As another year comes to an end, it’s time for my annual review (check out 2021, 2023) - a tradition where I reflect on the past twelve months, examining what I’ve learned, how I’ve grown, and whether I’ve managed to stick to my goals. These reviews serve as a personal chronicle but also a way to share experiences that might resonate with others on similar journeys.

2024 has been a year of significant transitions and new beginnings. Perhaps the most noteworthy change came in my professional life, where I stepped into a more software engineering-focused role. This transition brought an exciting opportunity to contribute to a large open-source project - something that has opened new horizons for learning and collaboration.

In an effort to share knowledge and best practices, I launched defersec.com, a platform dedicated to DevSecOps principles with a particular focus on the Golang ecosystem. This project has allowed me to combine my passion for security with practical implementation guidance. Along this journey, I’ve had the chance to deepen my expertise in infrastructure as code, particularly with Terraform, while also exploring the world of Kubernetes.

Beyond the technical realm, this year brought musical adventures I hadn’t anticipated. Learning to play the bongos evolved into taking Afro-Cuban Rumba classes for congas - a journey that has added new rhythms and joy to my life.

Looking back, 2024 has been remarkably fulfilling - a year characterized by growth, learning, and shared experiences with wonderful people. As we dive into the details of this year’s journey, I’ll explore how various aspects of my life have evolved, from productivity systems to daily habits, and from technical skills to creative pursuits.

Goals

As another year comes to an end, it’s time to look back at the goals I set for 2024 and think about what lies ahead. This reflection helps me understand not just what I’ve achieved, but also how my interests and priorities have evolved throughout the year.

2024 goals recap

Projects

Back in 2023 i wrote:

  • Play with HTMX and Golang

    I’d definitely love to do something front-end related and therefore I’d like to play a little bit with htmx. But first I need an idea for a small application. This way I plan to code again in Golang (this year I didn’t manage to code anything useful).

  • Security of Github repositories

    While dealing with Github and the security settings of repositories, I wanted to have a small tool at hand which will check for different settings (for each repository in an organization) and report (via Slack, E-Mail) if some settings are not compliant.

  • Finish “Documentation as Code” series

    This year I’ve started writing about several documentation techniques (as code) in my Documentation as Code series. I definitely want to add at least D2Lang to it.

Some goals remained aspirational. The tool for auditing GitHub repository security settings is still on the drawing board. I’ve been thinking whether to develop it as a standalone application or integrate it into existing frameworks like Steampipe. Which already has some Github integrations My “Documentation as Code” series took an unexpected turn. While I initially was a Plantuml advocate, I found myself gravitating more and more towards Mermaid charts (also after having to write some ADRs where, of course, I’ve added some diagrams). Its seamless integration with GitHub - automatic rendering in Markdown documents 😎 - proved to be a killer feature. This shift made me reconsider my plans to explore D2Lang, as Mermaid seems to better align with my current needs.

Music

Back in 2023 my thoughts were:

Besides playing the Djembe this year I’ve started learning how to play the Bongos. With the help of ChatGPT I was able to read notes again and therefore play some easy to more advanced rhythms on the Bongos. Next year I’d like to keep practicing and get more insights into Latin rhythms (Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Mambo, Rumba etc.)

I have played an acoustic guitar for a while, although not with the same proficiency as I have with hand drums. For motivation, I would like to learn to play the electric guitar and make progress in live looping.

This year marked a significant milestone in my musical journey. After starting with Bongos last year, I dove deeper into Latin percussion by taking Rumba classes on Congas. The world of digital music also opened up to me: I’ve experimented with live looping and learned my way around Reaper, a cross-platform DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). A particular highlight was discovering Koala Sampler, which completely transformed my approach to live looping and sampling.

Goals for 2025

Technical Projects

Looking ahead, I’ve identified several key areas for technical growth:

Music

My percussion journey continues with a focus on Congas. I’ve already invested in some “Compact Congas” (Giovanni Hidalgo model) that fit perfectly in my space. I believe Congas offer more “flexibility” than Bongos for song accompaniment (and solos!), and I’m particularly excited to explore Salsa music, though I’m keeping my options open for other styles.

The acoustic guitar hasn’t been forgotten - I still pick it up regularly. However, I’m considering taking formal lessons to improve, especially in finger-style playing. But who knows if I’ll ever get the chance to do this at all 🤷

Productivity

After years of experimenting with various productivity systems, 2024 was the year where things finally clicked into place. Countless hours of listening to Cal Newport’s podcast on slow productivity helped me internalize key concepts like multi-scale planning, time blocking, and deep work. This evolution in my approach has fundamentally changed how I structure my days and manage my projects.

