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Reader
As this year winds down, I’m not thinking about resolutions.
I’m thinking about release.
Because growth, at least for me, hasn’t come from doing more — it’s come from letting go of the things that quietly drain my energy, my peace, and my capacity to enjoy the life I’m building.
Here are 25 things I’m consciously leaving behind in 2025.
- Trying to do everything myself.
This Christmas proved that even when I plan ahead, I can't do everything myself...especially when it comes to making all the food for about 30 guests. Needless to say I had a mental breakdown to John about an hour before people showed up and didn't even end up putting the icing on one of the (dozen) of cookies that I made.
- Believing rest has to be earned.
I always feel so guilty every time I sit on the couch to watch YouTube (mostly MrBallen), because I feel like I should be working on my business or cleaning or something other than resting/relaxing.
- Perfectionism disguised as high standards.
Especially in a house with kids, pets, and real humans.
- Letting clutter quietly steal my mental space.
Not because I’m messy — but because unfinished decisions weigh more than we realize.
- Cleaning from a place of shame.
Especially during our holiday party, I feel like everything needs to look perfect, or otherwise, I believe people will judge me. After our Christmas party, I even mentioned to John that I didn't realize until just then that the Christmas sign above the TV was crooked, and of course, he just jokingly said, "Oh, I bet everyone was judging us for that."
- Carrying the entire mental load silently.
Just because I can remember everything doesn’t mean I should.
- Keeping gifts I don’t like or use just out of guilt.
Gratitude doesn’t require lifelong storage.
- Saving things “just in case.”
Especially when “just in case” costs me peace today.
- Overcomplicating systems.
Simple doesn’t mean lazy — it means sustainable.
- Believing consistency means doing everything daily.
My laundry routine exists because daily wasn’t realistic — and that’s okay. I do laundry twice a week, because that's what works for us. If you need to do it more often, then do what works for you.
- Letting unfinished projects live in my head.
Decision fatigue is real, and clutter feeds it. Even doing a brain dump periodically really helps eliminate some of that mental clutter that can be causing so much stress.
- Comparing my home to online standards.
Function matters more than aesthetics.
- Ignoring my needs until everyone else is okay.
This pattern leads straight to burnout, and I'm all too familiar with it, unfortunately. I need to get past the belief that it's selfish for me to focus on myself at times.
- Believing overwhelm is “just part of motherhood.”
It’s common, but it’s not inevitable.
- Relying on motivation instead of structure.
Motivation disappears. Systems stay. I frequently try to rely on motivation when it comes to posting on social media and writing blog posts, when in reality, I need to create a system where I do those things, no matter if I have the motivation or not.
- Feeling guilty for wanting calm.
Peace is not a luxury.
- Holding onto routines that no longer fit this season.
I keep trying to get up early to be "more productive," when in reality my brain really can't begin to function until mid-morning (around 10:30 AM). So, trying to force myself to wake up earlier, especially when I have horrible insomnia anyway, does nothing but make me miserable.
- Letting stress and emotions dictate how we move through hard moments.
This is especially true when John and I are arguing mostly about money. I recently got the book, Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most, and so far, it's got some good ideas in it. I actually got it for a different reason, but it's useful for any type of difficult conversation.
- Believing small progress doesn’t count.
Small steps are what actually stick. I constantly feel like I don't make any progress with my business, but then when I go back through some of my old planners and journals and see where I was a year or two ago, it truly shows how far I've come. I recommend journaling any time you're working towards a goal, so that when you feel like you're not making progress, you can look back through your old journal entries and see how far you've truly come.
- Letting go of the notion that I have to read so many books in a year.
Not that I don't think reading is important, but I'm at a season in my life where I'm very busy with my job and my online business, and so when I want to relax, I want to do something that doesn't require much thought, like watching YouTube videos instead of reading.
- Feeling like no matter what I do, I'm not giving enough to help others.
I donate $100 a month to the MrBallen Foundation, and I occasionally give money to homeless people on street corners and pay for people's orders in the drive-thru behind me; I've also started looking into volunteering for different organizations, but I still feel like I'm never doing enough. I need to remind myself that I'm doing what I can and that is enough.
- Beating myself up when something doesn't go as planned.
I frequently beat myself up when a launch didn't go well, or I didn't stick to a schedule that I created for myself. Instead of cutting myself a break, I frequently berate myself and tell myself that I'm a failure. I have a horrible habit of talking negatively to myself whenever something goes wrong. I'm going to work on treating myself with more dignity and grace than I have been.
- Trying to do everything at once.
How many of you have felt that motivation to want to change, and you try to do everything at once (i.e., start a diet and exercise plan while trying to learn a new language and working on a new hobby while starting your blog), and then you end up overwhelmed and give up on everything...or is that just me? Lol.
- Being available 24/7 to everyone.
I don't want to have to be constantly glued to my phone or to a computer all the time. I need to tell myself that I don't have to respond to emails or text messages right away.
- What's on my phone is not more important than the people I'm with.
As I step into 2025, I’m choosing lighter — not because life is easy, but because it’s worth protecting.
And now I want to hear from you.
👉 What are you leaving behind in 2025?
A belief. A habit. A pile of clutter. A version of “should.”
Hit reply and tell me just one thing — I read every response, and you don’t have to carry it alone 💛
P.S. Letting go doesn’t mean failure. Sometimes it’s the bravest kind of progress.
Wishing you a little more clarity and a lot less clutter,
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Things I've been loving lately ❤️
The MrBallen YouTube Channel and Foundation
If you're like me and enjoy true crime and the paranormal (AKA the strange, dark, & mysterious), then I have the perfect YouTube channel for you, MrBallen! He is an amazing storyteller and really puts you in the story. He tells true events from the main character's perspective. Not only that but he has started his own foundation to help the victims and their families of violent crimes.
For MrBAllen's YouTube channel click HERE if you want to donate to his non-profit organization (MrBallen Foundation) click HERE!
Trees With Aidan Campaign
For every FREE pledge that is made to help put an end to climate change Envision Racing in partner with Aidan Gallagher will plant one Mangrove tree! So if you haven't already (or even if you have, as you can make more than one pledge) be sure to click the link below and make your pledge to help end climate change today!
If you want to help put an end to climate change and plant a Mangrove tree for FREE, click HERE!
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“The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. Please know that it is worth it then, now, and forever.”
— Jeffrey R. Holland
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