2025: The year of…
A look back on the year.
Hi friends,
How have you been? I hope you are enjoying the sweet, slow slide into the festive period. I’m now officially done with work until January and am welcoming the two weeks off with open arms.
There’ll be catch ups with friends and family, as well as plenty of time spent on the sofa, playing sims and eating festive snacks.
Looking back on the year, it felt like quite a full one, personally (and globally, right?). As always, I am feeling that itch to reflect, so here’s a quick look back at 2025.
The year of… travel
Dan and I have travelled more this year than we have in a long time. In March we went to the Netherlands for a long weekend for a once-in-a-lifetime gig.
The hotel we stayed at was incredibly cool and when we arrived we had a glass of wine in the hotel bar and felt that kind of smugness you feel when you realise you are an adult and can fly to a different country for a gig if you want to.
Then in July, we travelled with Dan’s parents to Porto for his friend’s wedding. Another cool hotel and plenty of fun revisiting a city we fell in love with in 2024, all while celebrating a friend’s wedding.
Finally, in October, another destination wedding saw us travel to Crete with Dan’s family for a week in the sun.
It’s been a lot at times, with events and families bringing their own particular brand of chaos, but travel always fills my cup so it’s been pretty wonderful.
The year of… change at work
This year was also the year my job role completely changed. In 2024, it changed a little as I took on some responsibilities while my manager was on maternity leave, but this year we re-looked at the team entirely and I was offered a new position that has taken me outside of my content ‘bubble’.
The role of brand and integrity manager sounded intimidating at first, but there was an immediate spark of excitement at the thought of a new challenge.
Now I’m six months into the role, I can say it’s been one of the best changes in my career. It forced me to learn new things and to step into a place with more responsibility.
Take a look at my recent Mon - Fri diary for more of an insight. I’m so excited to see how the role develops on 2026.
The year of… new volunteer work
Things changed in my volunteer work this year too. Alongside my usual role at Beat (the eating disorder charity) as a quality assurance volunteer (where I review other volunteers’ conversations with people contacting Beat for support) I started work as a lived experience volunteer.
This has involved public speaking at various engagements, such as medical student training sessions, teacher training sessions and at support sessions for carers of those with eating disorders.
At these sessions, I share my lived experience and answer any questions, helping people understand a little more how eating disorders can feel.
It’s been really rewarding and I’m excited to keep it up next year.
The year of… feeling better
I’ve touched on this previously, so won’t go into detail, but my intention for this year was to work on improving my health. From period-related problems to low energy and catching every bug going, I wanted to simply feel better this year.
Thankfully, that has happened. Working with my doctor and making small but impactful tweaks to my lifestyle has made this possible. Fingers crossed this can continue into the new year.
The year of… finding my third space(s)
I feel like this has also been the year of settling into (and finding new) third spaces. These are spaces outside of work and ‘home’. For me, that means my weekly Pilates class and monthly writing group.
I’ve been more consistent than ever with Pilates (see previous point) and after our last session of the year we all popped to the pub for a drink and had such lovely conversations, learning more about each other’s lives outside of class.
I started attending a local writing group in March this year and have made (almost) every session (in fact, I’m writing this at our last one of the year!). It’s been such a lovely way to meet like-minded people and talk about writing, books and creativity in general.
Especially with my job changing this year to be a little less creative and writing-focused, this space has felt important in keeping up that side of things.
All in all, it’s been a really positive year, but I would be lying if I didn’t say I was tired. As I said up top, it’s been full. So I am truly ready for a rest.
I’m sure I’ll be having thoughts on what I hope 2026 will be the year of soon… but until then, I’d love to hear what 2025 has been the year of for you? Let me know in the comments.
I hope you all have a restful end of the year, thank you for continuing to read my ramblings here - it’s so appreciated.
Until next time, take care.
Kat x
What a year!! Congratulations on the new role, and your new volunteer bits – it sounds so fulfilling and you absolutely deserve a rest. Wishing you all the best with the health journey too. I've been there for a few years, and finally figured out some stuff this year at last! x
What a year you’ve had love!! You’re rocking it! I love the illustration as well of you and Dan 🥰