Maximize Your Potential in 2025 with These Effective Strategies

Welcome to 2025 with Zera

Hello everyone, how is the beginning of the new year going? The snow-covered mountains outside our windows are breathtakingly beautiful, as if we were in a dream.

But anyway, let’s focus on how it feels to enter the New Year. In the past month, I have met many people whom I respect. I was surrounded by people with varying emotions; some had just retired and were filled with joy and excitement, while others were stressed about the challenging year ahead. It’s a reminder that no two people will walk the same path at the same time. This is especially true when a new year arrives, and especially when a tough climb awaits ahead.

For me, right now it feels like I’m in an uncertain place. I’ve barely made it back to my desk this week and have been thinking about how strange the transition from one year to the next is. It’s as if we suddenly rush from the whirlwind of Halloween into the frenzy of Christmas. The pace is so fast that there’s barely time to adjust – it’s like being thrown into the spin cycle of a washing machine. At first, we grumble our way through November, then in early December, we bury our heads in the sand and go all out. It’s a time of family, holiday treats, laughter and joy.

Then it all ends as quickly as it began.January 6 comes and it all seems to come to a screeching halt. The fun is over and we are ushering in a brand new year.

For me, the transition is especially noticeable because the kids are leaving again. My oldest son returns to London on January 3rd and my youngest son is going back to college next week. My daily life is going to get a little quieter and I’m adjusting to the change. Luckily, the one in the middle of us is still there to keep things light and fun, but there will still be changes.

Just when I was getting used to being the head of the household and my main role was “mom,” it’s time to refocus on myself. I’m not sure if you understand what I mean. It’s not that I don’t want to be myself, it’s that playing a role is reassuring because the role is clear, the expectations are clear, and you know what you need to do. It makes life so much easier.

We had a very happy Christmas, the kids were excited, we were energized by being together and it felt very special. I’m grateful for the time we spent together, but for now, family life is back to a quieter pace and the decorations are being put away. It’s time to think about the new year, which is full of opportunities to try new things and stay the same. Strangely, I still feel like I’m staring at a blank sheet of paper, which is probably why I feel a little overwhelmed. Usually, I spend the time between Christmas and New Year focusing on life, work and my blog. This year, I decided not to do that and it felt good to take a step back and live in the moment. I didn’t even have my usual ‘Twixmas walk’ conversation with Mal – there just wasn’t time.

So I can’t share my full thoughts and intentions, except to say them out loud here. I don’t have a detailed plan for the coming year, but I’d like to have a general idea of what’s to come. Some people may like to take their time adjusting to the new year and taking their time through January, but that approach doesn’t quite work for me. Life is too precious to just go with the flow, so I want to use this quiet time to think things through more carefully.

My first instinct for 2025 is to focus on restoration and regeneration, just like nature does during the cold season. So, yes, I’m getting some health training in. While I kept up with my strength training last year, I slacked off a bit in the second half of the year and didn’t see much progress. In order to kick off 2025 with a fresh sense of purpose, I am prioritizing this area. I even had a full-body 360-degree scan at the gym in late November to track my progress, and the results revealed some important issues with my health that I’m eager to address.

Let’s take action to meet 2025 by focusing on what we want to achieve and taking care of ourselves in the process. Let’s take the opportunity to be the best we can be in the new year!

Taking Control of 2025 – Focus on Health

I’ve noticed that visceral fat is on the rise. This fat is more of a concern than subcutaneous fat. It can cause problems I don’t want to deal with, and when I noticed my waistline thickening, I knew a problem had arisen. It didn’t surprise me. I hadn’t planned to tackle this problem in December, but now I’m determined to fix it. It won’t be easy, but I know what works for me and I’m determined to stick with it.

Here’s how I’m coping, but a word of caution: I’m not a health expert. The following methods worked for me, but may be different for you:

  • Use the Zera app to log food – logging everything was a game-changing move for me. I aim to consume 1400 calories on weekdays and 1700 calories on weekends. I also make sure to get 130 grams of protein and lots of fiber each day.

