25 changes for 2025

[ToriTheStoryteller]

I started a thread at the start of 2024 called "one small change each week". 2024 thread
Loved updating it and chatting to people who were also trying to make changes but maybe felt a bit overwhelmed by the usual mindset of "right, I'm losing 2 stone, cutting sugar, getting a new job and taking up 3 sports" only to feel like a failure before January is out!

It went well - the old me would have said it was a disaster as I probably kept approx 8-10 habits, but the new me thinks that's brilliant, to have 8 habits that I wasn't keeping to a year ago.

So, onto 2025. Just to encourage a bit more oomph into my brain, I'm planning on 25 for 25: 25 small changes that will improve my life next year.

Wanna join? 🙂

1. Do a weights session 2x per week.

I've had to change gyms and I don't like the new one as much, but seeing a few older relations over Christmas, all with physical issues, is the push I need to want to get stronger.

I need to do this. I fall into bad habits when husband is away from home though as he is away at least one night a week and I don't like to have my phone downstairs when he's not home. I've been leaving mine in the hall which has helped a lot, though I still get up, turn off the alarm and get back into bed!

My 2 new resolutions for this week is one I've read in my focus journal for decluttering. Every day choosing a messy surface and setting a 5 minute timer to tidy it, and if time clean it too. Second one is intermittent fasting, to have a break from eating for 10-16 hours overnight. So don't snack in the evenings, and hold off on breakfast if practical.

One week done and I have made an effort to drink more water than usual. I’ve only meet my target of 2 litres on 4 days but I have improved every day.

I’m keeping up with and adding in a daily protein target.

I've been doing this too, just basic things like putting toothpaste on early bird LO's toothbrush & setting out a healthy snack tho last until I make breakfast, filling water bottles or running the sodastream if we're heading out early, sorting out the day's clothes etc. I love listening to KC Davis' audiobook of 'How To Keep House While Drowning', and she frames this as a 'kindness' to future me which really appeals. New list:

1. Drink more fluids.
2. Prep tonight for tomorrow.

I'm going to go & be kind to tomorrow morning's me by making lunches and packing the bag for the morning 😊

I’m late to the party - as always!
Inspirational thread. My first one is to drink my water bottle twice at work. Once in the morning and again in the afternoon

Following this thread for inspo!

I am joining if that's ok! My sleep is bad so I am trying to go for an early morning walk. I went out in wind and rain first thing this morning just for 15 minutes. I plan to try this for a week and see if it's of benefit /realistic when juggling work and school run commutes. I also am planning to do daily 40 squats and a plank for 40 seconds.... Fingers crossed! Good luck everyone, I love this idea of trying different things and seeing what sticks.

Think I'm going to check in on Sundays (forgot last night) and either continue my same habit or add a new one depending how the week has gone. Going to continue to no evening snacking - managed a couple of nights last week but also succumbed to the Christmas chocolates a couple of nights. Good news is they are now all gone so I shouldn't have much to tempt me tonight! Wasn't a habit per se, but I've been doing Adriene's 7 day yoga challenge and really enjoying it. Daily practice isn't realistic for me as I only get small windows to exercise with my toddler and want to do a mix of strength, cardio and yoga in those times but I think I'll aim for yoga once or twice each week once the challenge is over. So I guess that's my second habit there!

Week 1 update:

• Brush my teeth for 2 minutes every morning & night - stuck to this every day
• Take my meds every morning and night - 3/4 days
• Drink 1 bottle of water a day - 2/4 days
• Spend 5 minutes each night going through photos from that day - 1/4 days
• One job every day - 2/4 days

Not a great start but that’s ok. I’m going to continue with the same goals for this week and see what happens.

Well done everyone. Everyday is a fresh start, and it takes time to build new habits.

I've started properly today - drank 2 litres of water (note to self dungarees are not the ones when you drink more and then inevitably need to wee more). Done my 10k steps and not snacked.

My just for me task today was 10 mins reading while dd napped.

So a good start, back to work tomorrow, full routine back into the swing on Wednesday, so let's see if I can keep it up on a fully normal day.

I’ve found over the last few years that keeping some kind of chart for daily habits really drives the motivation home. I do this for daily yoga. Duolingo, and step count, and whilst not perfect, having a record of days really helps. There are diaries you can get with charts in the back.
Trying to focus on drinking more water, as well as putting the phone down on Sundays.

I've got some knee strengthening exercises from the physio to do so I'll add that to my list so far:

Drink more water: I'm doing this by filling my travel coffee mug with water between coffees/teas. Then if I think I fancy a coffee but my cups half full I have to drink it first. I'm finding it more effective than a bottle.

Colour by numbers: have just missed one day and I really enjoy this.

Set a 5 minute timer to Tidy a surface: 3 days 3 Tindy surfaces.

I've also done intermittent fasting, just 11 hours overnight but not really any difference to my normal routine.

1. incorporate some weight training into my exercise routine. I've done a few short kettlebell lifts every other day (twice so far, due to do it this evening). I listened to Gabby Logan's midpoint podcast and Dr Rangan Chatterjee was the guest and mentioned how he does lifts while his coffee brews in the morning and that made me realise it doesn't have to be a huge long workout to be included.

