ELEVATE 2025 – Time for Those Resolutions

Hello 2025. 2025 that number seems so science fiction, right? But here we are. It is the morning of a glorious new year. The sun is shining. The air is cold and crisp and my coffee is hot and the fragrance fills the room. And as tradition has it I am starting this year off with my favorite blog posts to write. I have a gazillion plans, intentions and goals to elevate 2025 to an amazing year.

Long time readers know that all my goals and intentions are settled around my word of the year. It is my key preparation to find the right word. Back in October I had an epiphany and was rather sure it will be “lift”. It is not. Another hot contender – already last year – was “tone”. But they all felt bla. I knew the intentions, the drive, the way forward after shape was right but the word…. In the end I settled on ELEVATE as my word for 2025. It has a bit more magic to it. It is a bit more glamorous. It may have more possibility. I will know by end of 2025.

Side note: I have been setting a word for the year for over decade now. Some have been stronger and life changing some have been rippling along like a little brook. But every single one had some sort of impact. I usually follow Susannah Conways workbook. However after so many years I often feel the word without religiously going through it. Here you can read more about my process of choosing a word of the year.

I have to admit that I do not feel this word ELEVATE as strongly as I have felt magic or celebrate. Even shape had a stronger feeling – even if uncomfortable and daunting. ELEVATE is just a word that could become a spark. It hasn’t yet. It is up to me to bring the magic to it.

Maybe that is the foreshadowing. ELEVATE is not a very proactive word. It is more low key. It is quiet. It needs patience. It is something to work on continuously. It doesn’t announce itself with fireworks and big entrances. It is in the back of the room radiating an aura. It is the 20 percent that are the hardest to achieve. The extra mile. And it is what I feel 2025 is going to be for me. Shape has given me a solid foundation of change I want to make. Elevate is the extension. The momentum needs to carry on and elevate those changes. With all these thoughts in mind I have come up with the following intentions for 2025.

What will ELEVATE look like in terms of goals and dreams in 2024:

I have identified five areas where I want to elevate myself in 2025. For each one I have some goals, dreams and intentions. Not all will be shared. Some are private.

Elevate my happiness

As every year my overall intention is to be coming a happy and content person. All following areas will play its part but here are some special intentions to focus on.

Elevate my soul by

• Traveling – An anniversary trip has been planned. I hope another vacation will happen in 2025. Some out of town happenings are already scheduled. Maybe we can add a day or two and make it a mini vacation. But also I want to spend one or two weekends alone at the country home.
• Exploring – the neighborhood, new places, a museum or an art show, new ways to walk. Everything that gives me a new perspective, an idea and new way of thinking.

Elevate my creativity by

• Art Journaling – inspired by Hanna and Tammy I want to try doing art daily. It always makes me happy when I do it but I am not allowing myself time outside a challenge (which is bananas but that is how my brain works) On a whim I bought myself a notebook with numbered pages and I will try to fill them.
• 100 day project – I will attend of course but I make it a special project within the art journaling in order to not overwhelm myself. Being practical here.
• Photography – I want to spend some more time on private photography. I have been shooting so much content for clients in the past years that I have nothing really to show for myself.
  • Also I will join iHanna in the Spotted Photo Challenge.
  • I have a received a gift voucher for creative life in 2024 and I used it to sign up for a year membership. My plan is to watch at least 12 classes in 2025.
• Sewing – I want to make clothes. I need to mend clothes. I didn’t do any wearable piece in accordance with my word of the year in 2024 and I do not like it. So the plan is to sew myself a sparkly silver pencil skirt or a white flowing maxi skirt. Maybe do some jewelry that elevates my style. I also really want a new maxi skirt.

Elevate my hobbies by

• Reading – looking at my stats I realized romance was my most read genre. And I don’t particular like it. It is just easy. So I will make an effort to have historical fiction or contemporary fiction on the top of that list in 2025. Elevate my reading that is the goal.
• Blogging – I will participate in NaBloPoMo and try to consistently comment on blogs. I also have some ideas for new post series for 2025.

Elevate my health & physical appearance 

This will be an extension of my main focus of 2024 and I want to take the momentum into this year.

Elevate my physical appearance and fitness by

• striving for a three day yoga routine → designated days will be Tue | Thu | Sat
• adding a three day weigh lifting routine → designated days will be Mo | Wed | Fri
• doing lunch time walks every weekday and joining the Cool Bloggers Walking Club in April & October and while being at it increasing the daily steps in 2025 by 500 on average aiming for 6,500 daily steps.
• increasing my fitness level and having better cardio.
• swimming in the river as often as possible during the summer month.
• improving my posture.

Elevate my health by

• reducing my sugar intake – this will help tremendously with my migraines. The plan is to
  • try 10 new sugar free recipes
  • do Lent by eating no cake/candy/chocolate
  • sugar-free month in November
  • bonus challenge to not eat cake/candy/chocolate during weekdays
• doing a detox (fasting) week. I know I can do it but I need to dedicate a time well in advance for it to be successful.
• working on sleeping better and longer → end of January I finally get the clinical sleep study done.
• monitoring blood pressure every quarter → last time at the doc it was unbelievably high and I was shocked.
• monitore possible perimenopause symptoms so I have something to show my gyn when seeing her in October. I have an inkling it is starting.

Elevate my relationships by

This includes not only my marriage but also family and friends – real life and online.

• continuing Date Days with the husband.
• attending family happenings – quite a few are already planned. Lots is happening this year.
• hosting one big event – summer party or another Friendsgiving. Need to discuss with husband.
• checking in regularly with my sister who doesn’t live close. Also visiting outside of family happenings once.
• seeing my best friend monthly if not in person have face time calls. Do one special breakfast meeting at a new place.
• commenting on blog posts at least every Sunday.
• writing one letter monthly for what ever reason and whomever I want to.
• sharing posts and snippets from local businesses, artist and small entrepreneurs to elevate their reach.

Elevate my home by

This is focusing on my living surroundings and things I want to elevate.

• finishing the terrace → needs a sun umbrella, also a deep clean of the tiles, maybe some more plants.
• hanging pictures → as of today our home is devoid of art and pictures besides our offices. Want to change that.
• keeping a cleaning schedule and not drown in dirt and chaos. I have made a plan.
• cleaning all windows → this will be such an improvement. I will get it done in 2025 and if I end up paying a professional to do it. We have a lot of windows…

Elevate my style & behavior by

This is a bit of a fun category I throw in – just because (thanks Elisabeth for the inspiration). It will probably not be the main part I focus on but it will be playful. Well some are no fun but a good addition.

• creating elevated outfits every month from things in my closet. And wear them! Here is what I have in mind.
• wearing jewelry at all possible times.
• using perfume as often as possible.
• playing around with make-up and nail colors and styles.
• investing only in good quality clothing and stay away from fast fashion.
• being kinder to people especially when they make me mad.
• eating with fork and knife more often.
• watching my tone of voice.
• arranging dinner on the plates in a fancy way.
• serving a fancy cocktail (can be non-alcoholic) to myself monthly.

Well, if I am committed I am committed and this list is very overwhelming. But I guess I aim high and even if I only manage half of it is an achievement. Here is to an elevated 2025 – a year full of promise, glamour and great experiences.  

Did you choose a word of the year? Do you make plans and set intentions? Tell me one thing you are excited for in 2025! What association do you have with the word elevate? Anything I need to add to my list?