  • Boost metabolism – I’ve increased my workouts to four times a week: two strength training sessions, one circuit training session and one Pilates sculpting class.

  • Stay active – My goal is to take 7,000 to 10,000 steps a day, but it depends on Ted’s (Ted’s) ice condition. It’s an easy way to stay active and burn calories.

  • Take part in ‘No Alcohol January’ – It’s relatively easy not to drink at home. I may allow myself a few drinks when I go to Newcastle next weekend, but I’ll still focus on my health goals.

Some people may laugh at me, but honestly, it’s not about trends or anything superficial. It’s about being healthy and feeling comfortable with yourself, especially when it comes to being comfortable in your clothes. I relaxed a little bit last year and I know it’s only going to get worse if I don’t get it under control now. The real key for me is logging my diet. This prevents me from eating a couple slices of cheese while I’m making dinner, or having little snacks that I don’t really need.

Taking Control of Your Life in 2025 – Life Planning

For now, this will suffice. January is a great time to start fresh, to look at yourself and make sure you’re ready for the year ahead. It’s a good time to reflect. The global situation is changing rapidly and 2025 looks set to be full of surprises again. Now I’m starting to think about what I want this year. Note that I said “want”, not “need” – this gives me the flexibility to adjust as things evolve.

This week we will be sending our youngest child to Leeds again as he has an intense study period before his final exams in June. This means we’ll be spending less time together until then. After saying our goodbyes, we’ll head straight to Newcastle to tune up and recharge. I guess Mal knows I want to have a serious conversation about 2025. Here are a few questions I will use to guide the discussion:

  • What does success look like in the next five years?
    Success is different for everyone, and in our industry, success often means choosing between time and money. Last year, we prioritized time – choosing to make less money but spend more time away from our desks. However, I ended up filling that time with writing a book. Writing at a desk, of course! I didn’t achieve the balance I had hoped for. This year, I’m focusing on how to get through each day and define success in a balanced way.

  • What progress was made last year?
    I haven’t given this question much thought, but I think it’s important to recognize progress. Maybe it’s not professional progress, and I’m starting to wonder if it’s just a natural stage of life. However, I do feel like I’ve made personal progress and I want to commend myself for that.

  • What’s most important right now?
    The most important thing for me is relationships – whether they are with my partner, my children or my friends. These relationships are the source of so much joy in life, but too often I prioritize my work at the expense of spending time with the people I care about. Now, I feel strongly that I need to cultivate friendships more this year.

Spend time with people who don’t drive and like to be quiet, and see how they spend their time

As we enter the new year, we should really be focusing on our physical health. I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but it’s worth repeating: it’s vital to be in tip-top shape in middle age. If we don’t take this seriously, our bodies will inevitably suffer and we will soon find ourselves in need of medical attention and intervention, which is the last thing we want. It may take effort and discipline, but once it becomes a habit, it won’t feel so difficult. Think of it like brushing your teeth – no one likes to spend a few minutes a day brushing their teeth, but we insist on doing it anyway to avoid bigger problems down the road. Taking care of our health is just an uncompromising part of self-care, just like brushing your teeth – it’s simple, but effective.

So, as we plan for the coming year, I recommend creating a schedule that includes time for rest and recovery (e.g., vacations and weekends). That way, when life changes, we can get back to our healthy habits without too much disruption. My plan for this year? Stick to my healthy habits and not get off track like I did in 2024.

Where will the adventure kick off this year?

Adventure is what keeps the passion in life alive and is the key to staying motivated. Last year, I tried several ways to push myself out of my comfort zone, but I haven’t fully reflected on what I learned from those experiences. Now it’s time to reflect and determine what adventure means to me right now. Keep in mind that adventure doesn’t always mean an extreme activity like hiking through the Amazon. It can be something as simple as taking up a new hobby or changing your daily walking route. The goal is to add a little friction to life, some new thoughts, topics to keep you interested. That’s how you stay energized and alive.

