Juliana Moves

Happy almost New Year! I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love this time of year. I know there are so many memes about the week between Christmas and New Year feeling weird and mushy and timeless and I get it! That said, I’ve always appreciated the energy of the new year and I find myself feeling very focused in this down week between holidays.

One thing I’ve been putting a lot of focus and intention on is my 2025 goals. As mentioned in previous posts, I am a recovering goal-aholic and used to be very intense and fixated on my goals. Honestly, that worked pretty well and I was successful in much of what I intended for myself! However, as my life has changed and my responsibilities and inspirations shifted, I like a slightly more lax approach to goals. They serve more as lane lines to keep me focused and moving forward throughout the year, rather than hyper specific finish lines to reach.

Sometimes I will set a good, old fashioned SMART goal when I need it or it feels appropriate, but that is not the case so far for 2025. I’ve put together some draft 2025 goals because January 1 is ultimately an arbitrary start date and I’m not trying to slap things on paper just to say I have them.

As I thought about what goals I wanted to set, I tried to think about what my guiding principles and inspirations are. What makes me most fulfilled? What makes me feel good about choices I’m making? Which of my behaviors and thoughts make me feel most kickass? Here’s what comes to mind.

Adventure > Items

It’s easier to stay out than get out

I’ve got the time

I think these are all pretty self-explanatory but this is my blog so I’ll explain ‘em!

Adventure > Items. Yeah, I want to spend more money on adventures and less on stuff. Capitalism still gets me from time to time and I’ve leaned into convenience more than I’d like. I have a wishlist of adventures and activities that just sit on the backburner and I am ready to act on them.

It’s easier to stay out than get out. This is a Mark Twain quote that I think is actually about avoiding conflict, but I consider it out of context as a reminder that doing hard stuff gets easier once you start. Running, chores, social activities as an introvert, you get it! Just get out.

I’ve got the time. How many times have I written about the time I waste on my phone? Or lounging around doing actually nothing? I’m not saying that every single moment of every day has to be filled with “productivity”, but I also know that I’ve written off goals and plans because I’ve convinced myself I don’t have the time. I’m calling bullshit.

And so, with these guiding principles in mind (can they be considered that? Guiding mantras? Statements? Whatever!) I have built a few 2025 draft goals that fall into three categories. Each goal has a bit more meat to it and I am still putting together plans and thoughts for each one. I’m excited about them, though, and I think that’s often the most important thing. Don’t write goals that feel like a chore. You can get to the same end result by taking a path that excites and energizes you, I promise. Anyway!

Juliana’s 2025 Draft Goals

Personal

• Continue blogging at least 3x a month (I like this creative outlet for my brain!)
• Do more VHTRC events (local trail running group that I love)
• Explore more art (movies, music, shows, etc)

Finance

• Take the frugal path 2x a month (back in ATX I had no money so I was clever and frugal and more eco-friendly. That’s what I’m trying to harken back to here!)
• Save for a big Juliana & Patrick trip (Australia 2025?)
• Reduce spending on dumbass stuff (I hate dumbass stuff and yet it calls to me)

Fitness

• Work out a recovery routine that supports performance and endurance (my aging body has been speaking to me lately)
• Go on a big adventure (vague because I don’t know what yet)
• Climb 3x a month 
• Do longer yoga sessions

And that’ll do it! Again, these may change a little or significantly by the end of January. I’m still thinking it all through. It does feel really good even to be thinking about goals. It truly does motivate me! 

Do you have any goals in mind? Do you hit a goal-setting wall? You’ve got this! I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year’s Eve! Here’s to 2025. It’s going to be insane (said positively, I hope).

Love,

JN