52 in 52: 2025 edition

About that time again, time for another 52-in-52 list!

Last year was a tough year. Mentally, it’s been one of the hardest in a while. Don’t get me wrong, there were a lot of positives and some amazing times. But I ended the year feeling extremely exhausted, and just burned out in general.

As a result, I pulled right back. I cut back on my social media – all of it – Facebook, Instagram, even reddit. I also started trying to get back into reading books. I withdrew from friends. I was frustrated in most areas of my life. I found that I started to struggle with feeling “happy”. I wasn’t writing, I wasn’t looking after myself, and I was likely not fun to be around.

The start of a new year couldn’t have come at a better time.

This year, I’ve already decided my word of the year is “joy”. I want to rediscover what joy is. I want to enjoy the small things, and look for joy in the big things. I want to start to change my mindset.

As a result, my 52 list is also about things that bring me joy. I cannot wait to get started.

The 2025 list

1. Use The StoryGraph app to track my reading (think Goodreads but with stats).
2. Read a book by the water.
3. Read a book surrounded by trees.
4. Select a specific “food”, research bakeries that make it, and then create a bakery tour to complete. It’s kinda like my almond croissant tour, but something that isn’t limited to 3-4 bakers supplying the coast.
5. Create a list of places to visit and then tick them off.
6. Try macrame (the knotting craft).
7. Try paper flower rolling craft.
8. Make a shadowbox.
9. Try shrink plastic craft.
10. Paint something.
11. Swim laps.
12. Finish an online iPhone photography course.
13. Finish an online iPhone videography course.
14. Finish a television series.
15. Take a photo a day. I plan on turning this into a yearly recap video like I have in previous years.
16. Photograph the stars.
17. Print out my 2024 “Year in Photos” album in a photobook.
18. Learn to make a new cocktail.
19. Pick some flowers.
20. Do a new jigsaw puzzle.
21. See a live performance (band, musical etc).
22. Drive a Tourist Route road trip.
23. Go somewhere green.
24. Go somewhere purple.
25. Go somewhere blue.
26. Go somewhere yellow.
27. Go for a bike ride.
28. Walk by the ocean.
29. Try a new cafe.
30. Write a daily reflection as often as possible.
31. Buy a new candle.
32. Write a letter.
33. Sit by the fire.
34. Dance.
35. Go for a hike.
36. See a waterfall.
37. Get a massage.
38. Take a bath.
39. Try a new nail polish colour.
40. Have a game night with friends.
41. Write a list of 10 things I appreciate about myself.
42. Go on a treasure hunt.
43. Decorate cookies.
44. Leave books in a park for others to find and read.
45. Have a candlelight dinner with my husband.
46. Donate blood.
47. Buy a coffee for a stranger.
48. Begin making a video of my 2024 US holiday.
49. Reach a milestone town on Run Down Under.
50. Get a facial.
51. Print and frame my word of the year.
52. Write a list of the things that bring me joy.

So that’s the list for this year. I’m really excited about it! I feel like it’s a good mix this year. There are small and big things, things that are quick to achieve, and some that will take some work.

What’s everyone else looking forward to for the new year?