Newbie – taking a break

Rest is a new concept for me – I’ve never really allowed myself to rest until now, but it’s a key part of aging healthy and happy. I tend to fill my free time with activity, and a voice in my head (which sounds a lot like my mom’s or even my grandfather’s) keeps asking, “Is this the best use of your time?” It exhausts me. I think it’s time to learn how to silence that inner voice and give myself a break when I need it. I may even need to use words to justify to myself that it’s okay to take a break.

Catch a Glimpse of Joy

I can’t wait to grab joy when it appears, but I know that I should be better at cherishing the little moments that often go unnoticed. I’ve been trying to catch these ‘glimmers’ – the little things that bring a smile or a moment of happiness. For example, spotting the big kids in the crowds at Lancaster Station, or seeing Sugar the village cat mischievously take over the Christmas carol service. And, of course, the tears of laughter shared during a game of cards with family at Christmas.

In recent years, I’ve really come to understand what brings me joy. For me, it’s immersing myself in something, like music (especially live music) and dancing. Nature is another constant source of joy – if I can stop thinking and focus on my daily walks, there is always something beautiful to discover. There are also people who bring me joy just by their presence – they are like radiators in my life, while others can be funnels. I love those “radiators” the most, especially when the “funnel” needs extra support. Finally, I have to remind myself that even though exercise is hard, it can be fun. Once I stick with it, I realize that growth is a reward in itself. Of course, writing this blog post and connecting with all of you, both online and offline, is a source of joy.

One thing I think everyone should consider when January rolls around ……

It’s easy to forget that some of the simplest things can bring us the greatest joy. These moments often don’t come with a price tag, yet we often overlook them. So, I’d like to invite you to share your experiences in the comments below to inspire other women entering midlife. If you haven’t made a New Year’s resolution yet, I have a suggestion: try to fully embrace those little “glimmers” of joy – those fleeting, beautiful moments of surprise.

That said, I’d like to tell you a little story that amused us this Christmas, because it illustrates what I mean perfectly. The story is about our youngest son, who has been living and working in France and Spain for four semesters and returned to school this past September. All of his college friends have graduated, so his student life is different this year. They are all in the workforce and less inclined to go out on a night out, so he is starting to miss the carefree fun times they used to have.

Before the end of the semester, he mentioned that they were going to a jazz club to celebrate one of their birthdays – I thought they were very mature. When we picked him up on Christmas Day, I asked him how last night went. He let out a sigh and handed me his cell phone. Apparently, the next morning, his phone was full of messages asking if he’d seen the band’s Instagram feed. After the jazz set, the band added a couple of classics with the text, “Great venue, great crowd …… Especially this guy, he had a great time!”

I think this is a perfect example of truly feeling a “glimmer” of joy, if only for a moment. I think we all need more moments like this in 2025. Let’s be people who are truly filled with joy from head to toe, rather than just stomping our feet and keeping it all bottled up inside.

If you find a new source of joy at midlife, be sure to share it – especially the unexpected ones. I know many people will feel lost after the holidays, so any thoughts you have will make me happy.

I’m not sure what to write about today. I’ve been busy with analytics and numbers all week, so it’s so refreshing to connect with you guys. To be honest, it wasn’t as easy for me to write this post as it usually is, but I wanted to end it with a quote from Virginia Woolf that is perfect for this moment:

“Whatever happens, live. Don’t die before you die. Don’t lose yourself, don’t lose hope, don’t lose your way. Be alive with yourself, with every cell of your body, with every fiber of your skin. Live, learn, study, think, read, build, invent, create, speak, write, dream, design. Stay alive, stay alive on the inside, stay alive on the outside, decorate yourself with the colors of the world, decorate yourself with peace, decorate yourself with hope. Stay happy, stay alive. The only thing in life that should not be wasted is life itself.

I’ll share something more with you next Friday, though I don’t know what it is yet (let me know if you have a topic you’d like to discuss). In the meantime, I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year. I hope all is well in the new year!

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