New Year’s Eve has always held a special place in my heart. There’s something electric about the collective pause: this moment when we all take stock of the departed year and look ahead at the new one. It feeds my Leo fire, my first-gen ambition, and my Type A love for fresh starts.
It’s like my personal halftime show but instead of a wardrobe malfunction I’m debuting a new mindset 🙂↕️
For me, the ritual isn’t just about resolutions (though I do love a good goal), it’s about creating space. Taking an unflinching look at life and asking: what’s working? What isn’t? What am I ready to let go of, and what do I want more of in the year ahead?
It’s deeply personal but also universal. We’re all carrying things we’ve outgrown, whether it’s outdated habits, uninspired routines, or people who no longer fit the story we’re writing. And this process can be brutal, and beautiful.
So, here’s my personal list of what’s IN and what’s OUT for 2025.
It’s not exhaustive, it’s not overly polished, and it doesn’t follow any grand themes, but that’s the point. Some are controversial, some are are IYKYK, and a few? Well, let’s just say they’re a (self) read.
But before we dive in, let me say this: if the idea of curating your own INs and OUTs resonates with you, do it. Don’t overthink it. Treat it like a love letter to yourself for the year ahead, a manifesto of who you’re becoming and what you’re leaving behind.
Because the magic of New Year’s isn’t in the ball drop or the midnight toast. It’s in this quiet (or not-so-quiet) act of self-definition.
OUT:
- Over-explaining
- Free emotional labor
- Parasocial relationship
- FOMO
- Travel content without purpose
- Suffering in silence
- Excessive filters (for faces, for life, for vibes)
- Not blurring out babies faces in social media posts
- Unpaid collabs(!!!)
- The first page of Google (the treasure is worth scrolling for, trust me)
- Anything “underwhelming”
- Talking way too loudly (please why are you shouting at me)
- Bubble skirts
- Pick-mes
- Falling for rage bait
- The bare minimum
- People-pleasing
- Flakiness (self read on this one – just say no!)
- Budget airlines
- Avoiding the dentist
- Pilates
- Being afraid of aging
IN:
- Outsourcing small things (laundry, interior design, putting together furniture – invest in help!)
- Capsule wardrobes
- Intentional indulgence
- Soft power moves (read: subtle but unmissable)
- Green juice… with champagne on the side
- Solo flights and solo dates
- Speaking up when you see a woman in trouble in public
- Being nice to flight attendants
- Conscious consumption (buy it once, love it forever)
- Handwritten notes
- Flirting for fun
- Cultural gatekeeping
- Expanding the conversation of race in America to embrace the complexities of mixed race, TCK people (read: stop asking me where I’m from)
- Huge hair, free the curls
- Intentional vulnerability
- Finally hosting a Packs Light Meet Up (!!!)
- Type A itinerary planning
- Luxury in layers (think cashmere over a thrifted tee)
- Making the mundane magical (yes, even Monday mornings)
- SeekPTO.com for Gen Z 💙
- Long-form storytelling. Obviously we’re bringing back blogs!!!
- Lagree
- Life without trending audio
This is me. This is where my heads at January 2025.
Looking at my list, a theme that stands out to me is intentionality (if you know me, this is an eyeroll more than a shocker).
But it's true! This phase of life feels like a shift from just figuring things out to actively refining what works for me and unapologetically releasing what doesn’t. I’m focusing on experiences and choices that feel meaningful: whether that’s building deeper connections with people who energize me, prioritizing travel that inspires and challenges me, or investing my time in work that feels purposeful and rewarding.
In 2024, I think I finally internalized that for me, hustle culture isn’t just exhausting, it’s truly unproductive. I’m stepping away from busywork and external expectations like saying yes to projects out of obligation or guilt, and focusing on what puts me in my flow state. On the flip side, I’m leaning into things that bring joy, like travel that’s equal parts adventurous and restorative, or quality over quantity in friendships and opportunities. Even something as small as upgrading how I approach self-care—prioritizing it as a necessity, not a reward—feels like a shift toward balance and giving my brain and obligations space to grow into who I'm meant to be!
In 2025 I want to say no more than yes, but I want the yeses to be huge, big, loud, blingy life-changing yeses. For me 2025 is not about having it all figured out, but about honing the clarity and confidence to keep moving toward what feels right.
So what's my message to you reading this? Lists like these may seem trivial but I promise they're much more if you allow them to be. They’re a snapshot of where you’re at in life and what you value right now. It’s easy to get swept up in trends or to-do lists, but taking a moment to reflect. Whether it’s through journaling, a vision board, or something playful like this, it grounds you.
And you know for me, travel is central to that life.
Like, my number one hope for the travel industry in 2025? Making travel more accessible—not as a way to escape your life, but as a tool to help you build the one you want.
I want us as a social collective to forget the “vacation to forget your problems” narrative, because travel should leave us feeling more empowered, inspired, and more connected to yourself.
That’s my mission with SeekPTO, my new business and membership hub for sharing travel scholarships, funded programs, and travel opportunities you’ve likely never even dreamed existed. It just launched January 5, 2025, and is open for new members! And if this resonates with you, I’d love to see you inside.
Let’s make travel a reality for people who never thought it was in the cards for them.
Here’s to 2025: a year of taking risks, setting boundaries, and saying yes to opportunities you didn’t even know existed. Let’s make it magical!
Drop a comment with what resonates, I'd love to hear from you.
1 comment
I love this! Your “Ins and Outs” for 2025 feel so refreshing, honest, and beautifully grounded. The way you reflect on life, love, and those meaningful layovers is inspiring. it’s the kind of clarity and intention everyone needs going into a new year. ✨