15 Thoughtful Things to Do For New Years to Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet
Setting the tone on January 1st can give your year a major boost. And that’s no small thing.
Use these meaningful things to do on New Years at the beginning of each year to reflect, celebrate, and get serious about your one and only life. It’s a gift you give yourself. And it will pay off for the rest of the year!
Focus on the Right Things
The difference between an amazing year and a ho hum one depends on your intention and follow through.
Ask yourself:
- Do you know where you want to go in your life this year?
- Are you enjoying and savoring your life?
- And how can you make sure you execute on your biggest life goals this year?
These thoughtful New Years things to do will get you started. After the first few days of January, you’ll be well on your way to having your absolute best year yet.
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1. Celebrate your Wins
First, you and I come fully equipped with a negativity bias. Being aware of danger and flaws is how our species has survived. And it’s why it’s 10x easier to pinpoint what you need to work on.
But celebrating how far you’ve come keeps you motivated. You’ll feel happier while persevering longer.
So, take time to celebrate the successes, big and small, that you’ve had throughout the last year. Progress is progress. No matter how slow.
2. Unplug and Recharge
Set aside the day to be away from social media and screens.
Instead, reset and be present with yourself and your loved ones. Use this time to take a nature walk, do the activities in this article, journal reflection questions, or enjoy a book.
3. Set Goals (Not Resolutions)
Instead of vague resolutions, set clear achievable goals. Then, break them down into smaller manageable steps for your first day, week, and month.
For example, you could set a goal to read one book a month, schedule learning time for a new skill, or save a specific amount of money by the end of the year.
4. Create (or Update) Your Bucket List
Add spice and adventure to your life.
List out exciting things you want to experience in your lifetime. This is your opportunity to dream big and create a personal map of adventures.
Add items like “travel to Italy,” “run a marathon,” or “learn to play an instrument” to your bucket list.
5. Send Thank You Notes
Start the year with an abundant and grateful heart. Write heartfelt notes to people who made a difference in your life last year, showing appreciation for their support.
Write to friends, family, colleagues, or mentors who supported you, whether with kind words, a helping hand, or just by being there for you.
6. Donate to a Cause
Set your tone for the year by giving to a cause you believe in. You’ll be making a difference this year from day one. What an amazing feeling!
This doesn’t have to be money if your budget is tight. Donate clothes or volunteer.
7. Create a Vision Board
Take the specific goals you wrote out and put them in visual form.
Gather images, words, and quotes that inspire you. Then, create this board to represent your dreams for the year ahead.
Pro Tip: When done, put your vision board somewhere you see often.
Check out:
8. Declutter Your Spaces
Starting the year with a fresh, organized space will set you up for a focused year ahead.
Clear out unnecessary items with this 30 day declutter challenge.
Pro Tip: Before you start, get out trash bag, a box for donations, and a box for items to sell. Then, it’s easy to sort as you go!
9. Write a Letter to Your Future Self
Capture your hopes, dreams, and challenges in a letter to read the next New Year’s Eve.
Write about what you hope to achieve in the coming year, challenges you’re facing, and the mindset you want to carry forward.
You can use these questions to ask your future self to help guide you.
10. Have a Meaningful Conversation
Call an old friend to catch up. Or spend time with a family member and talk about dreams, memories, or shared experiences. Start the new year by going into a deep conversation about the things that truly matter.
11. Make a Self-care Plan
Do you put everyone else first while forgetting to take care of yourself?
Commit to a wellness routine for the year. Create a routine that includes exercise, mindfulness, healthy eating, or taking time for hobbies that bring you joy.
This self-care checklist and list of wellness ideas can help >>
12. Do Something Outside of Your Comfort Zone
Start the year by challenging yourself with a new experience—take a class, try a new activity, or travel somewhere new.
Challenge yourself to try something that pushes you beyond your usual boundaries. This is a great way to grow and start the year with a sense of adventure.
Not sure what to do? This list of ways to break free from your comfort zone is a great place to start!
13. Start Working on a New Habit
Choose one habit you want to adopt and commit to working on it throughout the year. Consistency is key to making it stick.
Start a morning routine, track your daily water intake, or practice mindfulness for 5 minutes each day. There are many amazing ways to run your life with intention.
Find more habit ideas and get started with a free habit tracker.
14. Plant Something
Whether it’s a tree, flowers, or an indoor plant, planting something represents growth and renewal. It’s symbolic of new beginnings.
Plant a small herb garden in your kitchen. Or start a flower bed in your yard to watch it bloom throughout the year.
15. Plan Your Year
Finally, plan out your key events, goals, and projects for the next 6-12 months. Set a clear direction to ensure it’s a fulfilling year ahead.
- Want to take a vacation? Put it in the calendar
- Need to remember birthdays? Get your reminders set
- Put your goal deadlines in the calendar too
For more on planning out your year, don’t miss these top year planning strategies.
Master Drawing the Bow
We live in a culture obsessed with instant gratification.
But have you ever set big goals, only to be frustrated that you aren’t hitting them fast enough?
This year, let go of the results. Stop worrying about the numbers.
Instead, focus on the basics.
What can you control?
Maybe that’s
- setting aside time to learn every day
- telling yourself better stories
- setting your environment up for success
- or tracking your habits
Whatever it is, obsess over the fundamentals.
Before you know it, you’ll have the success you dreamed of.
And it’s because you stopped chasing results and started doing the things that get them.
“Stop worrying about where the arrow lands. Master the art of drawing the bow.” – Shane Parrish
What’s Next?
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