Monthly Round-Up: February

It can be hard to motivate yourself, especially when you're working (or studying) from home, but it's important to reflect on your achievements no matter how big or small.

January wasn't a great month for me after being unwell, so February was the first month this year in which I actually got things done and was productive.

As someone who is not only completing a university degree online but also working from home, I know how difficult it can be to motivate yourself and set yourself up for a proper day's work.

My job as a motorsport journalist doesn't follow the typical nine-to-five hours of other jobs. Formula 1, and its feeder series, always occur on the weekends so those days are my busiest time of the week. But in the build-up, there are also Virtual Media Roundtables with the teams and drivers of F2 and F3.

On top of working three-day weekends, I have my part-time university degree to complete. However, because my weekends are motorsport-based, I fill my weekdays with university work, as well as an article here and there.

This month I worked on getting back on track and catching up with things I missed in January, not only in terms of my career and studies but also with life in general.

It can be difficult to reflect on achievements and actually take a moment to acknowledge what you've done recently.

This blog is to allow me to reflect on what I've achieved but also to maybe inspire you as well.

My February Round-Up:

February has been quite a busy month and it feels like it's flown by. I've achieved and done a lot in different aspects of my life from professional aspects to social aspects as well.

Career and University Achievements:

• Interviewing Bruno Michel: I was lucky enough to partake in a Virtual Media Roundtable with the CEO of Formula 2 and Formula 3, Bruno Michel, as a journalist for FormulaNerds. It was great speaking to Bruno again ahead of the upcoming seasons.

• Interviewing Formula 2 and Formula 3 Team Principals: As well as speaking to Bruno Michel, I was fortunate to interview the team principals of the feeder series in another Virtual Media Roundtable, including the lovely Stephanie Carlin.

• Recording podcasts for FormulaNerds: As a regular panellist on the Cut to the Race podcast by FormulaNerds, I recorded a couple of news shows with my friends and colleagues as well as our livery ratings of the 2023 season, which if I do say so myself, is a particularly entertaining episode.

• Writing articles for FormulaNerds: Throughout the month of February, I've written 12 articles covering lots of different topics in motorsport from McLaren's launch of the MCL60 to the confirmed details and calendar of the F1 Academy.

• Freelance Journalism Diploma: To add to my qualifications, I bought a journalism course where I will receive a diploma if I pass all the assessments. So far, I have completed module one and passed the assessment with distinction.

• Completed my third assignment: January put me behind schedule with my uni work and I, unfortunately, missed a deadline due to illness, however, this month I was able to complete my third assignment and submit it only a few days later.

• Completed the fourth module of my course: As a result of being behind schedule, I started the next module of my degree later than I expected. But, last week I managed to finish all the work for it and begin crafting my next assignment.

• Attended a university workshop: My degree is all online so I don't have the typical lectures, instead, there are occasional workshops for us to attend. In early February, I attended a workshop on structure, which was actually really interesting as it helped me develop a character for my novel.

Personal and Social Achievements:

• Dublin: My sister and I travelled to Dublin for a few days this month with our cousins, which was lovely because we rarely see them in person due to distance and busy schedules. So, it was nice to spend some time with them, explore the city of Dublin and enjoy a few days from our normal realities.

• Caught up with my friends: Having not seen my friends in person since the beginning of January, I finally got round to seeing them all and catching up with them, which I really enjoyed.

• Super Bowl LVII: February was the month of the Super Bowl and if you've read any of my posts before, you know I love NFL. My dad is my NFL buddy and so we watched the Super Bowl together, celebrating the Chiefs' victory, which I loved.

• My dad's birthday: Also this month, it was my dad's birthday and celebrating that with him and my family was a highlight of the month because I got to spend uninterrupted time with my family, who I could not live without.

Everything I've achieved this month has made me proud of myself. 2023 is the year where I'm trying to take life by the horns and go after every opportunity I can.

Hopefully, this post has inspired you to be proud of yourself for what you have achieved, whether it's big or small. If it hasn't, next month record everything you do and when it comes to the end of March, you can look back and reflect on all your achievements.

Until next time...