The Long Way Back: A Personal Year in Review

My 2025 review of the habits, systems, relationships, and mindset shifts that turned survival into momentum

12 months ago, my life was in shambles.

I had recently returned from a stint in my hometown, and let’s just say that I did not hit the ground running. I did all the hitting-the-ground part, just not any of the running.

I fell flat on my face, and it was looking shaky there for a hot minute…

• Single

• No savings

• Unemployed

• Basically homeless

• Barely making content

Quite frankly, I was lost, but I never stopped believing that it would turn around.

And it did.

I found employment, started a new relationship, secured a great place to rent, began creating great music, and excelled in my career.

At the end of every year and the beginning of a new one, I like to reflect—take some notes, run some numbers and get a feel for what actually happened.

Here are a few numbers worth noting:

• 3 music videos

• 7 podcasts

• 8 songs

• 24 newsletters

They aren’t ground-breaking, but they are real and I created things that I care about.

This year is about systems, efficiency, leaning up (physically, financially, digitally and emotionally) and doing things proactively to set myself up and excel.

But before we look forward, we must look back.

My Year in Review

A couple of weeks back, I spoke about the wheel of life exercise.

I figured that would be a pretty good starting place to formalise and quantify the main things worth analysing from the year.

Eight categories covering every corner of my life—finance, career, health, etc.

Friends

Score: 6/10

Summary: I made some incredible new connections in my community and in my new job. I shared some great events and moments, collaborated with people and shared creative ventures plus just had great conversations. A friendship blossomed with Dan Hamill who I now consider a great friend. I built great relationships with work colleagues like Mirz and AJ. I deepened connections with my oldest friends where I could and did some cool creative stuff with Jeswri and riverine.

Adjustments to make: Be more proactive and have deeper conversations with people I value. Listen and learn. Go for more walks and less trips to the pub.

Career

Score: 8/10

Summary: I worked a lot, made some good money and achieved a fair amount in a short time with my new employer. I believe I have found a home in sales and work within a company that I have grown quite fond of. I like the work that I do as I get to talk a lot (something I like doing) and I get to actually help people (something else I like doing).

Adjustments to make: This year I have to work smarter, not harder. I want to use systems and turn myself into a leader within the company. Last year I laid a good platform, now I have to unlock the next iteration.

Finance

Score: 4/10

Summary: I made a lot of money and did some very positive things with it but overall was a bit indulgent and not effective enough with my money. I am proud of being able to fund a adhd diagnosis, pay my rent and bills, pay for lots of positive things for my health, paid for my EP to be recorded and mixed plus paid for a holiday overseas.

Adjustments to make: Focus on the daily number, too many small things everyday that I am paying for too frivolously that are adding up. I have a tax debt that requires my full attention and my savings needs to grow simultaneously. This year it is about taking accountability for everything that comes in and goes out and staying on top of the numbers through a daily habit and expenses tracker that I have built and have been using.

Health

Score: 3/10

Summary: The first 4 months were good, but as my neck injury deteriorated and the pain grew, my commitment to regular exercise wained. My sleep consistency was a highlight, as well as plenty of daily steps and visits to the sauna, but the lack of strength exercise has been telling.

Adjustments to make: Minimise drinking, cut out vaping, increase strength and mobility, focus on every single action and the compounding effect of all of my actions. I booked a cortisone injection to help stabilise the inflammation in my beck and bought a bunch of strength equipment to focus on working out for small amounts every single day at home to get back to my best physical shape.

Family

Score: 9/10

Summary: I love my family so much and am so blessed to have them. We are far apart in so many aspects but remain loving and united.

Adjustments to make: Proactively calling Mum and Dad more frequently. Spending time to reach out to Cassie and be there for her as a brother and friend. Send more random texts of love and motivation to everyone.

Romance

Score: 10/10

Summary: My relationship has been so incredible, I’m truly in love and things were capped off perfectly with a trip to visit both of our hometowns and spend time with our families, first to the Central Coast and then to Hong Kong. Happy, safe, grateful for my girl and the love that we have found.

Adjustments to make: More structure to our quality time and more efficiency and buy in by me for future planning.

Personal Growth

Score: 5/10

Summary: I did a lot of things that were great for my personal growth and my soul, I stood on business and stood up for myself where I needed to. Toward the mid point in the year a bit of victim mindset crept in as a result of my injuries and inability to train properly, that was something I really didn’t like and need to amend going forward.

Adjustments to make: Extreme ownership. My success or failure depend on me and me only, own your problems, say it with your chest out, get your hands dirty and earn your self-respect. In a way I have to build my confidence one brick at a time by doing what I say I am going to do and acting on my creative desires—die empty! No down time, no reservation… you know what you need to do, now do it.

Hobbies

Score: 7/10

Summary: I created a lot of amazing things last year: music, newsletters, music videos, podcasts… and I am extremely proud of all of it. This year I want it to blossom into something that transcends me as the creator and can be seen or used as a tool for others to find themselves.

Adjustments to make: Get clear on who I am, what I make and who I am trying to help. Focus on those things only, ignore the noise. Consistency with content and output is one thing, but systems and execution is going to be equally important, everything has to have a purpose.

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Overall, I am full of joy for the year that was.

I made great music, fell in love, settled into a home, excelled in a new career, created lots of stuff, visited new countries, spent quality time with family, made new friends, and reconnected with old ones.

I am alive and healthy and grateful for everything, the good and the not so good.

Here’s to a beautiful 2025 and a prosperous 2026!

With gratitude,

SAV.

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