What’s in Store for 2017?

I could easily say what we all say at this time of year, about where the year went or that I’m not ready for the next but I won’t bore you with that. There are far more exciting things to talk about than how quickly time is or isn’t passing. 2017 is just around the corner and I thought I’d share with you want this coming year will have in store me for and this blog. Most years I tend to write out my travel goals for the year but this year is going to be so much bigger than just travel plans.

What’s in Store for 2017?

For Me

I don’t have a single trip booked, planned or thought about

At this point I normally have a rough idea of where I might travel to the next year, or at least when I might take these trips. However, this year I have no idea. For starters university have ‘banned’ us from taking any trips in the first three months of the year due to commitments with teaching practice. Of course, this is making me want to take a trip even more and who knows I may manage to sneak one it but more than likely it will be a staycation.

Secondly, I don’t know what the second half of the year will hold for me so it is hard to book trips as I have no solid plans, nor any idea where my income will be coming from come September.

Finally, my boyfriend has finished his contract in Rio and currently doesn’t know where the next one will be making trips even harder to book. All I know is that at some point this summer I will be treating myself to a graduation trip!

I will graduate from university and get a full time job

I’m so nervous and excited about this one. For the first time in three years I don’t know where I have to be or what to expect come September. I don’t have to be in London anymore, I don’t have to be stuck in student accommodation and I don’t have to slog away at uni assignments anymore. That being said I will (hopefully) be in full time employment from September and that obviously limits the time I can go travelling… although I will actually be earning a full time wage for the first time in forever!

I will probably move out of London

I don’t think it is a real secret that I’m not the biggest fan of London. It can be enjoyable in the summer and of course at Christmas time but for the majority of the year I count down the days until I can escape the city/country. Unfortunately, I’m unlikely to be moving abroad this year as I have to do what is called a ‘newly qualified teacher’s’ year first and that is done in the UK. I am, however, hoping to head to my childhood home of The New Forest to get a job in September. I’m excited to potentially live outside of a city again and be able to have a lot more adventures involving nature.

For the blog

There will be a re-design

This has been something I have debated on for a while now but there will definitely be a re-design of the blog. Probably come summer once university is over, but it could appear before if I’m super organised. I already have some ideas in mind but I would love to hear if there is anything you’d love to see in the re-design. But the redesign could be even bigger than just that as…

There may be a re-brand

As you can probably tell from my recent style of blogging I’m not really writing and taking trips as a backpacker any more. I’m of course still travelling a lot and I don’t see that stopping any time soon but equally I also have a lot of time at home and come September a lot of my efforts will also be going in to teaching a class of 30 student. I don’t think I want to give up blogging any time soon, I’ve put so much effort into this blog in the last five and a half years that it would be sad to just give up. However, I do think I need to start taking this blog in a different direction to ensure I keep writing content for it.

I have been thinking of potential names for a re-brand but so far all I’ve come up with is What’s Jodes doing? – but I know other bloggers have this name (obviously with their own name not Jodes though). Ideas on a postcard would be much appreciated. 

I’m thinking of sending out a reader survey at some point before the re-brand, if it happens, but I’d love to hear from you if you’ve re-branded your blog! Was it easy? Is it worth the effort? 

I think that is everything for now. What is in store for you, for 2017? Let me know in the comments below.