I’ve been writing these year-in-review pieces for a few years now. Not because I think the world desperately needs another blog where someone talks about “what they learned” in 12 months — but because it’s a nice pause button.
It forces me to sit down, reflect, rant a bit, and plan ahead. Whether you ever publish it or just keep it in a private doc, I genuinely think everyone should do one. It’s a good way to remind yourself you actually did things this year, even if your brain insists you just scrolled Instagram for 365 days straight.
YouTube – Back on Camera
I picked up my YouTube channel again this year, and honestly, it felt good. Being back in front of the camera was equal parts fun and challenging. But I learnt a lot — from scripting and recording to editing and publishing.
This rabbit hole also made me explore more tools. Canva became my thumbnail sidekick, and Screen Studio helped me create sleek screen recordings. I even ended up making videos about some of my favourite companies, like Invideo and TheWholeTruth.
Content creation is like cardio: you start reluctantly, but once you’re in the zone, it’s addictive. Also exhausting. But mostly addictive.
AI, AI & AI
If 2023 was the year AI became mainstream, 2024 was the year it moved into my workflow and refused to leave. It’s exciting because it’s actually useful. It’s scary because… well, it’s actually useful.
This very post? Written with the help of ChatGPT. And no, it’s not doing 100% of the work. But for scaling repetitive tasks? Absolute gold.
AI is great for automating repetitive tasks, brainstorming, breaking creative blocks, and getting from blank page to “something I can work with”.
My 2024 AI toolkit:
- Perplexity – for research without falling into a Google hole
- Claude – for thoughtful writing assistance
- Napkin – for those sleek diagrams
- Canva AI – for quick, decent visuals
Travel Highlights From The Year
Malaysia (Again)
Sometimes you don’t need a grand plan. My short trip to Malaysia was pure “no-agenda” travel — just eating my favourite food at local cafés, wandering aimlessly, buying clothes and sneakers I didn’t need. Highly recommend.
Korea
Two cities: Seoul and Busan. Seoul was buzzing — skyscrapers, K-pop energy, and tech giants everywhere (Hyundai, Samsung, LG, Lotte — yes, I stocked up on Chocopies). Busan was more laid-back and beautiful. Korean BBQ? Worth the hype. K-drama fans, put this one on your list.
Japan
My favourite country so far. If you’re on the fence about visiting, stop reading and just book it. The culture, the food, the history — it’s all magic.
Cities I explored: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Nara.
Highlights:
- 7-Eleven food: sandwiches, ice creams, smoothies, and more.
- Drinks: Somehow, you’ll want to drink everything.
- Matcha: my love multiplied tenfold.
- Ramen: especially Ichiran and local chains are so so good.
- History: standing in Hiroshima was humbling.
- Gadgets: Japan is tech heaven.
The only miss? Failing to see Mt Fuji. Damn the clouds. Guess I’ll have to go back.
Meeting Sean Ellis
Got to attend Bangalore Growth Fest and meet Sean Ellis in person. The guy who literally coined “growth hacking.” It’s always interesting hearing from someone who’s seen trends evolve long before they became LinkedIn buzzwords.
Other Life Bits
- Officially less terrible at driving
- Finally visited Hampi
- Did a full Karnataka coastal tour (beaches, seafood, sunsets)
- The SEO Unfiltered podcast kept rolling along for a bit, the plan is to resume it asap.
Looking Ahead – 2025 and Beyond
Next year’s plan:
- Keep experimenting with AI tools, but in actual workflows
- Bring more guests to the podcast
- Visit more countries (and yes, eat my way through them)
- Keep things fun
That’s a wrap on 2024. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading it. See you next year and all the best.