The Real Self-Care 2024 Year in Review
Your favorite posts, and mine.
Hi folks,
It was a big year here for Real Self-Care! 2024 was the year I expanded my purview as an author. It was a year of experimentation, trying new things, traveling the country as a public speaker, pushing my limits — and pulling back when things felt out of control. As I close the chapter on my 40th year, and take stock of all that transpired in 2024, what stands out to me is that I was able to have my boundaries AND continue to produce creative work that I am deeply proud of.
In September, I recommitted to this newsletter, opened up the archive to all readers, and began posting on a weekly schedule again. Then, I started sharing biweekly posts just for paid subscribers that skewed more personal, covering topics like How to Survive Family Gatherings and How to Be There for Someone.
I have more plans for the RSC newsletter in 2025, which I’ll talk about in more detail in a future post. But, for now, I thought I’d share some of the highlights, by the numbers, of RSC in 2024, and share some of my personal and professional achievements, too.
Some 2024 milestones:
I did 19 speaking engagements! Phew! Double the amount of speaking I did in 2023. Highlights included Yale Law School, SXSW, Aspen Ideas, and the Texas Women’s Conference (to a room of +1,200!)
Justin and I threw a 2nd birthday party for K at our house. It was the first time we hosted K’s birthday (we had to cancel his 1st birthday party because of illness). It was a success and gave me a big confidence boost as a mom. Also, shout out to the 2 weeks Justin & I spent in Italy in April, sans kiddo. Woot.
Specific to my writing and this newsletter, a comment from reader
went directly into my hype file. In response to a Dear Pooja post, Gilly said, “Thank you for addressing some of these big T questions in a compassionate and realistic way that is not condescending or hollow.” If I had a brand statement, Gilly’s words would be it.My favorite post of the year was the one I referenced above— How can I hold and heal my trauma? It’s my favorite because I feel I aced the blend of being analytical, providing prescriptive tips, and compelling story-telling. Plus, it was a topic that is meaningful to me.
Real Self-Care in 2024, by the numbers
Published 49 newsletters
Gained 2,259 subscribers for a total of 15,079 subscribers
Gained 46 paid subscribers for a total of 164 paid subscribers.
Hosted four meaningful conversations with incredible women:
Dr. Christine Blasey Ford on her memoir and the aftermath of her testimony
Sehreen Noor Ali, Dr. Allison Applebaum, and Dr. Molly Dickens about caregiving vs. parenting
Author Elissa Strauss on the history and future of care
Author and Chief People Officer Daisy Auger-Dominguez on how to lead during hard times
Most liked posts
Most shared posts
The Culture War Comes for Boy Moms and How to Make Hanging Out Happen made this list, too.
Most commented
The Culture War Comes for Boy Moms, Balance Does Not Exist, and How to Make Hanging Out Happen brought out big engagement, too.
Thank you for making your way through another year with me! I hope I’ve offered each and every one of you an actually-useful tip or tool to navigate these challenging times. I expect 2025 to be a tough one, too — I mean, it immediately kicked off with a fire wiping out some 40,000 acres of Los Angeles, an event that has displaced thousands and taken 24 lives — but we always have each other and our communities to lean on and learn from.
Here’s to real self-care in 2025, starting (as ever) with boundaries. The more aligned your choices are with what you really want, the more you can show up as your full self — and I wish that for all of us.
xo,
Pooja
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Congratulations on your success last year! Look forward to see what you have coming up this year. (Lord knows we will need it!)
What an incredible year! I like how it was published on 1/15th and you didn't succumb to inadvertent pressure to get it out 1/1. This is intended to be the best compliment. Hooray for boundaries!