2025 ins & outs
my intentions for the year.
Happy New Year!
2025 is going to be a very special year for me. I’m turning 30 soon, and I’m finally starting school after years of thinking about it— pursuing my BA in Communications. It’s not going to be easy, but I’m always going to remind myself why I chose to do this.
I just know this year is going to be filled with new opportunities, and I’m so ready for it. I believe my 30s are going to be the best chapters of my life—lots of lessons to learn and milestones to hit.
Also… I don’t usually share my intentions for the year out loud, but I’m making an exception with my first Substack newsletter of 2025 hehe
brace yourself….
2025 ins:
Embracing my 30s
- to constantly remind myself that age is just a number
- do what makes me happy
- to be courageous enough to make decisions that align with my vision.
- prioritising my physical and mental health
- cultivate gratitude
- building meaningful connections
- be open to changes
Practicing Mindfulness
- to be more present in the now than worrying too much in about the future or think too much about the past.
- Acceptance: not labelling my situation as bad or good, but embracing it; letting go of control; accepting challenging circumstances as they are; being more present; and practicing self-acceptance.
- Focus: Breathing Techniques, Meditation
- Consistency: to be consistent in incorporating mindfulness into my daily life (i.e. practice mindful eating, drinking 3 litres of water daily, going for a long walk, yoga, to be mindful of my thoughts, go to therapy once every month, journaling).
Prioritise sleep: 7-8 hours of sleep daily, lights out by 11pm.
Work on my inner monologue
- to be kinder to myself.
- embracing the inner critic and accepting that she’s there to protect me, instead of focusing on shutting her down completely. At the same time, not allowing her to entirely take over my mind.
- work closely with my inner champion.
Put myself first and continue to set boundaries
Continue to practice self-love and make it a lifestyle
- More solo dates this year
- I’ve always loved fashion, but I’ve held off on wearing certain outfits because I kept telling myself I’d “wait” until I lost weight. This year, that’s not happening. I’m going to focus on how I present myself and put more effort into styling—regardless of the number on the scale.
- Accepting myself for who i am and work on being a better person. (i.e. shadow work)
Celebrate my positives: to appreciate my growth; not be ashamed to celebrate my wins out loud; and continue being my own cheerleader.
Write longform articles on Substack
Dedicate time for content creation
Read more articles and essays
Listen to at least one podcast episode daily
Dedicate a morning and evening routine
Limit screen time to 4-5 hours per day (social media is my work)
Social Media Detox: Not to use social media for 1hr after waking up and 30 mins before going to bed.
Clear my space regularly to keep it organised (i.e. phone storage, emails, clothes, bookshelf, room and etc.)
Increase my financial literacy: i hate math, but I know I need to start learning about budgeting, setting financial goals, and investments. i know i should have done this in my 20s but it’s never too late.
2025 Outs:
Worrying a lot about how others perceive me or whether what I do might be seen as cringe or embarrassing.
Overbuying books when there are still books to be read on my bookshelf
Not standing up for myself
Chasing perfectionism
Self-doubts and overthinking my decisions
Afraid to go on dates: I’m not sure why I feel afraid to go on dates, but I’m working on it. This year, I want to at least go on one date to push through the fear.
Procrastination
Holding on to things that don’t matter: to let go of things that won’t matter in 5 years, like grudges, lingering feelings, or past unpleasant memories.
Explaining my “NO”: I have a tendency to over-explain when I say ‘No’ to plans or when I’m taking leave from work. That’s going to change this year.
External Validations (i.e. social media followers, likes, comments and etc)
Listening to unsolicited advice just because I don’t want to offend the person offering it.
Doubting my worth and settle for less.
Letting people take advantage of my kindness.
Comparing my chapter 3 with someone’s else’s chapter 10
I feel like setting your intentions for the year really helps guide what you're ready for. It’s also important not to rush—take your time to reflect on what you want to bring into the new year and what you want to leave behind. You don’t need a long list. Start with 3-4 things, because I know a lengthy list can be overwhelming.
My suggestion is to journal your intentions first and ask yourself questions like:
What do you want the new year to look like? What is your theme for the year?
What changes do you want to make?
Imagine 2025 is your ideal year—what does it look like? How do you feel? What have you accomplished?
What small changes in your daily routine can help bring your values to life?
What are you holding onto—whether thoughts, beliefs, or objects—that no longer supports your growth?
These are a few journal prompts to get you started! I hope this helps. If you’re comfortable, share with me a few of your 2025 ins and outs.
