Welcome back to Mind the Beet! Four years ago, I (Helen) began following Gretchen Rubin’s practice of setting goals for the year. Since then, this has become my favorite practice and, therefore, a post to write. This is my version of "New Year’s resolution,” but one anchored in a menu of options to pursue that inspires me and brings me joy rather than a daunting checklist. I like sharing it with our community because it helps me with accountability and is a great conversation starter.
Thematically, in 2025, I am focused on growth. I plan to do a lot of learning and growing this year as I take on a new professional adventure while learning to find a balance in my life across professional, family, and personal interests.
To make it whimsical, here are my goals in an emoji layout of a Bingo Board!
Professional development (1-5)
🧑💼Become an executive and leadership coach - Last fall, I began my certification as an executive coach with Hudson Institute of Coaching. My goal is to complete the training this year and pass the Associated Certified Coach test.
👩🏼💻 Build my business website - I am launching my business as an executive coach! Stay tuned for the website launch.
🗄️Figure out my business-related “office” - I’ve never started a business, so I’m excited to learn about what it takes - everything from getting an LLC set up to tinkering with the right scheduling, bookkeeping and CRM applications to set up my business.
👩🏼🏫 Go to at least one professional conference - I’m excited to expand my human network in this new chapter of my life, so I’ve already signed up to attend the Possibility: Hudson Annual Learning Conference 2025.
❓Bonus - I don’t know what this year will bring professionally, so leaving a blank space for growth.
Community (6-9)
🎗️Join a non-profit board - I’d like to keep honing my leadership skills and give my energy to a non-profit board whose mission I deeply care about.
🍞 Bake bread with Community Loaves once a month - I started volunteering with this organization last year - you bake bread and/or cookies at home and donate to your local food bank (HopeLink in my case).
UW - Get involved with UW Foster Business School and reconnect with Foster classmates.
🧒🏼 Host a Girl Scouts troop at our cabin to foster growth and independence - this is my 3rd year being involved with the Girl Scouts of Western Washington organization and it’s been great to mentor and support young girls.
Personal (10-14)
🐶 Get a puppy - The big news in our family for 2025 is that we are getting a puppy! Stay tuned for Mind the Beet posts on puppy life!
🪞 Buy a full-size stand-alone mirror - I don’t have a full-size mirror in our house, so I want to get one for our bedroom.
📚 Read 25 minutes a day - My homage to 2025 - I will read 25 minutes a day.
🧴Get a monthly facial - For the last few months, I have been successful at keeping a regular facial schedule, and I can tell the difference in the health of my face.
🪮 Get a regular haircut - I looked back and saw that I have gotten 2 haircuts in 2024. For the health of my hair, I want to schedule a haircut every 3 months.
Travel (15-20)
👧🏻 Go on a trip with my sister - The hardest part will be picking a date, but I’m excited to spend time with her this coming year.
👯♂️ Plan a trip with my best friend - My bestie lives in London, so figuring out a place to meet and things to do together this year will be special!
🇳🇿 🇫🇯Make a memory book after our trip to Fiji and New Zealand - We took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand and Fiji over the holidays, and I want to create a keepsake from it.
🎨 Visit a new museum - I plan to spend some time in New York City later this summer and can’t wait to explore a museum I haven’t been to.
🎭 See 2-3 new theater productions this year
🌎 Visit a new country - I continue to put this on the list as we get more and more into travel as a family. I’m not sure what country we’ll hit this year - the Nordics are on the list, and our kids are pushing for Greece (thanks to Percy Jackson)
Health Habits(21-25)
🏋 Lift weights 2 times a week - This is a continuation from last year, and I will keep it here for another year before I remove it from this list. What has helped me make it a habit is to go with a friend.
🎾Play tennis 2 times a week - I have enjoyed taking up tennis and playing a team sport. However, I actually played too much in September and October and learned that pacing is key. So I want to keep playing but 2-3 times a week.
🩺 Health cleanse twice throughout 2025 - I continue on a mission to figure out my weight and get to sustainable healthy eating habits. While cleanses get a bad rep, I like doing them periodically as a reset.
🛜 Less Social Media - Keep social media apps off my phone for the first 2 months of 2025. The apps I have removed are Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I am hoping to build better habits and intentionality about my time on social media.
📔 Journal Daily - I know that I process through writing, so I plan to journal daily - anything from a photo to a sentence to an essay goes. I have been using Day One for my journaling for many years now.
This year's list has 25 items, making it a good candidate for a Bingo board. My daughter suggested that I create an incentive system for completing the board, so I will reward myself when I complete my first Bingo with a bubble waffle and a Boba tea with a friend.
As always, I’ll check in mid-year on my progress. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a happy and healthy 2025.
I love the monthly facial :) !!!
Amazing! I am available for walks with you and your pup anytime :)