
I've been writing this list since NYE 2016 and it's become one of the only "resolutions" I keep each year. No matter what I'm going through or where I'm at in life, I put together a list of "22- Things To Do in (Insert Year)." Each year reflects trends, tech, and hobbies popping up.
Nine years of lists - and I would be lying if I didn't say that some years this list feels almost like a chore or something I have "To Do." Which is insane because this entire list is supposed to be a fun, uplifting process. I started the list back in my blogging days. It went crazy viral January 2016. My cousin had just passed away December 2015 (I had already published the list) and - to my shock - when it went viral, the list inspired this weird hope in me that helped get me through 2016. I've kept up with it ever since.
This year felt different. It was harder to be authentic. I've placed so much importance on keeping the lists unique each year and never repeating anything. I like to believe that there is always something new to learn, try, create, & experience. That's why I started making it - because I don't really think resolutions or "Word Of The Year" thinking make much of a difference. However, I do think there is a sense of accomplishment by just trying, learning, creating, experiencing something new. I won't lie - I used ChatGPT here and there. I repeated a few things from previous years. Heck, I barely even got this list out in time to make New Years Day.
IDK if anyone will read it this year (Given my very last minute publishing) but I think with where I'm at in life - I needed to write it for myself. Maybe this year's list is a reminder for myself that not everything can be constantly exciting/motivating/fresh. We are stuck in this 24/7 content loop where our attention span is gone the second we lose interest and we NEED to see something new or unique. But I made this list again this year because it's my thing. Every New Year. Maybe it's not as ground-breaking this year, but it's here & I can say I stuck with it for year nine. I think there's something to be said for sticking with things and not giving up just because the mood is off. 2025 feels like it's going to be a really unique year - and I hope this list can bring some inspiration.
To Learn....
The line dance to "Whiskey Drinkin"
The art of breathwork & breathingÂ
Etymology & the origins of words you use on a daily basis
How to make your own homemade kombucha
The Pomodoro technique for time management
How to read & understand nutrition labels
Pinochle - A classic card game
How to identify different types of clouds
The history of your favorite artist
Flair bartending
Voice impersonation of a famous celebrity/character/etc
The art of small talk
The science behind body languageÂ
How to solve lateral thinking puzzles
The history of different genres of music
Perfecting your handshake
New travel tips/hacks to make traveling easier
Upcycling a furniture or clothing piece that's old/broken/etcÂ
Redesigning an old, outdated outfit into something fresh + modern
How to make herbal teas for home remediesÂ
Indoor plant care
How to build a vertical garden
To make natural dyes
The basics of 3D animation
To make your own leather goods
To tell time using the stars/night sky/constellations
Sound therapy using tuning forks
How to mimic animal sounds
Mirror writing (Writing backwards!)Â
The Lindy Hop dance
Irish Step Dance moves
To memorize as many Pi digits as you can
The techniques of Sumi-E (Japanese Ink Painting)
How to build your own solar panels
Mental math tricksÂ
To cook a flambé dish
Spoken word poetryÂ
Minimalist writing skillsÂ
Something random using the "Skillshare" website
Film editing & video production techniquesÂ
How to improve your tactical thinking
How to make natural beauty products using organic ingredientsÂ
To make digital art using Procreate or a similar app
The basics of emotional intelligence skills
Creative coding
Remote work productivity tools/skills
All about ethics & concerns with AI & tech
The perfect pancake recipe & flip
Basic yoga poses
To do a cartwheel or handstand (No matter your age!)
Impressive card shufflingÂ
How to read financial statements/bills/etc
To manage your digital footprint
Conflict resolution techniquesÂ
How to read between the lines when it comes to communication
Ways to deal with uncertainty & transitional moments in lifeÂ
To Try....
Ordering/trying every menu item from a favorite local restaurant over the course of 2025
Fridgescaping
Joining the Yelp Elite Squad & leaving more reviews of local spots!
Estate sale shopping with the HiBid Auctions website & app
Probiotic ice cream
Cold plunging on a regular basis
Qigong meditation
Mouth taping to improve your sleeping habits
Rosemary mint spray for your hair
Using beeswax wrap in place of plastic wrap
The "Too Good To Go" App for combating food waste & saving money
Creating a 3-5 minute skit for an improv comedy open mic night near you
Giving out more compliments on a daily basisÂ
Analog photography
Aerial hoopingÂ
Ultimate frisbeeÂ
The "100 Word" Story challenge
A digital detox for an entire week
Artisanal chocolate making
Making chocolate covered strawberries
AR Fashion Try-Ons (Zara!)
A personalized skin-care or work out routine
Metaverse exploration using "The Sandbox" game
Sous Vide Cooking
Smoking your food
Pickling your own vegetables
Reverse searing your steaks
Cooking with seaweed
Clay pot cooking
Making your own gnocchi
Zero waste living for a week or month
Mindful eating
Taking public transit in a situation where you would normally drive
A blindfolded taste test challenge with friends/family
Sandboarding
A uniquely themed restaurantÂ
Participating in a historical reenactmentÂ
Joining a supper club
LARPing
Historical cooking/baking
Making a dish/recipe that your city is widely known forÂ
Stand-up paddleboardingÂ
Spikeball
Street hockey
Horseback archery
Having a floating cinema nightÂ
Scream therapy
Having a reverse dinner - by starting with dessert!
