For me, 2025 is the year of alignment. In fact, I think it’s something everyone should prioritize this year. You deserve to make choices and spend your time in a way that aligns with your values, goals, and priorities. It’s not necessarily about making huge, sweeping changes brought on by the new year, but rather finding habits, exercises, and creative ways to fill yourself up with what fuels you.

Here’s 5 things you can do to get more aligned with your inner self–especially when you feel like you don’t have enough time to do the things you love.

#1 Have One 5-Minute Daily Habit You Refuse to Compromise On

It’s easy to say, “Oh, I’ll do it tomorrow.” And the bigger the task, the easier it is to shove it off to the next day. So pick something small you know you can easily (and enjoyably) do everyday, so that you won’t ever really have a justified reason not to do it. Predictably, mine is my skincare routine. I’m an evening skincare person, and like clockwork, I do my 5 minute routine around 8 or 9 PM.

But it doesn’t have to be something like a skincare routine (though I do 100% believe you should have a consistent one). It could also be listening to one new song a day, taking 5 minutes in the morning to write down your to do list (even if it’s a lazy day and you’ve only got 1 or 2 things on there), or stepping out onto your apartment balcony or backyard and sitting alone with your thoughts for 5 minutes.

Commit to something simple, meaningful, and enjoyable.

Make it something simple, meaningful, enjoyable, and something you can promise to yourself that you will do every day without compromise.

#2 Make Exit Strategies on Your Phone

I find that if I’m going to scroll mindlessly through social media, it’s pretty hard to stop myself from opening the apps in the first place. It’s almost habit at this point. But really, a bit of scrolling isn’t bad–it’s not knowing when to stop that is the problem.

I won’t lie, sometimes I’ll sit on the couch on my phone and not even notice an hour has gone by. So instead of fighting the urge to scroll at all, I try making what I call an “exit strategy” on my phone that I can switch over to. It’s a lot easier to turn off the phone if you transition to a fun activity that has a firm end point (unlike scrolling which goes on and on forever). 

For example, some of my exit strategies include doing the New York Times mini crossword, texting a friend to ask how their day is going, or clicking on a short article I’ve been meaning to read. Once you’re done with that, the phone goes away. And instead of struggling to stop your scroll, you still get one last fun thing on your phone. 

I share this little habit of mine because I’m going to assume you’re like me and the phone scrolling is something that doesn’t fulfill you, yet somehow sucks up so much of your time. Instead, that time could be spent on something that actually satisfies you.

#3 Share What You Want Out Loud

I used to always keep my goals and wants—big or small—to myself. If I, for example, want to go for a walk and finish the book I’m reading by the end of the day, saying it out loud to someone really cements that I’ve committed to something. When you keep plans to yourself, it’s so easy to leave them unfulfilled because you’ve let them only exist in your head, unknown to anyone else. 

Give someone the chance to root for you and your goals.

This is actually a classic tool to increase your motivation. A lot of self help people pitch this as a way to stick to your goals. And I actually find it really effective because when I set my intentions and communicate them to someone like my mother, my best friend, or my boyfriend, then I know I have at least one other person who is rooting for me to reach those goals, even if it’s something as small as getting out of the house to go to the gym or cooking a new dish I’ve never made before. 

#4 Combine Hobbies and Hangouts

This one is for everyone who finds alignment when doing the hobbies they love, but also finds it hard to make time for said hobbies (I am definitely part of this group). 

It sounds simple, but do your hobby with a friend! In your downtime, it’s always tricky to balance your need to socialize with people you care about and fulfill your need to do the activities you love. For me personally, I enjoy running, crafting, baking, and board games. 

I find it so much easier to make time for these things when I make plans to do them with someone else. I go for runs with my dad, and it puts me in the habit of finding time to do it solo, too. I plan crafting nights with my fellow craft-loving pals. I’ll even FaceTime a relative or friend who lives far away to keep me company while I bake cookies or go for a long walk. 

If you aren’t sure if the people you’re friends with will enjoy your hobbies, don’t let that stop you from inviting them to join in. You’d be surprised just how open to new things, especially new things you care about, most of your loved ones are!

#5 Energize Your Morning

I feel time slipping away from me the most in the morning. I’m slow to start and take a while to wake up, which frustrates me because I also have a lot I need to get done in the morning. I yearn for a balanced morning routine!

One thing my mother has been teaching me recently is how important it is to get your body moving in the morning, not just to get stretched out for the day ahead, but to mentally wake up by putting intention and thought into your movements. 

You don't need to be a morning person, you just need to find out what energizes you in the morning!

That’s why lately I’ve been swapping checking my phone first thing in the morning with spending 5 minutes on a low impact, mindful stretching routine. It has an amazing benefit of lifting that veil of mental fog I know a lot of us, myself included, feel in the morning. 

Sometimes instead of doing a full body stretch, I try some facial yoga exercises I learned from Graydon. 

Nurture Yourself in 2025

I already know 2025 is going to be a full and busy year for me. But just because I’m busy doesn’t mean I’m willing to let the activities and practices I love slip to the wayside. It’s important to make time for the things that fulfill us and align us more closely with who we are. 

I am a creative, curious, and driven person. This year, I plan on making time for the things that bring out these parts of myself that I love. 

Who are you? What parts of yourself do you love? I’ve written mine down in this article, and I encourage you to write yours out as well. I hope you see the parts of yourself that excite you and find what will nurture them! 

Happy 2025 🎉