7 Things That Worked for Me in 2025
For years, I’ve closed out December by sharing a few things that worked for me that year. You can see all of those posts here!
In the season of goal setting, it can be easy to mainly focus on what DIDN’T go well or what you want to change for the upcoming year and it’s nice to think about things that were a success!
As a fun bonus, for the past two years, I’ve had the Everyday Reading team weigh in on things that worked for them in the previous year and they’re here again – I love hearing about their wins!
I hope this post gives you a little nudge to think about what worked well for you this year too!
Here are seven things that worked for me in 2025:
- Reading earlier to the girls. This was one of my 2025 goals and I’ve been really pleased at how well it has gone. Resetting my internal clock to read to them at 7:45 instead of more like 8:15 means we read longer each night AND they still go to bed on time and I have some time to get a few things done afterward or read in bed until we’re ready to watch a show.
- Amazon Music audiobooks. This launched very late last year so now I’ve been using it for a full year and I’m fully obsessed. I’m careful with my Audible credits but having a free audiobook listen on Amazon Music Unlimited every month is just my favorite thing. There’s no pressure to choose a “perfect” book because it is use-it-or-lose-it and it disappears when you pick your next month’s listen, so it just feels so free and easy! (You can try it out for 3 months for free here!)
- Using a Counter Spray. This is literally the silliest thing in the world, but has actually made a big difference in my daily life. A few months ago, I bought a fall counter spray and after a few days, Bart commented on how I was suddenly wiping down the counters and table while he did the dishes. There’s just something so nice about finishing up the kitchen for the night and coming in the next morning to everything smelling nice! I just ordered this one for January!
- Making an ordered list of things to do for my morning work period. I get up at 6:30 in the mornings, get dressed for my workout and then come into my office for about 45-60 minutes to work before I work out. It’s easy for me to burn this time checking a million things but not actually accomplishing anything which is a rough way to start the day. I’ve started making a little list the evening before of the 3-4 things I want to get done in that time in order of importance and that has been super helpful to keep me from going off track first thing in the morning.
- Switching our Yoto cards from binders to rings. We’ve had all our Yoto cards in binders for years but this year, when I was working on this post about storage solutions for Yoto cards, I finally ordered the viral tab and ring system and I was immediately hooked. I no longer have random cards lying all over the place. I’d never go back! (And the tabs and rings are super affordable).
- Listening to scriptures while I get ready for the day. I’ve struggled with fitting in personal daily scripture study for years and this year, I finally gave myself permission to listen to them in the mornings while I do my hair and makeup instead of feeling like it only “counted” if I sat down with a physical copy and a highlighter. And guess what – I’ve been more consistent than I’ve been in a decade!
- Factor meals for lunch. This is new as of the last month or so, but I’m such a fan. I’ve got my daily breakfast dialed in but lunch was always so tricky for me. Finally, after a million rave reviews from my Instagram community, I decided to try it out and it is literally been my favorite thing. Having a balanced, quick lunch every day feels like magic (and Bart loves them too!). You can try them out for 50% off your first box here.
And here are some of the things that have worked for my team this year!
Analese
- Block Scheduling
I heard about this from Janssen’s sister, Merrick, a few years back and tried it this year. It has helped my productivity SO much! I try to create a block schedule for each of my days the night before. I’m probably doing it 80% of the time for the weekdays (never for the weekends) and when I do, it makes a huge difference. If you don’t know what block scheduling is, it divides your day up into distinct blocks of time where you complete a certain task. For example, from 9:00-12:00 work, 12:00-12:45 do three things on my to-do list, 12:45-1:45 clean the bathrooms and so on. This helps me stay focused on the task at hand because I know there is a time slot for the other things that need to get done. It also takes the pressure off completing everything on my to-do list. As long as I know I am getting a few done each day, I can rest easy. - Nachos on Sunday
We get home from church at 1:00 each week and everyone is starving. I don’t like prepping for a big lunch and dinner and I hated thinking of what to pull together for lunch, so I made the official decision to have nachos every Sunday. Every time I place a Walmart delivery I add all our nacho ingredients to make sure we have all we need. It’s nothing fancy (we don’t even do meat, gasp…no protein), but is probably my favorite meal of the week because my effort is so low and everyone loves it.
Kelsey
- Using a Sinking Fund for Insurance
We pay all of our insurance in one annual lump sum to save 10–15%, but the January bill used to feel shocking and stressful, especially right after Christmas. This year, I opened a separate savings account and set aside a little each month, and when the bill came, the money was already there. The peace of mind alone made this a total game-changer. - Splitting the Bedtime & Kitchen Load
My husband and I started alternating nighttime responsibilities: one of us handles kids’ bedtime routine (pajamas, teeth, baths, and stories) while the other cleans up dinner and closes down the kitchen – and then the next day we switch. We both tuck the kids in and say goodnight, but dividing the rest of the work has made a huge difference. We’ve done this seamlessly for an entire year, and it’s been one of the simplest, most effective ways for us to truly share the load.
Jennifer
- Strength Training
I was so diligent about going to a HIIT class at the rec center for over two years. I even convinced lots of my friends to start going. But earlier this year I was feeling stagnant and that I had plateaued in my personal fitness. I quit going to my class and started weight lifting with my husband early in the morning and it has actually been a lot of fun. I have the most lean muscle mass I have ever had and noticeable muscle tone. - Listening to Podcasts
Can I say this on a blog that’s primarily about books?? I have become a podcast convert this last year. It has been a fun way to learn new things and consume information. I especially like listening to the same episodes as my husband or friends so we can discuss them. Some of my favorite podcasts are Down The Well, DOAC, BYU Sports Nation, and Follow Him.