Hosting a silent dinner party
Asking ChatGPT to plan your entire weekend based on your hobbies, goals, etc
Charcoal Ice Cream
Doing a "Surprise Vacation" - where you don't know where you're going until the day of! There are apps, websites, etc that will book these types of trips
Dusting with dryer sheets
Steam cleaning many surfaces in your houseÂ
Having your own pajama day
Doing a "Hobby" crawl - like a bar hop but where you visit multiple places based on a favorite hobby (Vinyl record shops, parks, etc)
Going to a free museum day in your cityÂ
To Create...
A stream of consciousness list
A door basket wreath
Polaroid lifts
Deconstructed dishes for a dinner at home
Zentangle art
Time lapse art
Art mosaics using different types of washi tape
Embossed foil art
A playlist of your favorite 2024 songs
Pressed flower bookmarks
A list of books you want to read in 2025
Cultural fusion dishes by combining flavors/ingredients of different regions (Like kimchi tacos!)
Homemade natural cleaners to keep your home clean & fresh this year
A murder mystery game that you create from scratch based off your city/neighborhood/favorite themes/etc to play with a group of friends
Indoor mini golf course at your home by making 9 holes and putting challenges
A profile on Lemon8 for a new social media experienceÂ
A Letterboxd account to keep up with & review movies you watch in 2025
A mini tornado in a bottleÂ
Friendship bracelets to share with your friends/family
Miniature landscape/architect/doll house scenesÂ
Speed painting artworkÂ
Paper mache sculpturesÂ
A "Day In The Life - 2025 " video to look back on down the roadÂ
A budget & savings plan for 2025
Paper flowers
A sleep schedule that works best for you & your daily needs
A file folder where you can save all your favorite articles/videos/web content to go back to later
Your own spice mixes based on favorite flavors for your favorite dishes
A DIY pinataÂ
A reading challenge for 2025
Your own music video
A "Scent" Diary - with scents/smells based on your favorite places/memories/people/etc
Edible art
Your own postcards to mail to family/friends
Recycled jar storage
Sticky notes artwork
Reminders so you never forget birthdays/anniversariesÂ
Artwork made from random objects (Buttons, screws, etc)
A solar system art piece/sculptureÂ
Faux stained glass artwork using picture frames & fabric painting pens
Nature-inspired printmaking
Mixed media collages and vision boards
WhatsApp chat groups to keep up with all of your friend/family/hobby groupsÂ
A personal growth blueprint
A personal mission statement
A mindful consumption plan - such as setting limits on screen time
A map with your favorite places/spaces around town
Custom ice cream flavors
Dumplings or pierogis with unique flavors/fillings
Homemade popcorn
Polaroid wall art
Scented drawer sachets
Homemade greeting cards
A "Guest Book" that you keep by your door to keep track/record of your guests - encourage them to leave messages/comments too!
A list of what you eat in a week so you can make a healthy eating plan
A more organized office space with a cable/cord organizerÂ
Cardboard furniture (For fun & creativity!)
To Experience...
Tour of your city (or any city!) on an electric scooter
A sound healing meditation session
Augmented history walks
Going on an invasive plant hunting walk (Removing invasive plant species in your area!)
Lucid dreaming
Attending a local film festival
Putting together your own Chopped cooking challenge with friends or familyÂ
An Omakase dining experience
Becoming a bottle flip champ
Attending a roller derby show/competitionÂ
Listening to the "LongPlayer" website - which features music that will play continuously for 1,000 years
A 24-hour creative challengeÂ
An afternoon of jumping on a trampoline
Volunteering 100 hours in 2025
A silent retreat
Going to a live taping of a tv-showÂ
A vintage car show rallyÂ
Visiting an animal cafeÂ
A "Walking Dinner" - where you walk to different restaurants for each course
A solo dance party at home by yourself!
Completing a "Book Nook" Kit
Watching a movie in another language sans subtitles and seeing what you can decipher
At at-home escape room challenge
Putting together videos, recordings, etc and telling your story/experience of life from 2020-2025
Putting on a talent show with your friends/family/neighbors
Getting to know a neighbor you have yet to meet
A luxury bath experience
Doing a virtual museum tour
An "At Home" Film Festival
Listening to a new album from start to finish
Feeling good about your appearanceÂ
A full house declutter
Sticking with a new routine for an entire month
Re-reading a book that you loved as a child
Attending The Fake-Lorette PartyÂ
Staying productive by using the app "Forest"
Sending a random venmo to a friend/family member "Just Because"
Contributing to the "AccessNow" app - which aims to help people find information on the accessibility of local spots for wheelchairs, walking, etc
Using the "Ecosia" search engine & planting trees every time you need to look something up
Making a new friend in 2025
Participating in a local clean-up project
Being prepared for any weather or emergency situation by having an emergency kit ready and prepped with canned food, medicine, etc through at least 2026
Overcoming a fear that you have in a social situation
Forgiving not only others but yourself for something you've been holding onto
Facing a personal-challenge and seeing it through to completion
Asking for feedback on something you're going through from a trusted source
Going to your local library at least once a month
Taking a walk in a new neighborhoodÂ
Napping in a hammock
Watching a documentary on a subject you have never heard of
Meditating reguarlyÂ
Spending time with a different generationÂ
Cultivating a new hobby
Seeing the perspective of someone you normally disagree with
The peace with knowing 2025 is only one year & you have many years to come- this is just one chapter in your book and if you haven't done something yet, it doesn't mean you won't
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