INs for 2025

Around this time (or the start of the new year) I see people post their INs and OUTs for that year. I don’t recall ever making a list. I even scrolled my IG to see. Anyway, it’s a glorified way of saying “here’s what I’m choosing to vibe with this year” and “here’s what I will body-check into the sun.” It’s unserious and it’s a little peek into someone’s life.

Starting with the INs and I will post my OUTs next week!

- Bricking my phone
I’ve bricked my phone over 100 hours. When it’s on, I can’t scroll myself into paralysis. I can actually focus. It’s wild. It’s like my brain finally stops screaming long enough for me to get things done. More Brick mode, less doom-scroll chaos.

- Consistent sleep schedule
I didn’t do this a ton this year, but when I did: LIFE CHANGING. I can really feel the effects of when I do get good sleep CONSISTENTLY versus when I don’t. Turns out going to bed at the same time actually makes a difference. Who knew.

- Cohesiveness within my products
I worked on this this year. And I feel like I can finally look at my line and seeing it as a whole part of my brand. I am doing my first tradeshow in February. Seeing everything come together on display in one spot is really going to seal that deal! Even with my patreon, I like to pick a color palette and 1-2 fonts to keep the entire sticker pack that month looking good. 

- Working in a cafe
Now this isn’t something I do often, but I would like to make it part of my routine. Not a huge fan of working my laptop. I like the big screen on my desktop. But being outside of the house and more than 3 ft away from the couch really motivates me. When I do work in a cafe and brick my phone, i am basically equipped to take over the world

- Shopping small and local (including my manufacturers)
This year I found 2 manufacturers that are in Maryland and driving distance away from me. The margins worked (even got better margins than before) and the product was nearly identical or even better. So I made the switch to a new sticker printer and greeting card printer. Also, how can I tell people to shop small and local if I am not trying to do the same?!

- Caramelized onions
I don’t have any patience but i suddenly get some when it comes to onions. Caramelized onions make everything taste better. There were several weeks where I would get a bag of onions from Costco and caramelize the entire bag. Then Zach and I would have caramelized onions for everything that week! Back to doing more of that in 2026.

Feeling the sun on my face
- I have rosacea so this is a weird one. The sun immediately makes me red and for too long I might explode. But that vitamin D really boosts my mood. Sometimes when I am inside for too long (like days), just a few moments of sun on my face really changes my mood. Also, this is the first year when I have felt seasonal depression when the time changed. And I just know it has to do with the sun setting at what feels like 2pm.

- Animal Crossing
This was my shit in 2020. I was working from home and it was slow during the pandemi lovato. I played this game so damn much that I gave myself burnout. I think I played it for a year. I do know I put in over 1000 hours! But I dusted off the switch this year and picked it back up. Only playing for an hour or so during the week not to burnt out again. I missed it so much! So to more animal crossing in 2026 but in moderation!

- Celebrating milestones
No matter how small or big, we need to be celebrating! No more downplaying wins. We’re making noise over every achievement, big or small. New store? Celebrate. A good sales week? Celebrate. Didn’t cry while doing admin work? Hell yes, celebrate.

- Blogging
I have been loving blogging. Helps me speak my mind without having to be constantly on social media. I haven’t set a specific day of the week that i will post. I don’t want it to be that rigid or I will end up hating it. Just knowing I need to post one day a week is good enough for me!

- Craft Margs
Marg Mondays are the one consistent thing in my life. If it is a monday, I am making a marg. I try not to repeat margs, but there are a few I would make all the time: hibiscus coconut, blood orange (IT IS ALMOST THE SEASON!), pumpkin cinnamon, and peach hot honey!

- Making the bed
This year I made an effort to make the bed every day. And when I don’t do it, I hate myself at the end of the day. Getting into a made bad is so much better than having to make it real fast when I am tired. Also it’s a great way to start the day.

As I wrap up 2025, I’m weirdly proud of how these little “Ins” actually stuck. They didn’t fix my whole life, but they gave the year some structure and a few moments of sanity, which honestly feels like winning. So heading into 2026, I’m keeping the momentum going. More good habits, more small joys, more choices that make my business and my brain feel supported instead of fried. If 2025 was about figuring out what works, 2026 is about doubling down on it and building something even better.

Drop your Ins for 2026 in the comments. I’m nosy, and also I like stealing good ideas.