#12 | when we come back... and 2024 begins
Heading back to routine after the holidays and the energy of the new year + Insights on social media and the AI challenge! ✨
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2024 has already begun, and here I am, I admit, a little late. I went on holiday and didn't want to come back, that's the reality. There was Christmas, New Year, and holiday in Brazil, with a taste of Brazilian summer in the middle of the English winter. There's no way you'd want to come back, right?
I faced three days of airports, and canceled flights, thinking I might have to extend my stay. But, in the end, I came back. I returned home and spent a week somewhat regretting the return to routine, full of schedules and commitments. Life shines brighter during the holidays.
I came back a bit in a "meh" state, in a week in the doldrums, lamenting the beach days and caipirinhas left behind, but also feeling an excitement, a different energy.
During these delayed holidays, I remembered why I made certain choices, and why I love life at certain moments. And the excitement of the new year finally arrived, along with a monstrous energy.
But the desire to face real life was still a bit dim, the so-called inspiration didn't come with it, so the energy went to random things, like YouTube videos on organising life, and trying to find motivation to start acting. And, in the midst of all this, a random hyper-focus on love is blind made me lose a good few hours. And of course, hours organising things, there's always something else to plan, see, and think about. All before taking any action.
But then I came back. Still struggling to wake up early, but now with all the planning done and no excuses to delay action. The hardest part.
And as soon as I started to act, the desire to embrace all the goals came along! The realisation hit, the year began, life renewing itself, all fresh. The idea of waking up early to work out, improve eating, write, read, fix the wardrobe, even consider moving. I feel renewed, and the world is in that mood too.
So even though it's tough to wake up early, I'm in this vibe. I want to do everything, and I want it now. I remembered my little cousin, who, when they said she had to wait until all the sugarcane was cut to start eating, started shouting "I want it now, I want it now," which became a memorable moment in the family.
But I know myself. I know I want it now too, but when the alarm rings at 6 in the morning, all this enthusiasm fades, and habits made in excitement go down the drain. So, this year, I'm trying to stick to the motto of patience and consistency. Go slow but steady.
I started at the gym, in the company of a friend to give that little push (hi Bia!), but I'm forcing myself to maintain a sustainable routine, even with the excitement wanting me to push my limits. But it's complex, patience is not my strength, but waking up early is still a challenge (I think I've said that, right? - and I consider myself a morning person). So I stick to it, trying to find the middle ground that will help the routine stay.
I'm trying not to rely solely on the emotions of the moment when making decisions, you know? Now, I want to use them when they appear, but with a touch of wisdom to understand what's going on. The mission is to create a routine that can balance my emotional side, which wants everything now, with my more rational side, which has to follow the routine that the emotional side created in excitement. The idea is to build all this gradually, without making life seem like a punishment in practice and beautiful in theory. A huge challenge, but that's the challenge of life.
Yes, I'm in a hurry like everyone else, but this craziness gets tiring too quickly. Sometimes, it's worth taking advantage of the excitement of the moment to create habits that really make sense. We demand less of ourselves, set goals, and commit, but without punishing ourselves if something doesn't go as planned.
Understand and try again the next day. Without trying to embrace the world all at once, otherwise, nothing stays. Of course, when inspiration shows up, take advantage of it to take the next step in the things we are already building because we truly want to, but remember our limits.
So, this is how I start the year, with a lot of plans, the same person, but with a different energy, trying to create a rhythm of life that can be maintained. Whether it will work, only time will tell. For now, it's going pretty well.
And we only have 6 more weeks of winter, so everything will get even better.
I don't know, but I'm excited for 2024, I feel it's going to be a good year. Let it be.
To inspire you! Things I saw out there...
→ I spent a good time opening windows around the world with Window Swap
→ A collection of paper airplane models to print and fold, I know, random but incredibly interesting
→ This super creative post with a good reflection (in Portuguese)
Social Media and Content Creation
A series of random reflections on social media for 2024…
Social media has practically become the online version of Google. People search for everything there, and if you're not ready to answer your audience's questions, someone else certainly will be. So, besides relevant and quality content, or interesting and entertaining, Social SEO is the key to stand out. Let's optimise the profile and captions with some keywords, increasing the chance that people will find the answers you prepared.
And what about Artificial Intelligence, people? It's becoming more and more present, but the secret is to prioritise quality. In the next section, I'll share more details on this topic.
And LinkedIn? Well, it's still on the rise and becoming even more personal. It's time to share your story and provide value. “Success comes from connection, collaboration and giving support and value.”
In the video scene, it's quite interesting, that there are no strict rules anymore: short and long videos are trending. If the vibe is super short videos (like a 6-second loop), invest in Instagram, for videos over 1 minute (with a captivating topic), TikTok is the place. Want to explore more? Take a risk with much longer videos, like narratives, especially on YouTube. Everything is valid!
On Meta's side, the Threads app is undergoing a renaissance, coinciding with the growing interest in the metaverse sector and VR with the release of the Vision Pro headset by Apple. After a static period, Threads downloads tripled in December, becoming a leader in major app stores. Interesting.
During the Q4 earnings call, Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Threads now attracts 130 million monthly users, a notable increase. I'm really curious where this story is going, even though I haven't adapted much to it yet.
Oh, a valuable tip: don't forget to check out my favourite social media newsletter, The Creator Letter, to stay informed about what's happening in the content world! ✨
AI Challenge in 2024
Ah, 2024! Artificial Intelligence (AI) is knocking on our door even stronger, promising to transform content creation. But let's make it even more practical!
Practical Exercise: Think of three unique ways to incorporate AI into your content strategy. It could be improving quality, authentic interaction with followers, or enhancing data analysis.
Here's a list of the most popular ways companies are using AI:
Image Generation
Text Editing and Refinement
Advertising Copywriting
Idea Development
Complete Text Review and Overhaul
Customer Support Text Production
Use of Chatbot to Respond to Messages
Editing Images, Videos, and Audio
Starting Suggestion: Use ChatGPT for insights and initial planning, try templates on Canva, and visually enhance with existing videos. Progress at your own pace, maintaining a balance between enthusiasm and calm.
Trust Challenge: How to integrate AI without losing your unique identity? Plan solid inputs and constant reviews to maintain your authentic voice. Remember, AI is an ally, but you are in control of this unique narrative. Are you up for taking this step beyond in 2024?
Latest Updates on my Social Media
I was a Star Seller on Etsy in December, January, and February! Very happy!
On the Blog | Promote Your Audiobook Online: Social Media Promotion Tips for Authors
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Until next time,
With love,
Amanda Oliveira-Telò
My book (: • Instagram • TikTok • Etsy