part of the Oct Ship 30 for 30 cohort. I am a digital writer. 

• Facilitated interactive and well-received Zoom sessions in a variety of settings after a few flash starts

• Experimented with various social media to find what I like and increases my visibility, & efficiency (yay Later!)

• Continued to read, watch and implement what I was learning about relationships and parenting = humbling

Realizations 

• Without learning something new I feel numb. I need to learn to survive and thrive. 

• Although I learned the basics of many new tech tools, I mastered only a few. I am tech-averse.

• I do not like to learn how to do something from a video – I prefer zoom or an article.

• By publishing 30 essays in 30 days, I learned that being creative within structure is the ideal way to stay creative.

• Just when I think “Ok, we got this now”, along comes the next challenge or opportunity to choose. Must breathe,

7.   CREATIVITY + HOBBIES 

Wins 

• Committed to writing! Published 30 essays, tweeted 100+, published blogs & Thrive with 5, sent emails to my list 

• Got paid to write for Simply Home Downsizing and for leading a writing workshop for Professional Organizers of Canada

• Excavated and pulled out key stories from my 40+ journals and created a timeline of my life...so far!

• Sorted through my big box of paperwork/memorabilia, pulled out key pieces and recycled the rest

• Explored writing/book support and coaching options through Jacq Fish’s Write Like a MOFO, Amy Isaman’s Write The Damn Book, Denise Micheals, Green Goose, and Ingenium books. Decided to hire “thought partner” Kate Hanley.

• Kika the Upside-Down Girl now updated on amazon, part of several exchanges with fellow authors, key in my presentation to my sister’s TDSB class, donated to Medeba

• Joined Erica Ross’ bi-weekly Open Studio and loved connecting, creating, and sharing with fellow creatives

• Read 70 books on Goodreads (my goal), many of which landed on my 100 Most Inspiring Books list

• Created another annual photo book with images we all love 

• Indulged in cottage hobbies like reading, baking, cooking, and walking - so grateful for the space.

Realizations 

• Writing became a major focus this year because I decided to put my attention there. 

• I feel compelled to capture ideas from my 40+ journals – not sure how or exactly when, I know there’s a book to create. 

• I’m excited and nervous about managing my expectations for my new book - Kika 2.0

• Kika the Upside-Down Girl is a book that keeps on giving and I absolutely love sharing it! 

• Did not use my studio space to create up north this summer which made a me a bit sad 

• Watching Jeremy renovate the Airstream is inspiring - I’d like to help out more  

• Did not leave too much room for hobbies at home – most things felt like must-do’s

8.   TRAVEL + CULTURE

Wins 

• Family trips to Haliburton, Gananoque, Peterborough, and the cottage

• Solo trips to Woodhaven and Peterborough to recharge and refocus

• Date nights with Jeremy at a few local restaurants (Actinolite!) felt like a trip this year! 

• Snuggling on the couch for family TV/movie nights

Realizations 

• Unlike previous years, we did not travel far from home, which was surprisingly easy to accept…which surprised me

• Watching mature shows & movies as a family is fun – who knew I’d like Marvel so much! 

• Favourite movies = Tik Tik Boom with Andrew Garfield

• Favourite TV shows = Lost in Space, Unlisted, The Mandalorian, Hardy Boys, Kim’s Convenience, Queer Eye

• Favourite songs = Easy on Me by Adele, 100 Moons by Merna, Wonder by Shawn Mendes

• Favourite podcasts = We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, Smartless, Marie Forleo, The Tim Ferris Show

• Favourite books = Keep Going by Austin Kleon, How to Be Everything by Emilie Wapnick, Do Less by Kate Northrup

9.   EMOTIONS + SPIRITUALITY 

Wins 

• Managed to stay sane, stable, and optimistic (80%) despite pandemic and life stress

• Helped my dad manage his anxiety on several occasions just by listening.  

• Letting go of unrealistic parenting expectations and incorporating The Plan B or C approach – thanks AM! 

• Capturing daily highlights in my One Line a Day journal and seeing what we did that day in years past

Realizations 

• When I’m stressed or scared, I look for ways to gain control, which can be ok if only me, but not ok with others

• I felt calmer after talking with Sebastian & Jeremy about our navigation of Covid and the changes it brought on

• I am unsure of how to incorporate spirituality into my life right now - I am questioning what it means to me

• Whenever I opened up about my true feelings (and uncertainties) to those close to me, we connected more deeply

10.   MONEY + FINANCE 

Wins

• Paid off my car which I will now keep

• Found a new condo tenant after a dishonest Airbnb experience with original tenant. 

• Painted the condo white inside. Carpet replaced and doors painted grey in public areas

• Compiled and sent off all paperwork for our retirement plans 

• Reviewed our finances ~ current and future house/living arrangements 

Realizations 

• I accept that my Seneca teaching enables the stability I need to take more risks in my edupreneurial/coaching work  

• Finding a good tenant during a pandemic is really challenging. I had to trust the process fully.

• Setting myself up for financial freedom (and not worrying too much about money) is worth all the effort

There you have it - my wins and realizations for 2021.

By sharing here, I hope you’ll be inspired to reflect on your year, month, day - whatever helps you design a life you love!