How to Have Your Best Year Yet

If you want 2025 to be your best year yet, if you want to reach December 31 and write in your journal the words BEST YEAR EVER, you’ve got to be intentional.

When it comes to having a successful year, there’s no one-size-fits-all all formula, but I want to share some things that I think can help.

I did a podcast episode about this, which I’d love for you to listen to, but if podcasts aren’t your jam, keep reading.

This Year, Let’s Journal Out Loud!

One way to have an amazing year is to start journaling out loud. What does it mean to journal out loud? To me to journal out loud means to share your story with others. So the thoughts and revelations and even the hopes and dreams you pour onto the pages of your journal you decide to start sharing them with others.

What journaling out loud looks like will vary from person to person. For some people, it might mean blogging, starting a newsletter, writing a book, writing essays, or public speaking. Or maybe just sharing your story in one-on-one conversations. For me, it means all of those things. But it also means continuing The Writeous Babe Podcast.

I have a confession. I was planning to end the podcast because I’ve been so discouraged by the lack of listeners. When I launched the podcast in 2023, I was getting a healthy amount of downloads for each episode. Now – not so much. Nevertheless, the few people who do listen often tell me how helpful and inspiring they find the episodes.

Also, after doing some soul searching I realized that it’s my fault the podcast isn’t growing. When I first launched I was excited about it, I was promoting it and I was creating consistent content. Last year I wasn’t doing any of that so, of course, the podcast didn’t grow!

So this year I’m going to journal out loud through this podcast and I’m going to give it the time, attention and consistency it deserves.

Consider what journaling out loud will look like for you. (And also, please consider listening to the podcast!). I believe journaling out loud can help you have an amazing year because sharing your story in an empowering way can change your life and impact the lives of others too.

5 Steps to Your Best Year Yet

I recently had the opportunity to do a segment on a local TV station about New Year’s Goals and Resolutions and one of the things I said was that your journal is your secret weapon when it comes to accomplishing your goals.

I believe your journal can be the key to having the best year ever. In fact, I believe this so wholeheartedly that this will be the focus of every podcast episode I drop this month. I’ve decided to start doing a series each month on The Writeous Babe Podcast and our first series is Best Year Ever!

Here’s how to have your best year ever:

Step 1 – Choose a word for the year.

Pick a word that’s based on how you want to feel this year, the person you want to be this year, and the life you want to cultivate this year. My word for 2025 is BOLD because I want to boldly go after my dreams – including my dream of having a wildly successful podcast. You can take this word and make it a phrase, a prayer or affirmation. My phrase for the year is BOLDLY BECOMING and here’s my affirmation for the year: “In 2025, I am boldly becoming the woman I was created to be.”

Step 2 – Set some goals that are aligned with your vision and values.

I will break this down in this week’s episode. If you haven’t set your goals for 2025 yet – that’s OK. You are not behind. You don’t have to hit the ground running in January. Give yourself permission to move at your own pace.

Step 3 – Create a vision board based on your goals.

When choosing images for your board consider the journey not just the destination. So, for example, if you want to be healthier don’t just include a picture of a woman who is your #bodygoals. Instead, include images that represent the healthy habits that you need to adopt such as images related to exercise, eating more plants, or drinking more water.

Step 4 – Build your confidence through consistency.

One of the best ways to be more confident is to do what you say you’re going to do. So pick one thing that you really want to be consistent with this year and JUST DO IT! Maybe it’s journaling! Maybe this is the year that you get consistent with journaling. I will be hosting a journaling challenge next month which could be just what you need to jumpstart your journaling practice. I’ll have more details about that later this month.

Journaling can also help you manage your mindset, which is also essential when it comes to having an amazing year. Your journal can help you develop an attitude of gratitude that really can help you fall in love with your life. And when you run into obstacles this year, you can work out solutions in your journal too.

Step 5 – Establish routines that support your vision for your life.

There are some routines I believe we all need — a morning routine, an evening routine, a wellness routine, and a Sunday planning routine. And if you’re a writer like me you need a writing routine too. And you need a clear vision of your ideal week, so you can bring all these routines together. Later this month I’ll do a podcast episode offering tips on how to establish all of these different routines.

Wishing you an amazing year!