With the New Year approaching, I’d like to give my unsolicited advice about what’s in for 2025 and what’s out. Feel free to disagree.
So, what’s in for 2025?
Having a hobby. If you have a hobby that you genuinely enjoy or get excited about, you’re a cool person. Hobbies are so fun, and we all need more fun in our lives. If you don’t have a hobby, pick one. Because this year hobbies are in. We deserve to invest time into the activities we find fulfilling and worthwhile.
Reading books for fun. This is a hot girl hobby. If you don’t like reading, you’re just not reading the right books. Everyone can find at least one topic they’re interested in. Find a book about that topic and go from there.
Intuitive eating. Because dieting and stressing about food are not in this year. And should never make a comeback.
Going to the movies. I think before Covid, more people just did this for the hell of it, but now it’s not very common. I, for one, love the movie theater. It makes the viewing experience so much better. Collectively, as a society, this needs to make a comeback. A casual afternoon or evening at the cinema. The movie doesn’t even have to be that good. Just as long as the candy is.
Slowing down. Literally, what’s the rush? What are you racing towards, death? I feel like this culture is always moving so fast, working towards something else. Whatever’s next. I’m guilty of this, too, but this year, I want to be intentional about appreciating where I’m at. Fully enjoying the journey. Taking my time with things. I still want to pursue my goals and move forward; I just don’t want to be constantly rushing to get there. I don’t want to burn myself out with the pressure to always be productive. What are we trying to prove? And to whom? This year, we should all just take a moment. Keep moving forward. But slowly and intentionally.
Boundaries. It’s like people are so afraid to say no nowadays. I don’t mind hurting people’s feelings anymore. I know that sounds cruel, but truthfully, that’s never my intention. Do what’s best for you. If you honestly don’t want to do something, don’t. Doing things out of guilt often just breeds resentment and frustration. Relationships can suffer from a build-up of half-hearted or coerced yeses. Don’t disrupt your peace. Stay genuine. Do things because you want to and because it comes from an honest place. Relationships grow from this mindset. Never feel like you’re being forced into things. That’s a sure sign that you just shouldn’t do something. Set your own boundaries and stand by them. It’ll make for a better year.
Prioritizing your happiness. There’s no one else that has to live your life but you. So, for the love of God, do what you can to make it pleasant. Of course, we all have bad days and even less- than ideal seasons of life. But as you zoom out, in general, we should all have a sense of joy and hope that keeps us going. Don’t worry too much about what other people think of you, and do what you can to put your well-being first. This is not selfish. You can’t be your best for others if you cannot be your best for yourself first. A happier you makes for a kinder and more pleasant you.
Using environment-friendly and cruelty-free products. I think we should all shift to supporting the brands that support us. Look at and understand the ingredients in your products. Choose cruelty-free options. Make sustainable choices. A healthier planet equals healthier individuals. I encourage you all to find some middle ground this year and select affordable yet wholesome products that won’t negatively affect your body and your health.
Taking risks. This one is hard for me to even suggest because it makes me feel like a hypocrite. No one loves their comfort zone more than me. But I’m getting better at doing the shit that terrifies me and trying to put myself out there in a world that can be harsh, cruel, and judgmental. We will never grow or encounter an experience that changes us for the better without any risk. Without risks, there is no movement, no path forward. I think that’s even more terrifying than failure or being laughed at or made a fool of. At least in my opinion.
Pursuing your passions. This is one I really want to drive home. And I’m not sure if you all are religious, but hear me out for a moment. God, or whatever greater power you believe in, created us all so uniquely. I feel as if the world is far too complex for none of that to be real. There are just too many coincidences and puzzle pieces that fit together a little too nicely for this world to be an accident with no meaning and nothing afterward. The way each of us has different things we care about that reflect the needs we see around us; it just makes sense that we’re here for a reason. So whatever you find your passions in, just know that you feel that way for good reason. Wherever you feel called, don’t hesitate. You can make meaningful change and impact with those things you truly care about. Don’t hold back, and don’t doubt yourself. Trying and failing is so much more brave and respectable than being a little bitch that doesn’t ever do anything.
What’s Out for 2025?
Clutter. Life is so much easier when you just clean up after yourself. With a clean space, you just feel more at peace. There’s something so satisfying about being tidy and organized. Life can feel more chaotic when your space is chaotic. I think this year we should all clean our room and go through our closets. We should organize the kitchen and miscellaneous tubs of bullshit lying around in the basement or attic. There’s so much we could throw away or donate, yet we just don’t. In 2025, let’s collectively decide to be minimalists and not fall victim to consumerism or hoarding.
