Happy 2025! ✨

I always find the very beginning of January to be a weird mix of cozy and slightly overwhelming — that feeling of fresh starts mixed with the tiny pressure of “okay, what do I want to do with this year?” However, after considering it for the past few weeks, I’ve settled on one project that I’m really excited to start this year.

My New Doodle Journal

So — I’ve officially started a doodle journal on my iPad.

I’ve seen a few artists on Instagram who do daily or weekly doodle journals where they draw little scenes or moments from their day, and I’ve always thought it was such a cute way to record everyday life. Not big life events, just those small, random little things that make up a year. And since I’m the type of person who takes a million photos but rarely actually looks back on them, this felt like a fun alternative to keep memories in a more intentional way.

The nice thing is, it doesn’t feel like a huge time commitment. Since I’m doing it digitally on my iPad, everything I need is just... there. I made my own little template on Canva with only the elements I actually want, so I’m not starting from a blank page every time. I also added a small weekly kitty illustration on each page, which I’ll decorate to reflect the vibe of the week. (Honestly, decorating the kitty might be my favorite part so far.)

Right now, I’m still figuring out my own drawing style for it — I do think some of the layouts are a little inspired by one of the artists I follow — but part of the fun is slowly figuring out what feels like “me.”

The Goal: Actually Keep It Going

I really don’t want this to become one of those projects where I do it for a week and then completely forget about it. My actual goal is to stick with it throughout 2025, so that by the end of the year, I can scroll back through the whole journal and see all the little moments that made up my year — random conversations, silly little things that happened, places I went, and just... life.

I know myself, so I’m being realistic about it: not every week will have five perfect doodles, but as long as I keep showing up and adding little moments, I’ll be happy. It feels like a nice balance between being creative and also not putting too much pressure on myself. I don’t need each page to be perfect — I just want it to be something I can enjoy doing and look back on.

My Resolutions for 2025

Besides the doodle journal, I’m keeping my resolutions simple this year, but a little more intentional than usual:

• Consistency over intensity. Whether it’s journaling, practicing, studying, or just taking care of myself — small, steady habits > big bursts of motivation.

• Leave space for slow days. Not every day has to be maximized or “productive.” Sometimes rest is productive.

• Protect my attention. Less endless scrolling, more intentional reading, learning, and conversations.

• Keep learning creatively. Whether that’s with my music projects, my writing, or even my doodles — I want to keep making things just because I enjoy them.

• Be present with people. Especially when I’m spending time with friends or family, fully be there.

I’m sure these will evolve as the year goes on, but it feels like a good place to start.

A First Look at My Doodle Journal

Since I’ve already completed my first week of 2025, I figured I’d share a little preview! This first page already has a few fun little moments — meeting up with a friend, watching a good movie with a twist, a pretty funny incident at the bank, and a magic show I witnessed at a hotel lunch. The kitty for this week is ready to celebrate the New Year with a glass of champagne.

Even after just one week, I’m already loving how this is starting to take shape. It’s nice having a place where I can just collect these small pieces of my days — not necessarily the “big” things, but the kind of stuff that makes up real life.

I’m excited to see what this will look like a few months from now — and hopefully, when December comes around, I’ll have a whole year’s worth of little memories all in one place.

A Small New Addition to the Blog

As a tiny side note — starting this year, I’m going to be adding a little “currently” section at the end of most of my blog posts. Just a small way to capture a little extra snapshot of what life feels like while I’m writing each post. Nothing fancy, but I think it’ll be fun to look back on later.

Currently listening to: my 2025 chill playlist while I doodle

Currently drinking: warm herbal tea

Currently feeling: quietly excited for what this year will bring