Breaking Cycles: Preparing for 2025 in 6 Steps
This post is all about breaking the cycles that have held you back year after year! It’s designed to help you wrap up 2024 with a sense of closure and step confidently into 2025.
When you’re ready to dive into this 6-step process, I’ve created a handy checklist with all the questions you’ll need to successfully enter 2025. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Reflect on 2024
Start by reflecting on your life in terms of key categories. You’ve probably seen these before on a life wheel, but we’ll focus on:
Finances
Career
Relationships
Personal Growth
Health & Wellness
Fun
For each category, ask yourself the following questions:
What happened?
Be objective—simply list the events without assigning any value.What went well?
Here’s where you can be subjective. Celebrate your wins!What didn’t go as planned?
Identify what failed or didn’t meet your expectations.
Step 2: Choose Your Tool
How will you document your journey in 2025? For 2024, I used a running Google Doc to set monthly goals, reflect, and plan for the following month. This year, I’m shaking things up with a new planner!
Want to see what I’m using? Check out my YouTube video to explore my new planner and junk journal.
Step 3: Set Your Intentions
Next, set your intentions and create a theme for the year. Think big picture—this isn’t about specific goals just yet. Your intentions will serve as a compass, guiding your energy as you move toward goal-setting.
To shape your intentions, revisit the categories you reflected on earlier. Look for patterns, habits, or areas for growth. Ask yourself:
How do I want to feel?
Who do I want to become?
What do I truly want in this area of my life?
Reflect on past challenges and successes, and let those insights shape your focus for 2025.
Step 4: Create a Vision Board
Now it’s time to bring your intentions to life visually! A vision board is a powerful way to solidify your theme and intentions for the year.
In this podcast episode, I’ll take you behind the scenes of my vision board for 2025.
Step 5: Set Goals
Forget year-long resolutions that fizzle out by February. Instead, set shorter, more focused goals—either monthly or quarterly.
Why?
You’re less likely to lose sight of short-term goals.
Shorter timeframes encourage action and reduce procrastination.
It allows you to break big goals into smaller, manageable steps.
Start with your goals for January or the first quarter and build from there.
Step 6: Write a Letter to Your Future Self
Writing a letter to your future self is one of the most powerful self-reflection tools. You’ll connect your present self with the version of you who will read it on December 31, 2025.
Here’s how to format your letter:
Begin with a snapshot of your current self.
Share your hopes and dreams for the year ahead.
Acknowledge that there will be challenges.
Celebrate your intentions and progress toward your goals.
End with gratitude and encouragement for your future self.
Your Turn
What’s your process for preparing for the new year? Share your tips in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re getting ready to make 2025 your best year yet!
With these six steps, you’ll be well on your way to breaking old cycles and stepping into a fresh, intentional 2025. Let’s do this together!