Owning exotic animals. At this point, what the fuck. Is there a specific reason you need three crocodiles, a camel, and two chimpanzees in your basement? What’s the endgame here?
An unchecked God complex. It’s mind-baffling that there are people walking around on this earth with the innate belief that they are just better than other people. That they’re exceptionally more important than everyone around them. The “I’m always right” and “I know more than you” attitude is not cute. Or even worse, the “I have more money than you, so I’m worth more as a person” attitude. I’m sorry, but who the hell raised you? We’re all just people trying to figure life out, when did it become more complex than that? People are people and should all be treated as such. You may have more dollars than me, but I’ll wipe my ass with that dollar and stick it on your forehead if I get a sense you think you’re worth more as a person because of it.
Expecting people to read your mind. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. When people have the audacity to get upset with you but never communicate that there was an issue to begin with. Be an adult, say what you’re thinking. Be upfront. It’ll be much more helpful and resolve issues a lot quicker rather than expecting people to read your mind to know when a problem arises. If you feel a certain way, say it. To my knowledge, no one has mind reading capabilities. At least, that I’m aware of.
Strict routines. As a former perfectionist, I know how terrible this can be for you. Of course, routines are a great thing. My routine makes me excited to wake up in the morning. I like keeping myself and my priorities organized. Yet, there was a time in my life when this became exceptionally toxic. I put too much pressure on myself and made my life too complex for no reason. I still have staple parts of my day that I categorize as “routine,” but I try my best to remain flexible in the details. I also know if I don’t do a “routine” task or skip something, my world will not end. Surely, I will wake up tomorrow. Give yourself grace and remove the pressure to be perfect.
Starting a new dieting or weight loss program. We all deserve so much better. And I get at the start of the new year, things like this can be really exciting however, this industry is not here to help us. They need us to fail because they need our money. They need us to buy the next supplement, program, or product once the previous one fails. We all have insecurities, but we need to grow up and confront them in a straightforward way. Once again, we cannot hate ourselves into a body that we love, and thinner does not equal healthier. Let’s prioritize the small daily habits that make us feel better. Do the little things when you can, and don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Move to feel good, eat to feel good, and most importantly, don’t blow money on shit you don’t enjoy as a means to shrink yourself. Your looks will always be the least interesting thing about you. It may be the first thing we notice about one another, but it’s beautiful that that’s just the surface. There is so much more. In all of us. I love the question, “Who would you be if no one could see your body? If there was no scale or no mirrors?”. Figure it out and be that person this year.
Fast fashion. The issue with fast fashion is that it’s a huge contributor to the world’s carbon emissions. Almost 10%, to be exact. And don’t forget about the child labor. And one last thing I’ll mention: does anyone really need that shirt from Forever 21 that says some stupid shit like “peace, love, and avocados”? Who the hell is wearing that?
Chewing with your mouth open. This is by far my biggest pet peeve. It is so hard to keep my cool when I hear the aggressive sound of chewing and chomping. And what’s neat is that it’s not that hard to chew with your mouth closed. So, let’s collectively all do this in 2025.
Cringey engagement photo shoots. I know this makes me sound like an asshole, but I have to be straight with you guys. I just feel ill seeing the shit. Don’t get me wrong, I love weddings, and I’m thrilled for those I know who are engaged. And a lot of engagement photos are timeless, elegant, and lovely. And the ones that are not need to be wiped clean from all corners of the internet. They have to stop. Or maybe my New Year’s resolution could be to have a less judgmental attitude. Nah, I think people should just stop with the cringey engagement photos. I can’t be the only one in turmoil from seeing these.
Mindless scrolling. Personally, I think social media can be a great thing. I use it every day practically. I don’t want you all to think I’m dissing the use of scrolling on TikTok or Instagram because I do it, too. I think we still need to be intentional about it, however. For example, a doom scroll on TikTok can be such a mood boost when the for you page is hitting, but we need to be aware that we’re using our time that way and savor it. We shouldn’t just open a social media app when we’re bored, we should be invested and really consuming the content we’re seeing. Not just simply looking and scrolling to waste time, but instead to laugh, check in on people, or get some inspiration. And when you find yourself scrolling and see some whack shit you don’t like, for the love of God, use the unfollow button to your advantage. I’ve used that thing so much that I know now that when I open social media, I won’t see some bullshit that I don’t like, will hurt my feelings, or something I give zero fucks about.
Okay, so that was it. My ten picks for what’s in and out for 2025. Make your own list if you have the time. It was such a fun thing to do. And once again, these are just my words, not gospel. Just another silly little blog post for shits and giggles. Agree, disagree, love, hate. To each their own.
Until next week, Merry Christmas pals.