The last week or so has been pretty undisciplined over here. I started pulling apart my home office to reorganize it for the New Year and it is still in that classic organization-in-process state of “far more of a mess than when I started”. I hope to get a jump on the “back to normal” routine before my real “back to work” happens on Thursday. Brandon is coming home from a family trip and I have to run out to the airport to pick him up; after, it will be our last big decadent holiday meal (ham and homemade baked mac & cheese) but I’m skipping the champagne.

I don’t make resolutions per se but I do try to consider what is working for me and what isn’t. A few of the “keep” and “magnify” list for 2025:

Physical Health:

• Walking more (I’ve been a runner for 10+ years but have not been committed to the consistency of just walking, in the evening or when a run isn’t possible)
• Adding in strength training (see above – I don’t go full on, just a few short kettlebell workouts a week has felt really good)
• Magnesium supplement has been amazing for my sleep
• Upping my protein
• Sticking to a few boring yet consistent meals for breakfast and lunch – low points, high fiber and protein

Mental / Emotional Wellbeing:

• Journaling more, both here and on paper
• Staying ‘in my lane’ – avoiding drama and arguments when I can, limiting my exposure to people that stress me out or feel toxic (when I can)
• Remembering that taking care of myself and spending time with Brandon, my daughter, and my loved ones is just as much of an important job as my 9 to 5 and deserves just as much energy and commitment
• Spending as much time as I need to be alone and inwardly-focused
• Multiple meditation sessions a week; I’d love to amplify this in 2025 to a more daily, consistent practice.
• Indulging in the activities that bring me joy – knitting and fiber arts, trying new crafts, making candles, looking to vlogs, blogs, books and media for creative inspiration, reading and writing. I’d like to get back to creative writing in 2025.
• I’d like to find a volunteer opportunity or take advantage of smaller opportunities for giving – donations to the local food pantry, knitting mittens for the Mittens 4 Detroit initiative, etc. One of my larger goals as I approach retirement (which is still fairly far off, but visible way in the distance) is to start gradually lessening the time and emotional energy I invest in my 9 to 5 and amplifying the time I can spend doing volunteer work outside the home. This is definitely a longer-term goal as having a house, a partner, a teenager, and a slightly more than full-time job (and being an introvert) does not currently afford me enough time (in my estimation) to take on a volunteer role. But I am committed to keeping that as a goal as I begin in the next 10 years to ramp down my work life.
• Spending as much time as I can with my daughter. She is in the final two years of high school and before I blink, she will be spreading her beautiful wings to fly ever farther from my nest and I want to fully enjoy all of the time I have with her, while I have her under my roof.

Honestly I kind of hate New Year celebrations so the best thing I’ve found for me has been to just stay midstream and keep going like usual. But if it’s your jam then I hope you enjoy the evening! 2024 was by no means an easy year, so on the arbitrary calendar delineation day, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the lessons it sent my way and send up a wish for a softer and more peaceful 2025 for us all.