2. reducing time on my phone. I've put time controls back on and beginning to pay attention to them. Little steps but good enough to build on.

3. use that time in the evenings to either read or sew. I've been reading and cut out a pattern. But again, little steps to build on.

1 week in and I've stuck to a few new habits so far.

Drinking green teas instead of numerous coffees all morning.
Reading books during my lunch break and at bedtime.
Fasting until 12 noon
Hand creams whenever I wash my hands

Next need to get some excerise/weights habits each day

I’m finding it tricky with the snow. I feel like I won’t be able to get properly going till next week but maybe I’m not trying hard enough.

What habits are you struggling to start? Is there one easy one you can start with? Drinking more water? Reading more?

My head feels a bit all over the place with wanting to do everything all at once as usual and then fail.

But I have started small with having a glass of water every morning first thing before I drink my tea.

Today I have added in back stretches before I get out of bed. Knees to chest, knees to each side and then another one the chiropractor advised me to do.

I have also been standing on one leg every day at some stage for the last couple of days.

I can’t exercise this week and I’m on liquids only after a dental procedure on Tuesday so the above is about all I’m feeling like.

Getting my exercise fitted in. It’s soooo icy outside it’s too dangerous to try and get out. The schools are closed with the snow so the kids are with me 24/7. I’ve put on YouTube workouts but my youngest crawls underneath me when I’m doing push ups, then sits on top of me when I’m doing sit ups. Stands behind me when I’m trying to do burpees. I feel like I can’t move.
i have been doing my skin care routine and my water flosser for my teeth so it’s not a total loss.

One week in and I have managed to get the early morning light most mornings and am getting a lot more deep sleep as a result. Was pleased with myself this morning as managed to do an hour in the garden (mainly sawing up this Christmas tree) despite it being -3.

@NearlyNewHip I've done this too for this week. I never thought it would make a difference (in my head I was always thinking "if I've got to get everything ready anyway, what difference does it make WHEN I do it?") but it gave me such a sense of relief to have all 5 outfits hung up together and to make lunch the night before, instead of flying out the house looking like a toddler got me dressed.

@BabstheBounder that's what helped me with my phone, I put it on sleep at 8pm so it's black and white. It means if I pick it up then I only really check any messages because scrolling monotone pages is a) boring and b) a constant reminder to me that I shouldn't be on there!

@cherrysodas don't be hard on yourself - doing skincare and flossing is a really good habit (I still forget flossing 2 or 3 nights a week!) and exercising with rugrats under your feet would be a massive ask.🤣

I'll have a think about my next habit to start - I'm liking the idea of a 5-minute tidy every day. I'm always amazed by how much you can tidy just while the kettle is boiling so this could make a big difference to how I feel if the house is a bit tidier every day.

Lovely thread!
Please may I join?
For next week, I want to move every hour and get the 250 steps per hour my fitbit nags me to.
I have a desk job and I find I am achey from too much sitting - it's unbelievable.
I want to do this even if I have done my morning yoga or gone for a walk outside.
Xx

That is so frustrating! My cat does similar.. without trying to minimise it, how about trying to make it a game with them and see if you can get them to copy you- or lift them up and make it part of the workout?
I think Katy Bowman (movement matters) has some stuff online somewhere about this? It’s such a common situation.

Quick check-in before I start tomorrow's prep.

I keep gazing at the piles of books everywhere and I've decided it's time to add them to the list. I'll aim to average a book a week for the year, alternating between the (mainly) novels that have been waiting for the moment I'm inspired to pick them up, and the useful books that will (hopefully, somehow) improve my life through imparting helpful knowledge or skills. I'm going to be more discerning with my time though - it's rare that I don't enjoy a particular book at all, but this year if I'm reluctant to pick it back up, I'm going to let it go.

Update

Back from my prep & I've chosen a book to take with me as I may have time to start tomorrow. I also realised I need to add #4 to the list because once I start a book I usually don't stop till it's finished (hello again, 3am). More sleep is key for so many other changes too, so I think it's worth adding in early & hope I'm not overdoing it...

New list:

1. Drink more fluids.
2. Prep tonight for tomorrow.
3. 0/52 books to educate (0) & entertain (0).
4. Be asleep before midnight.

One thing I noticed when we started the last thread, is that I took positives from other peoples changes they wanted to make. So other people had things like floss every day, take medication every day, take HRT every day, drink a glass of water every day etc on their to do list, when I was already doing those things routinely. So don’t forget to find the positives in the things you are already doing, rather than only looking for changes you need to make.

So I’ve managed my first 2 changes everyday this week (well sort of). Drinking more water has been quite easy. Getting outside for a walk more problematic as worried I’ll slip and fall. So on those really frosty days I’ve done a U tube walk indoors for 20 mins. 👏👏
Now to think what to add next week🤔
First one is no food after 8 pm unless I’m out for dinner.
Number 2 is to go to my exercise class each week. Once I’m there I enjoy it but it’s very easy to not bother.