OUTs for 2025

Every year, the “Ins and Outs” trend rolls around. Honestly, nothing feels better than lovingly roasting the habits, choices, and chaos gremlins we’re leaving behind. If the INs were all about supporting my sanity, the OUTs are about protecting it. These are the things that drained me, annoyed me, or just made my small-biz life harder than it needed to be. Consider this my official breakup letter to the nonsense of 2025.

- Working in the evening
I started the habit of signing off work when Zach gets home way too late this year. But it’s been a game-changer for my mental health and my work/life balance. So more of this in 2026.

- New-to-me Markets
I started markets in late 2018. I am definitely at the point in my career where I know what works and what doesn’t. I am no longer taking a chance on markets I have never done before. No matter how great it is to someone else. That has never been a positive experience for me. Plus, we are slowly getting out of markets!

- Doom scrolling
I get nothing out of doom scrolling except wasted time. I recently reorganized my phone and I put all of my social media apps on one page WITH the screen time widget. So if I am going to use a social media app when I am unbricked, I have that reminder right there. Here is a screen shot to give you inspo!

- Custom Work
I think I am just so burnt out from signs from a couple years ago that I just dont ever want to do them again. HOWEVER, if I made something for you before I will make something for you again. And if I don’t have the bandwidth, I will let you know!

- Etsy
I opened my Etsy up again this year and it was fine. I got it connected to my Shopify with an app to help with inventory and such. But I put it on vacation mode in October and never turned it back on. I think I made $600 on it this year. And that’s not enough for me to leave it open. Etsy is so flooded with AI shit and they take soooo many fees.

- Imposter Syndrome
My imposter syndrome loves to body-slam me the second I see someone “doing better,” especially when I’m genuinely trying. It’s like my brain goes, “Wow, congrats on working hard, here’s a crisis.” So when I feel that spiral coming on, I’ve started bricking my phone. If I can’t open the apps, I can’t compare myself to someone else’s curated highlight reel. People don’t exactly post the messy middle (unless they’re doing pity marketing), so all you see is the shiny stuff. And honestly, it’s draining. Bricking my phone is the only thing that shuts my brain up long enough for me to remember I’m actually doing fine.

- Say yes out of guilt
If the yes isn’t enthusiastic, wholehearted, and maybe a little unhinged, it’s a no. No more forcing myself into overwhelm because someone asked nicely.

- Letting one slow week determine my worth
Shopify going quiet for three days is not a sign of personal failure. My worth is not measured in revenue dips. But wow does my brain love to act like I’m being personally attacked by the universe every time orders slow down. One slow week does not mean my business is crumbling, my customers have abandoned me, or I should start Googling “jobs that require no skills and minimal will to live.” It just means… it was a slow week. That’s it. So in 2026, we’re breaking up with the emotional rollercoaster that comes from treating every sales dip like a referendum on my talent, effort, or future.

- Dehydration
WE ARE DRINKING MORE WATER IN 2026. Actually starting now. If you are reading this, drink your water.

-Expensive date nights
Okay, I have had this idea for a while now: Zach and I take turns planning dates. However, the date must be associated with a letter of the alphabet. (example: A - Applebee's and the arcade) AND the limit is $60 for the entire night. There are 52 weeks in a year and 26 letters in the alphabet… Every 2 weeks… So zach when you read this, pay attention to this part!

-”Earning” rest
Rest isn’t a prize. It’s a requirement. Having days where we do nothing is allowed. And don’t feel guilty about it.

-Inconsistency
The era of an unorganized business is coming to an end. I am slowly building systems in my own way to help with everything behind the scenes. It’s still a little chaotic, but baby steps!

Wrapping up the OUTs for 2025 honestly feels like taking off a weighted blanket made of bad habits and emotional nonsense. These are the things that drained me, distracted me, or convinced me I was doing worse than I actually was. Letting them go doesn’t magically fix everything, but it does clear some space for habits that won’t immediately set my brain on fire. So here’s to stepping into 2026 with fewer energy leaks, less guilt, and fewer spirals over things that were never worth spiraling over in the first place. If you’ve got your own OUTs for the year, drop them in the comments. I love seeing what everyone else is leaving behind, and I’m absolutely judging all the relatable ones.