hey friends!! welcome to 2025 :) what an exciting year to be alive <3
after recapping 2024 in last week's post, this week i want to share with you all my 2025 goals & dreams!
i also am going to update you all on my thoughts about goals & burnout. it's gonna be a good one :)
the short list
be lazy.
hibernate.
detach.
know the Word.
be an artist.
sing.
cry.
walk.
be in nature.
detox.
sleep.
the yappy list
okay you're probably so confused about that list. why would i want to be lazy? detach? cry? so here is some explanation :)
be lazy.
obviously i don't want to be slothful, i don't want to be lax with my prioritized habits. but i guess i'm debuting the kate version of lazy :)
i want to say no to things / stay home / go to bed early / watch a show / be slow / take my time / not do a million things every day / do nothing / breathe / sleep / chill
i want to write a whole post about this but basically, i want to do less. i need to do less. <3
hibernate.
especially in the winter months, i want to go to bed earlier & be more of a homebody. i want to take a break from commitments when possible & rest. read in bed. hibernate. i was reading in the ruthless elimination of hurry how during the winter, we used to not have electricity. we used to sleep when the sun set, why don't we do that more now? less sunshine = less energy. more sleep makes so much sense during the winter!
detach.
emotionally and mentally detach. more on this in my upcoming friendship post, but i've been working on protecting my energy, especially in negative environments! i've been talking to my therapist about how to do this at school and around people with strong emotions. as an empath, it's easy to soak in the energy of people around me and i'm working to protect my heart and mind.
i also want to detach from overthinking about interactions with people, and like kimberly told me, it's none of my business if people don't understand or have a problem with something i say. i'm the messenger, and if they have a concern or question, they can ask me.
setting boundaries around technology especially when it comes to friendships (and guys) is a big thing on my heart lately, and it's already been amazing to make an agreement with myself about taking these relationships into real life. more on that soon, but mainly i want to text people as minimally as possible and instead send voice memos (or call/hang out, of course). this helps me be present in friendships and then be able to detach--to not overthink or be confused about energy and dynamics between us.
know the Word.
i have big spiritual goals for this year, but the biggest one is to study and internalize scripture!! i'm going to read the new testament front to back & really dive into it. for church, we are studying d&c this year, so my goals there are to study it on my own, do come, follow me so i can teach seminary on tuesdays about it! i also want to read saints, which are books about my church's history.
i'm really happy with my spiritual habits right now and want to keep them up <3
be an artist.
i love art, and this past year i've really realized how i am an artist!! in a society that values and recognizes athletes, it's been a unique journey during high school as i confirmed that i am an artist, not an athlete. not that you can't do both, or that i hate moving my body, of course i love that. i don't want to say that i find my identity in being an artist, since i find my indentity in being a daughter of God, but i do feel He has blessed me with my artistic talents and mind, and i want to honor and embrace that more this year!!
i want to write poems / sketch plants / slow down and look at the forest like an artist / take art classes in college / learn how to make pretty bowls & pots of clay / make an impressive ap art porfolio / experiment with mediums / scrapbook my journal / craft with my little sister / decorate my dorm / go to art museums / draw people / paint random stuff / write pretty notes for people / bible journal / embroider / thrift cute outfits / take aesthetic notes / and more, of course :)
sing.
i played flute and piano for a long time, but then i started taking voice lessons and fell in love! seriously i love music but i especially love singing, especially songs that make me sound so good :) i'm working on an italian solo, a german duet with rachel, a british musical theater solo (from mary poppins the musical!), and swing choir (i love dancing). i want to really put in more time on my own to learn these songs for solo & ensemble, and my dream is to prep more pieces for a senior recital in the summer, if that feels right. i want to keep pushing myself outside of my comfort zone :)
cry.
i want to feel. not overthink, but feel!! a big goal is to make time and mental space to feel, not be rushing so hard i don't have a moment to be in my body & listen to my heart.
walk (and do yoga!).
i love my walks and my goal is to go on a walk every single day! so far, so good :) i also love yoga and i want to make more space for it. every time i do yoga i wonder how i could possibly not do it every single day. it's the best truly <3
be in nature.
nature is healing, beautiful, and i love her.
detox.
from my phone, specifically turning off my phone all sunday! i did this today and it was absolutely amazing, totally recommend. i also am off instagram (except for posting on the accounts i run), which is awesome. i'm off it for january, and during my first semester at college i'm planning on deleting it entirely. i also can't wait to delete snapchat after i graduate (i just have a few things i need it for rn). i'm trying to spend this time instead with my siblings <3
seriously life is so much better off your phone. leave it in the car, at home, in your bag, etc. you won't regret it.
sleep.
early bedtime is the priority at the moment!! phone off at dinner (or right when i get home). hard rule bedtime at 930 especially since i have seminary at 6am during the week until the end of may. this is so hard for me but this is the year, guys. especially in the winter, i've been so sleepy & ready for bed (really trying to learn into this when the night comes haha).
thoughts
and that's a wrap :) trying to not put a lot of pressure on goals this year (can't you tell?!), which is really hard for me, obviously, but a lot of these things are habits and mindsets i've been pondering and working towards for a few months now. i'm definitely aware of how close i am to burning out, so i'm trying to take better care of myself & not stress on goals as much. it's a battle fr but i'm doing my best.
this year is so exciting for me--second half of senior year, graduation (finally), summer (can't wait), and my first semester of college! i'm going to graudate, move across the country, live on my own, and be a college student... lots of new things, and i can't wait! trying to be more present & soak up this last season of living at home in wisco. it's gonna fly (somehow) and i'm trying to hold a lot of flexibility for lots of changing seasons & transitions. <3
more focus on monthly goals & habits, on taking care of kate :)
what are your goals for this new year? comment!! i would love to cheer you on!
thanks for being here! i love you all!
see you next week for a new poem, probably about winter :)
xoxo, kate <3
ps i just published a new podcast episode with my friends pearl & mayim so make sure you don't miss that one :)
pss i love love love comments!! they make me so happy! leave your name please so i know who you are :) thanks all <33
I love love love this post!! I love when you talk about ideals and goals and values, like what's in this post, because it's inspiring and motivating for me, a fellow teenage girl, to hear & reflect on. I would love to be as chill, thoughtful, and smart as you are when I am in that next stage of my life. Please keep posting more on this!! I try my best to be a good person, to set goals & limits for myself, but there's still so much that I feel like I would be better off without or things that I feel would make my life more meaningful if I started doing them. Love this Kate! Thank you!! 🩵
love this! super proud of you! i love how you’re focusing on things u truly love to do and not forcing yourself past your limits!! you got this 💪
love this post & your goals!! 🤍
Great goals Kate! I love how you’re focusing on not outdoing yourself and allowing yourself to rest. You got this! It’s gonna be a great year:)
The do nothing goal reminds me of this excellent talk by Elder Budge in which he quotes Isaiah:
In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
Thanks for sharing your goals!
“Seek him with all your heart “
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/10/45budge?lang=eng