Analog Tools still a thing

The return to my bullet journal has been transformative. While digital tools have their place, there’s something uniquely effective about pen and paper for certain tasks. Just the simple physical act of writing helps me process information differently and creates a stronger connection to my plans and ideas. This way I also don’t fully rely on laptops & PCs.

Time blocking in practice

One of the most significant changes has been implementing regular time blocking. This practice has helped me:

The power of paper

Despite our digital age, collecting ideas, notes, and TODOs using pen and paper remains unbeatable for several reasons:

Weekly planning with Frankenlog

My weekly planning has evolved with the adoption of a “Frankenlog” style structure. This system allows me to:

Digital organization with ORG mode

While embracing analog tools, I’ve also refined my digital organization using ORG mode in Emacs. The system has evolved to become more structured and efficient.

Habits

2024 marked a significant shift in how I approach habit tracking and personal development. While previous years were characterized by meticulous tracking using Loop Habit Tracker, this year I found myself gravitating towards a more intuitive approach. Sometimes, the very act of tracking can add unnecessary mental stress to activities that should be enjoyable and natural.

image
Garmin intensity minutes
image
Garmin Steps

Sports

The year started with ambitious goals - I aimed to engage in sports twice weekly and incorporate 20-minute daily exercise sessions. Reality, however, had different plans. The transition from a 30-hour to a 40-hour work week significantly impacted my exercise routine, particularly affecting my regular Friday bouldering sessions.

The challenge with short daily exercise sessions wasn’t about motivation alone - it was more about the context switch I needed when working primarily indoors (either at home or in the office). The mental barrier of changing environments for a brief workout proved to be more challenging than I thought.

One bright spot in my physical activity journey was discovering rope flow, a dynamic form of movement that combines coordination, rhythm, and exercise. This practice has become an engaging way to stay active while learning new skills.

Reading

My reading habit remains strong, though I’ve moved away from strict tracking. Goodreads continues to serve as my primary platform for keeping track of books, while the Libby App remains invaluable for accessing e-books and audiobooks from VOEBB (my local library). My trusty Pocketbook Inkpad 3, purchased in 2018, continues to be a reliable companion for digital reading.

Here is reading list for 2024:

I’ve also covered some book summaries:

There will be a last one (October - December) soon after this post. For a detailed look at my 2024 reading journey, you can visit my reading list.

Breathing techniques

This year was somehow an unintentional pause in my breathing practice. After actively engaging with Wim Hof and Buteyko methods last year, 2024 has been, ironically, a “breathless” year. The same applies to cold showers, which I previously used in conjunction with breathing techniques for preparation.

The change in my morning routine might be responsible: I’ve adopted a gentler start to the day (meditation, maté tea) which, while peaceful, hasn’t included the more challenging breathing practices. There’s potential to incorporate Buteyko breathing during walks, something I might explore in the coming year.

Meditation

My meditation practice had two distinct phases this year. The first half was notably quiet, with barely any formal practice. However, the second half brought a significant change with the discovery of the “Waking Up” app (a recommendation from the Huberman Lab podcast).

After previous experiences with 7Mind (primarily German content), “Waking Up” offered a refreshingly direct approach to meditation. What sets it apart:

image
Waking Up
image
Waking Up Statistics
image
Waking Up Explore

The impact has been profound: It helped me regain focus and develop a healthier relationship with my thoughts. Where before I struggled with an overactive mind constantly processing various thoughts and todos, I now find myself better able to maintain calm and observe thoughts without getting engaged in them.

This evolution in my habits reflects a broader shift towards quality over quantity, and authenticity over rigid tracking. While some practices have fallen away, others have deepened, and new ones have emerged. It’s a reminder that our habits should serve our well-being rather than become another source of stress.

Software I use

Inspired by Software Tools I use I thought I’ll also start mentioning my tools I use daily for work and personally. This year I’ve continued to refine my digital toolkit, focusing on tools that enhance productivity while maintaining simplicity and efficiency in my workflows.

Daily drivers

Sports

Services

Applications

Devices

Looking back, moving forward

The evolution in my approach to productivity and habits reflects a broader theme this year - finding balance between structure and flexibility. Moving away from rigid tracking towards more intuitive systems hasn’t meant losing focus; rather, it allowed to naturally integrate these habits into daily life.

My musical journey with percussion has added an entirely new dimension to my life, proving that growth doesn’t always have to be technical or career-focused. The rhythm and joy of playing congas and bongos has become a welcome counterpoint to the digital world.

Looking ahead to 2025, I’m excited about the possibilities that lie ahead - from deepening my Kubernetes knowledge to mastering new rhythms on the congas. But perhaps more importantly, I’m grateful for the community of people who have been part of this journey, sharing knowledge, experiences, and moments of joy along the way. As always, these reviews serve not just as personal milestones, but as reminders of how we grow through both the challenges we face and the opportunities we embrace. Here’s to another year of learning, creating, and growing together.