My 2025 started off horribly. Not only did my bestest cat buddy pass away, but my family was also hit by a blizzard and a norovirus at the same time.
It wasn’t the best way to start the year.
So why not start completely over?
A sort of “January doesn’t have to define my 2025 any more than a bad hour defines the whole day” mentality.
For me, February 1st felt like a place to have a new January 1st. A new 2025.
To help myself out, I finally hung up my motivational calendar, and I invested in a few books to get back on track. They have been amazing!
Life & Apples Wellness Planner
I love this planner so much! Not only can you start it at any time (you fill in the months/dates), it also breaks goals down into the 90-day method. This helped me really think about specific goals that are measurable and attainable rather than wishy-washy goals that I may set aside. It also comes with a bunch of adorable stickers. I’m utilizing this one every day. It’s helping me write, but it’s also encouraging me to get back to working out on a daily basis. To be honest, my biggest regret in 2024 was setting aside my workout regime to make a writing deadline. Though I met the deadline, my mental health took a hit, and so did my physical health. Lesson learned.
The Manifestation Journal by Kelsey Lane
Penguin Random House actually sent me this journal last year, and I’ve been using it weekly ever since. The prompt is mostly the same, but it’s well-balanced. It helps think of the positives, while also encouraging you to consider change. It also has a freewrite space that my planner doesn’t, so it pairs well with a daily calendar.
BURN AFTER WRITING by Sharon Jones.
Lastly, I wanted to make more time for life reflections. Grief begets grief. It brings up lots of emotions and history, and I knew I wanted a therapy tool that I could use independent of my therapist. (Yes, I see a therapist once a month. Always have. Even when things are great!) I haven’t used this one as much as the others, but whenever I feel like I’m tempting to doom scroll, I try to read an eBook or pick this up instead. Reflecting is great way to slow down and remind yourself of all the good you’ve been doing and how you can continue to shape up moving forward.
Anyway, these are three books I’m using to get back on track, but I’m also totally in love with my Self-Love Affirmations & Reflections: A Ritual for Self-Worth, Self-Compassion, and Self-Care cards. Zeitgeist sent these to me for kicking off 2025, and I had no idea how much they’d help me. You can flip them every day, or you can flip them as often as you need to. I’ve been flipping them when I’m in a bad headspace, and they help me turn my negative self-talk into grace and compassion. I keep them on the top shelf of my desk, so I can always see them.
This week, I’ve filled out my motivational journals. I’ve flipped my self-affirmations cards. I’m aiming to write and workout today. And I’m looking forward to teaching How to Write a Book Series later this week. Join me on Thursday, February 4 at 7 PM EST. It’s free! Learn more here.
If you need a do-over, take this as a sign to join me. Try a motivational calendar. Fill out a mental health journal. Utilize a planner.
We got this.
~SAT
Due to the President’s Day holiday, my next post will be Monday, February 24.
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I’m very sorry to hear about everything. I hope everything is doing better these days. It’s okay to start by February 🌻
Thank you for your kind words. They mean a lot! I just recovered from COVID and RSV, so life has been pretty heavy lately. Looking forward to feeling better this week. Hope all is well with you and yours!
Praying for your speedy recovery. You’re very welcome and thank you too 🌻
I’m glad you’re managing to find your stride again, big knocks like that can easily keep you down. I hope the rest of the year is kinder to you.
On the journalling front, I’ve always wanted journalling to work for me, but it just doesn’t. So this year I’m just putting what I want to get done on specific days in my calendar, and then deleting/ shuffling as things change. Also started to use my blog as a monthly update so I can see that I have actually ‘done stuff’ – cause my memory is pooor as heck 😀
Thank you so much! It is SO HARD getting back into the swing of things when you’re knocked down for so long. I love that you have an alternative to journalling. It can be a journey to figure out motivational tools that work for us, but they’re so worth it. ❤ I love that you do monthly updates. So fun!!
~SAT