In's and Out's

Following the recent trend of "Ins and Outs", which I've LOVED, I thought I'd write my own down. So much of 2024 was solely lived in survival mode. Looking back on photos, hobbies, crazy weight gain, job changes, the hurricane, then moving into our townhome I'd say I'm ready to be more in control in 2025 (more prepared?! Hello "final destination brain??") Regardless, I have a good chunk of lifestyle choices I plan to ditch in the new year. Okay less rambling, let's get to it.

IN

• Budgeting! Not just to have an emergency fund, extra spending monthly etc. But budgeting to feel like I can really save because my vision for what I will receive in the future is so clear but it will not happen if I don't get real on learning the ebb and flow of money. (hint, the ebb and flow is just me spending recklessly on things I don't need).

• Finding a book series instead of self-help books 24/7! I never finish self help books anyway and they usually leave me feeling dumb since I feel like I can't track what they're saying. I do have a few I love regardless and always always come back to just to read certain chapters, etc. But I'd LOVE to do a deep dive into more series in 2025! I keep trying to make a book club happen but it hasn't made it's way to fruition quite yet. Someday!

• More MUSIC + concerts! This speaks for itself. It falls under the category of less material things and more experiences!

• Less spending and more ethical/ local shopping! I see people doing a no-spend 2025, and although I think that's amazing I know I couldn't be part of it. I don't shop at bigger places, such as Amazon, but I do my fair share of Walmart and Target. I'd love to focus more on local buys, especially after the hurricane Helene to continue to support my community. Along with this I'd love to try and chase some deals and discounts, anything to save money, right?

• finding a healthy relationship with alcohol! I love to drink socially, buy my habitual drinking is NOT something I'm proud of. I'm doing dry January on the Reframe app (check it out!!!!) and I'm hoping it'll help with being able to break the habitual side of drinking so I can safely enjoy drinking socially without spiraling :-)

• Okay I'm going to speed these up now: exercising for fun and not just to change my body! eeeeek! so much self-hatred and body shaming (to myself allll the time), leaving that in 2024!

• experiences!! hiking, camping and 100293409230583486094358% roadtripping! I have a few big roadtrips I'd love to do this year and they are absolutely happening.

  

• learning to do things I've usually felt uncomfortable with, like cooking. Bill does all of it and I'm so grateful but I need to learn how to cook healthy meals and appreciate the process.

  
  
  
  

• getting into a routine! I know that the days change and what feels good one day might not the other, but having a checklist of things that are non negotiable to get done throughout the day and maintain some consistency.

• reduce, reuse, recycle :-)

• mindful parenting!! I am so bad at not being mindful in what my child is eating, playing, watching, etc. I've already been practicing this as we near the end of the year but I have a few more in depth parenting goals and I'm excited to continue to implement them into the new year because her growth and happiness is so important.

OUT

• negative self talk from sun-up to sun-down! Your brain believes everything you think to it (I think). I need to get it together and speak to it kindly!

• being flakey! I have such a bad habit of making plans and cancelling last minute. It leaves friends feeling like I don't care about them, when in reality I do. In 2025 I just want to be more aware of the energy I'm giving to others and be intentional when setting plans. Because when plans are made I'm usually feeling so nostalgic and I WANT to see these friends, but then the day comes and I'm so exhausted or feeling terrible about myself and I find it to be better to isolate. So in 2025 I just want to be more mindful about friendships and my commitments and understand that what I put in is what I will get out and I have to be okay with that, along with having to be okay with friendships ending when I can't reciprocate.

• wracking up debt! shewwwwwwww. If I can't pay for it now then I shouldn't pay for it within the span of five months. I think there are certain stipulations with this "out". But I have a horrible Affirm addiction and I'll be paying off debt from walmart and various other online stores until summer :-)

• being on my phone too much. This one is hard, but it's a goal!

• leaving the house dirty at the end of the day! I don't think it needs to be a priority to deep clean every night, but placing basic items where they should be and setting up my coffee to brew the next morning literally sets the next day up for success. Too often I leave the house looking like a shit-show and then wonder why my mental health is shot to hell? I don't even give myself a fighting chance. I can't wait to change it in 2025.

and lastly...

• caring too much what others think of me. It's the reason I don't do so many things. I'm leaving that behind in 2025, honestly started to leave it behind in 2024 but I'm fully going in this next year. Working where I do, with older patients, I've learned so much about life. And everything I've learned comes down to a general consensus, that life is too short to not do the things you love, or are scared to do. I hear it over and over again and I'm integrating this into 2025 because I don't want to be in a nursing home one day thinking back to what I wish I would have done or what I didn't do.

This list could honestly go on and on and on. But this is what I have for now and I feel so confident and happy with what 2025 will hold! And at the same time, I know accomplishing goals and turning your life around can happen at any moment, but there's something SO beautiful about a collective sigh of relief and positivity as we close out the old and bring in the new. May 2025 be the year of life, living through new adventures, joy joy joy, feeling all of the things, putting ourselves first and taking risks.

Goodbye 2024, I won't really miss you!

love,

Tate