What DIDN'T work for me in 2022

A beloved—and juicy—tradition  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Hey readers, For the past decade now, I've used two super simple reflection questions to help me look back on the old year, and look forward to the new. They are: 1. What worked for me last year? and 2. What didn't? I recently shared [what worked for me in 2022]( on the blog. Since I hit "publish," I thought of a few more I-can't-believe-I-forgot-to-mention-it things. But today we're starting with what didn't work. Here's my list, or at least what's suitable to share. (You get that, right?) What didn't work for me in 2022 1. A new journal. I've been [a dedicated journaler]() for many years, and have honed a loose method that serves me well. But this summer I began to wonder if I wasn't trying to cram too much of my brain into one A4 notebook—and so I decided to experiment with a dedicated planner for several months to see how it went. I had high hopes for this bare-bones method, and at first, I liked the ease and simplicity of the planner I chose. (Plus, [it was sooo pretty!]()) So pretty, in fact, and so deceptively simple, that it took me longer than it should have to realize my new system wasn't working. At all. Now I'm back to the tried-and-true method I've been using for seven years and: it's working. 2. Family scheduling logistics. I originally called this item "family planning" and realized the connotation wasn't quite right (ha!). But let me tell you, I was unprepared for these years to be so challenging, calendar-wise. We have four kids: one son in college, two daughters at the same high school, and one son in middle school. None of the schools are on the same schedule. Some of the schools aren't even close. And—I really didn't see this coming—[now that my kids have jobs,]() we're navigating those schedules as well. I'm so proud of my kids and it's deeply satisfying watching them grow up and become more themselves and take on more and more responsibility. But also: I hate how difficult it's become to plan fun times together, especially when it comes to travel. We're finding ways around it. We spent a few days camping last summer, and got to escape to the beach for a week. We even wedged in a quick family getaway to NYC just before Christmas (the timing of which trip was 100% driven by the above factors). But whoa, it is tough. 3. Wide open calendar space for creative work. Or rather, the lack thereof. For reasons personal and professional, welcome and not, I found myself consistently missing the larger scheduled blocks of open space that have been a cornerstone of my work life for many years. I spent a lot of time in meetings in 2022, and while I love connecting with people and collaborating on projects, it doesn't work to crowd out needed time to make good stuff. 4. Getting sick (and not getting better) This fall I caught a simple, boring cold and got a little bit sick. And then I could not get better. I'll spare you the details but I spent most of the fall and the beginning of 2023 not super-sick but not well, either—and everything is harder when you're sick. In hindsight I should have gone to the doctor, but medical offices were swamped, and I wasn't sick, exactly. Just not healthy. After an initial misdiagnosis early this week and a fresh one on Friday, I think (hope, pray, neeeed) that I am finally moving in the right direction. I have a whole new appreciation for functioning lungs, and new empathy for those who live without them. As I said to our MMD chief of staff Baylee this week, I love breathing—and hope to be breathing a lot easier once these steroids I'm on do their thing. 4b. Steroids. While the steroids are working to clear up my lung horribleness (or let's hope they are, I'm supposed to start feeling the effects any minute now), here's what's NOT working: they make me feel like I pounded a dozen espressos before breakfast—and [I don't even drink caffeine!]( But Will gallantly volunteered to watch episodes of [Younger]() with me at night until I get sleepy. That's working. 5. Instagram, again. "Again" because I shared this in 2021, as well. When life gets busy, I don't open my social media apps. This isn't the worst thing (especially since Instagram has made it increasingly difficult for us all to see the stuff we want to see there), but I'd rather take a social media hiatus on purpose, as opposed to just not getting around to logging in for weeks on end. To follow my sometimes-erratic postings, [I'm on Instagram as annebogel]( and [our podcast account is whatshouldireadnext](=). Last year we started a Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club instagram account, run by our community manager Ginger Horton. [Click here to follow MMD Book Club](). But the blog and newsletter remain the best place to keep up with what's happening around here. I share all sorts of time-sensitive and newsy stuff there, especially in our weekly Links I Love posts. If you don't currently get those by email, [click here to get on that list](). 6. Overflowing bookshelves, again. I'm afraid to look, but I suspect this item makes my list every year. Once again, the shelves in the whole house are not just full but overflowing. Thanks to a conversation with [my pal Jamie Golden about her own new gorgeous library](=), I realized the problem is that I need more working bookshelves: easy-to-browse spaces that hold books I'm considering for reading and coverage. But my office can't accommodate more shelves, and if there's another good location option, I sure can't think of what it is. As problems go, this is not a terrible one to have. But considering what I do, it's still a problem. Superlative central • [My favorite books of 2022]() (the blog version) and [the more detailed and colorful podcast version of my best books of the year,]( in a conversation hosted by my husband, Will Bogel. Don't miss this! • The most popular post from the archives for 2023 so far: [16 series to read after you’ve run out of Louise Penny novels]( • The most popular book list right now: [Unputdownable: 17 books I read in 24 hours or less (because they were just that good)]() • The book list that surges in popularity at the end of each year: [20 short novels you can read in one day](=) ¢Â€Â¢ [My favorite audiobooks of 2022](=) • [The January-April 2023 releases I'm most excited about](: Our MMD Book Club Spring Book Preview is happening on Tuesday, January 10. Join us in Book Club for this wildly popular event where I share the 42 titles I'm most excited about for the winter/spring season. We'll be talking about books I've read and loved (SO MANY good ones), books I can't wait to read, and the ones the industry is buzzing about for spring. Now is a great time to jump in (not just because of our brand new app, but that sure doesn't hurt!). If you're not already a member, [click here to get started.]( Coming soon [What Should I Read Next]( turns SEVEN this week! We're celebrating in style by welcoming two guests to the podcast who were, in very different ways, instrumental to our What Should I Read Next origin story: Knox McCoy and Jamie B. Golden of The Popcast! This episode is pure bookish joy, packed with stories you've never heard before, great book (and movie!) recommendations, our loves and hates for podcasting as a medium, and more. This episode airs on Tuesday, January 10. I think you're gonna love it: listen wherever you get your podcasts. ([Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts]() if you haven't already!) We already have [a special bonus episode planned for our Patreon supporters:](=) on Friday Knox, Jamie, and I are sharing our green lights and red lights specifically for book-to-screen adaptations and we think you're gonna love it. Please consider joining us if you haven't already: your membership makes it possible for us to create a top-notch literary podcast each week and make more great stuff you love like our annual Summer Reading Guide. The guide drops in May, but we're doing the hard work of making it right now and would value your support. By supporting the show on Patreon you also get an invite to that Spring Book Preview! [Click here to join us on Patreon.](=) I hope this note finds you well, and your 2023 is off to a solid start. I'd love to close by riffing good words originally penned by our beloved MMD Book Club community manager Ginger Horton to set the tone for the year to come: May your library holds list be short, your bookish friends many, your audiobook credits abundant, and your pre-orders arrive a day early. Happy New Year, friends, and happy reading! Anne ​ =​ ​ © Anne Bogel | 291 N Hubbards Ln Ste 172-225, Louisville, Kentucky 40207 [Unsubscribe from all MMD emails](