A 5 step process to reflect, reset and refocus for 2025

The best laid plans...

Closing of a season

There is something magic to me about a finite end point. I love viewing the closing of a year, or even a quarter, as an opportunity to reflect, look back and figure out what worked and what didn’t. This type of exercise would be useful for most people, but as someone who is firmly fixed on future-focused tasks, it is usually necessary to allocate some time to look back, in order to help refine the path, the direction and the focus for the coming period. Also, I tend to move at speed so if I don’t slow down and take note of what’s going on or where I’m going, my world and life can tend to blur on past. I usually have zero recollection of what I ate for dinner yesterday, let alone the ability to recall what I learnt in 2024.

In the past, in an effort to reflect and in an attempt to take some control of my future, I have utilised many planner tools, templates, and exercises as prompts. You will find one hundred manifestation gurus promoting different versions online and there is no shortage online, but this one I’ve shared just hits different.

Four thousand weeks

I timed my first read of “Four Thousand Weeks” by Oliver Burkeman well. It has been on my to-read list for years and its purely coincidental that I picked it up as the year drew to a close. Touted as “Time Management for Mortals”, Burkeman has written about our precious time that we have on the planet (spoiler, it’s about four thousand weeks), how we view that time, how we can use it best and he also shares tools for constructing a meaningful life. It’s a fantastic read and one I would recommend to everyone.

If you haven’t yet read it and are seeking an instant fix, let me step in to summarise for you*. I took my notes with the key takeaways and learnings, condensed his core messages and designed a purposeful 2025 worksheet for intentional living that I am using myself.

*Worth noting that this is not me soft launching my own coaching/ manifesting/ self-help services. I purely loved what I came up with so decided to share on here in the hopes that someone would find it useful!

Five Steps to Intentional Living in 2025

Make this your own - tweak, refine, add, subtract. I loved this process and leant into some sections more than others. Enjoy and let me know how it goes!

Step 1: Reflect on 2024

1. Celebrate Your Wins (Create a Done List to run alongside your To Do list)

   • List 10-15 accomplishments, big or small, from 2024

   • Reflect on how these made you feel and what they taught you

   • What progress are you most proud of, and why?

2. Identify Lessons Learned

   • What worked well for you this year?

   • What didn’t work as you hoped?

   • How can you build on these insights in 2025?

3. Embrace Your Finitude

   • Acknowledge that you only have 4,000 weeks in your lifetime (or fewer!)

   • Write down 3-5 ways you’ve tried to do too much this year

   • What is one thing you could let go of to create more space for what truly matters?

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Step 2: Set Your Foundation for 2025

1. Define Your Purpose

   • What truly matters to you in 2025?

   • Write down 1-3 core values or themes (e.g., family, health, creativity, connection)

2. Big Picture Goals

   • Limit yourself to 5 major goals for the year. These should align with your core values and purpose

   • Examples: Start a family, grow a side business, prioritise health, write a book, deepen relationships

   • For each goal, write:

     • Why is this goal important to you?

     • What will success look like?

     • What trade-offs might you need to make to achieve this?

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Step 3: Tools for Everyday Life

1. Identify the main categories you want to focus on in the new year

   • Identify 3-5 categories for your time in 2025 (e.g., work, family, self-care, passion projects)

   • Within each category, list up to 3 key priorities

2. Design a Weekly Schedule

   • Block time for your most important priorities first

   • Leave space for rest, curiosity, and spontaneity

   • Example format:

     • Morning: Focus on [biggest goal]

     • Afternoon: Attend to [routine responsibilities]

     • Evening: Reflect and relax

3. Curiosity Over Worry

   • Identify 3 areas of your life where worry holds you back

   • Write a curious alternative to each worry

     • Example: Worry: "What if I fail at my new project?" → Curiosity: "What might I learn by trying something new?"

   • Reflect on how you’ll approach these situations with curiosity in 2025

4. Establish a Done List Practice

   • Create a section in your planner or journal to track daily/weekly accomplishments

   • Reflect weekly on:

     • What progress have you made?

     • What surprised you?

     • What are you grateful for?

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Step 4: Overcome Overwhelm

1. Decide What to Fail At

   • Identify areas of life or tasks that you’ll intentionally de-prioritise.

   • Write down:

     • What can you let go of?

     • Why is this okay?

2. Seek Novelty in the Mundane

   • List 5 everyday activities that you can approach with fresh eyes

     • Example: Cooking, walking, conversations, cleaning, or journaling

   • Commit to practicing mindfulness and curiosity during these activities

3. Practice Doing Nothing

   • Plan 1-2 slots each week for "unstructured time"

   • Reflect on how this makes you feel and how it shifts your perspective

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Step 5: Make It Real

1. Write Your 2025 Vision Statement

   • Imagine it’s December 2025. Write a paragraph describing what your life looks like. Include:

     • Your feelings, accomplishments, relationships, and daily rhythm

2. Break It Down

   • For each of your major goals, list:

     • Key milestones (quarterly or monthly)

     • First small step to take in January

3. Accountability Plan

   • Who or what will keep you accountable? (e.g., a journal, a coach, a friend)

   • How will you review and adjust your plan throughout the year?

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Final Thoughts

• Write a commitment statement, using all of the above, summarise your intentions for 2025 in one sentence:
  "In 2025, I commit to focusing on what truly matters, embracing my limits, and living with curiosity and intention."

It’s not for everyone. However, if reflection and thinking about the year ahead is your bag, this template hit on pretty much all aspects that I would want to cover, so I hope someone enjoys it! I will be sharing a January update along with a summary of my process. Who else will be using this guide!?

If you made it this far, thank you for your time! On such a small account, one like or comment makes a huge difference so please share the love!