2024 Year end review
2024 has been a year of self-reflection for me. I found myself hitting pause more often than usual, taking the time to assess where I was facing challenges and figuring out how to improve as I moved forward. It’s been a bit of a “stop, reflect, and tweak” kind of year.
Financial
It all started with the painful realization that by the end of each month, I'd be down to my last few pennies with no idea where it all went. I don't want to sound cliché, but I guess it's a problem every middle-class person faces.
Determined to break this cycle, I decided to get my financial act together. I started tracking my monthly expenses using Google Sheets, and for a while, it worked like a charm. But soon, I realized that staring at raw numbers wasn’t enough—I needed to categorize my spending to really understand where I was going overboard.
That’s when my inner developer stepped up. I built a custom budget-tracking system, and oh boy, it was a game-changer. This nifty tool let me track everything—expenses, savings, and even those sneaky credit card transactions. It gave me actionable insights, like which habits were bleeding me dry and how I could cut down on unnecessary costs. The result? Better savings and fewer end-of-the-month “where did it all go?” moments.
Professional
After three years of working from home, I realized my social life had been reduced to just waving at the Zoom calls. Forget visiting the office—I hadn’t even visited my friends for a long time! That’s when I decided to shake things up, meet interesting people, and level up my professional skills.
Enter the React Conference 2024, my first-ever tech event. And let me tell you—It was incredibly uplifting in my otherwise monotonous professional life! I gained in-depth knowledge about emerging trends in React, including the latest React 19 version, the React compiler, and various other advancements.
Personal
Saving the best for last—our little girl, Athira, turned one! We celebrated her first birthday at home in a simple yet heartfelt gathering surrounded by our close relatives. It was a moment of pure joy, watching the delight on her face as she explored the vibrant colors and decorations. Thanks to working from home, we’ve been lucky enough to witness every tiny milestone she’s crossed, and each one has been a bundle of happiness for us.
This year was special for another reason too—our son Adhiyan started school! We could still recall the early days when he would cry at the thought of going to school. But now? He’s a completely different kid. He eagerly plans his outfit for the next day, can’t wait to see his friends, and even insists on getting to school early. My wife and I look at him sometimes and think, “When did our little boy grow up so much?” Time truly flies.
Plans for 2025
For 2025, I’m keeping things simple and focused.
First on the list: meet more people and maybe even start visiting the office. I’m also planning on diving deeper into AI.
This year, I’ve made it to the gym more often than last year, so I’m looking to keep that momentum going with my strength training. I also want to stay mindful of my eating habits, cutting back on processed foods as much as I can.
And now that Athira is a bit older, Soundarya and I are excited to travel more and make some new family memories this year.
It's all about balance—work, health, and making time for the things that truly matter.
Let's hope 2025 is going to be awesome!