At the start of a new year, it’s natural to reflect on the one that has just passed. What were your wins? Did you meet your previous goals? And which areas could use a little work?
Healing, growing and life itself isn’t a linear journey — there are ups and downs. So, if you had a tough 2024, rest assured that better days are around the corner.
Make them even better by considering your New Year ins and outs so you can move forward with intention. Here are mine for some inspo.
New Year Ins and Outs: The Outs
Let’s start with the outs to make way for the ins.
1. Doom Scrolling
We’re all guilty of reaching for our phones first thing in the morning before we’re even properly awake, and spending hours on devices when we could perhaps engage in healthier habits.
I’ll be reducing my screen time in 2025 and trying to live more of my life offline to improve mental and physical health.
2. Strict Exercise Regimes
Let’s face it, we all struggle to stick with a strict weekly workout routine. Instead, I’ll be trying to build a sustainable one based on my specific health and fitness goals.
And if I miss a workout because life gets in the way, I’ll be telling myself it’s okay and I can always get back into it.
3. Strict Diets
Strict diets and eating patterns aren’t often sustainable in the long run. I’ll be watching what I eat in 2025 and paying attention to how I feel without worrying about maintaining a specific diet or weight.
4. Overconsumption
This is a big one for me because of how much I love fashion and shopping in general. But, there are so often so many things we buy as consumers that we don’t need or ever use.
I’m vowing to reduce my consumption habits in 2025 and be more intentional when it comes to what I add to my wardrobe.
5. Having a Job You Don’t Like
Most of us spend 40 hours per week at work so who wants to spend that long every week unhappy? Everybody deserves to have a job they enjoy so that it doesn’t feel like work.
I feel very grateful that I’m self-employed with a career I love, but I will be conscious of the jobs and clients I take on in 2025.
6. Not Feeling Good Enough
Whether you don’t feel good enough in a job, relationship or friendship, you don’t deserve to feel that way. Find a job, relationship and friendship where you feel valued and watch your whole outlook change.
7. Large Circles
Life is full of distractions in 2025 and it’s difficult to keep up with lots of people. I’ll be choosing to tighten my circle going forward and focus on strong, supportive connections.
8. High-Maintenance Friendships
Following on from the previous point, life gets busier as you get older and it’s important to have friends who understand if you have to take a rain check or why you’ve taken so long to text back. True friends can go for months without speaking and then come together again like no time has passed at all.
9. People-Pleasing
This is easier said than done but people-pleasing behaviour isn’t good for anybody and should be left in 2024. You deserve to live a life where you are your authentic self and those around you also deserve to experience the authentic you.
And if those around you truly value you, they will want you to do what’s best for you and fully support that.
10. Toxic Behaviour
Lastly, let’s say goodbye to toxic behaviour for 2025, whether it’s yours or someone else’s. This may be elements of degrading, manipulation or controlling. Either way, I’ll be choosing to hold myself and others to higher standards to live a happier and healthier life.
New Year Ins and Outs: The Ins
Now, onto the ins for 2025.
1. Setting Healthy Boundaries
This first one ties in with the people-pleasing and toxic behaviour we were talking about before. Boundaries are essential for helping us establish and maintain healthy relationships and setting them is important to prevent burnout and protect our wellbeing.
Something I’ve learnt in 2024 is those who truly care about you and value you in their life will respect your boundaries, so don’t be afraid to instil them.
2. Surrounding Yourself with People Who Lift You Up
Life’s hard enough as it is without being around people who are constantly trying to bring you down or are consistently draining. Let’s all agree to surround ourselves with those who are like sunshine in human form in 2025, and cheer you on wherever life takes you.
3. Daily Movement
Whether, it’s walking to the shop, gardening or playing with my family pooch, I’ll be prioritising daily movement in 2025 rather than rigorous workouts. After all, research from the Blue Zones (areas of the world where people live the longest) shows that daily movement is good for your health and can boost longevity.
4. Eating a Balanced Diet But Treating Yourself Occasionally
The same Blue Zones research from the previous point found that eating a balanced diet is key to living longer. There are so many nutrients that our bodies need from different types of foods so it doesn’t make sense to deprive ourselves.
It’s a good idea to avoid foods that are processed, high in fat, salt, or sugar and low in nutritional value. That said, don’t worry about treating yourself occasionally because life’s too short not to have that doughnut.
5. Grounding Yourself in Nature
There are so many benefits to reconnecting to the earth by spending time outdoors, such as improving mental health, sleep, blood flow and cardiac function. I’ll be making more of an effort to leave the comfort of my home and get outside in 2025.
6. Being Kind to Yourself and Others
Kindness costs nothing and we could all do to sprinkle more kindness around like confetti. The world can be a dark and scary place, but we can be the change that we want to see going forward.
7. Quality Over Quantity Possessions
This one ties into the overconsumption habits we were talking about before. I’ll be choosing to have fewer, high-quality things this year, and reduce clutter in my home by selling on a second-hand marketplace or giving items away.
8. Saying “No”
You’re not a bad person for saying no to people and situations that don’t align with you. In fact, you’re doing yourself a disservice by saying yes when you really want to say no. Stay true to yourself and protect your peace in 2025.
9. Work, Hobbies and Projects That Bring You Joy
You deserve to reach new levels of happiness going forward, and you can do that by identifying the things that bring you joy. It could be that a change of job is needed, or new hobbies or projects. Either way, commit to finding what makes your soul shine for ultimate fulfilment.
10. Finding Happiness in Everyday Moments
Finally, following on from the previous point, happiness isn’t just found in the big moments. It’s also found in the small moments and simpler things, like a dog walk or cosy night in with a book.
I’ll be embracing life’s little pleasures in 2025 and doing more of what I love for a happy, healthy year ahead.
What are some of your New Year ins and outs? Do you like more personal articles like this? Let me know in the comments!
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