CHAPTERS on How to plan for 2025 (or not)

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Usually, at this time of year, you’ll find me staring into the middle distance, bewildered that another twelve months have come and gone. When did that happen? I’ll sit there wondering how to chalk it all up. What did I achieve? What mattered? Realising I can’t remember most of it, I’ll start scrolling through my photos, saying things like, Was that really THIS year? And so begins the annual tradition of introspection.

Once I’ve marinated in all the existentialism, I shift into New Year planning. For the past five or six years, I’ve used those “dead days” between Christmas dinner and the Hootenanny to reflect, manifest, set new goals, and think ahead. The first time I ever did this, I looked back on my list a year later and laughed, thankful for the prayers He didn’t answer. But over time, after some honing and adjustments, I’ve found this technique remarkably effective. This year, I reckon I hit about 75% of my goals, and I’ll absolutely take that. Progress, not perfection.

But if there’s one thing 2024 has taught me about planning, it’s that you kind of… can’t. Okay, you might have an idea of how you’d like things to go. You can set your mind on making something happen, map out the steps, and even pull the trigger. But once you’ve done that, you don’t really know where the bullet will ricochet. With every bold move you make, a whole new set of challenges, surprises, and opportunities will inevitably unfold. Some will thrill you; others will test you in ways you didn’t anticipate. That’s the beauty and the difficulty of it all, isn’t it? No amount of meticulous planning can account for the curveballs.

So this year, as you list out your goals, manifest your dreams, and pin your hopes on 2025, I recommend, if I may, that you sprinkle it all with a pinch of salt. Or, if you´re feeling really daring, don’t plan at all. Here's a thought, you could just see what unfolds. Because isn’t that part of being alive? To wake up each day and not know what’s waiting around the corner? Yes, dreaming big and setting goals can be empowering but alongside those grand ambitions, I think it’s just as important to celebrate the unplanned moments—the unexpected wins and losses that colour your years.

Of course, there’s the flip side. The griefs that burn. The setbacks that make you sick. But perhaps they will later reveal their purpose, force you to pivot, grow, or reconsider your path. Often, the things that didn’t work out end up shaping your life in ways you couldn’t imagine at the time. Is it worth cherishing those, too?

This year, I’ve been trying to notice the little moments more. Like the bus driver who stopped and reopened the doors for me when I was running late, or the strangers who have given me a genuine smile when I really needed one. Those serendipitous events that pop up in your day, the kind that can’t be set out on a vision board, hold a sprinkle of magic too. They’re reminders that not all victories have to be ones we´ve chased.

What if the goal for 2025 is to leave a little room for life to surprise us? Dream big but remain open. Set intentions but let go of the need to contour every detail. Recognise that life, as John Lennon perfectly put it, “is what happens while you’re busy making plans.”

My wish is for us not only to celebrate the goals we achieve, but the ones we didn’t set. To embrace the detours, stay curious, be open-hearted, and have the will to grow with whatever life throws our way.

Here’s to a 2025 filled with all of your goals, planned and unplanned alike.