25 Lists for a Meaningful 2025: Reflection and Planning

Also on mrgrayston.com

The start of a new year is the perfect time to think ahead. While I’m not a big believer in New Year’s resolutions, I do find value in using lists and prompts to set out what matters to me. Each year since 2021, I create a series of lists that help me prioritise, reflect, and plan. Every week or two, I revisit these lists to check my progress and make adjustments.

Here are the 25 lists I’m compiling for 2025:

Self-Reflection and Values

1. Who am I?

This grounding question is inspired by a coaching session with the brilliant James Victore. Set aside an hour, ask yourself “Who am I?” and jot down everything that comes to mind. Then, go back and reflect on each statement—keep what feels true, and let go of the rest.

2. Things I Value

As part of my VAPOR planning framework (Values, Activities, Plans, Organisation, Reflection), I identify my core values and the daily activities that help me live them out.

3. Sayings I Live By

A curated collection of quotes, mantras, and sayings that inspire and resonate with me—featuring Dieter Rams, Miles Davis, Tolkien, Maya Angelou, Nancy Kline, and, yes, even Ted Lasso.

Looking Forward to 2025 and Beyond

4. What I Want to Happen in 2025

Rather than resolutions that I 'resolve' to do, this is a list of aspirations, goals, and ideas for the year—a mix of the intentional and the hopeful.

5. What I Want to Leave in 2024

Life isn’t just about adding; it’s also about subtracting. This list captures habits, behaviours, or practices I’d like to leave behind—like people-pleasing or apologising unnecessarily.

6. Things I’d Like to Achieve in This Decade

Turning 40 has inspired me to think long-term—whether it’s writing a book or becoming conversational in Italian.

Fostering Creativity and Ideas

7. Fragile Ideas Worthy of Reverence

In Jony Ive’s commencement speech for the California College of Arts, he talks about the reverence for ideas his design lecturer inspired in him. Ive talks about how fragile and fleeting ideas are and how quickly they can dissipate if not treated with kindness and reverence. Whether it’s a good idea or not, appreciating that the idea itself is worthy of some reverence and exploration before being implemented or dismissed.?

8. Moments of Resonance

A new addition for 2025, this list tracks moments that deeply resonate with me—from personal experiences to art or design. I then reflect on why they resonate and how to invite more of that into my life. Mine’s a mish-mash of minimalism and mess, of modern and old, and I’m looking forward to working on it.?

9. Creative Things to Do

Creativity is one of my core values, and this list ensures I prioritise it by giving me a go-to bank of creative ideas.

10. Ideas from the Web

A place to store intriguing ideas, apps, shortcuts, automations, etc, I encounter online that I’d like to try out.

Daily Practices and Tools for Growth

11. ‘Got a Minute’ List

For those small pockets of time when it’s tempting to scroll mindlessly, this list offers alternatives—like stretching, reading a page of a book, or reconnecting with an old friend.

12. What I’m Grateful For

While I practise daily gratitude, this list captures the big-ticket items that anchor my sense of abundance.

13. What Have I Learned?

From small insights to significant lessons, this list ensures I don’t forget what I’ve gained.

14. Things I Do Better Than Most

For those tough days, this list reminds me of the unique skills and talents others value in me.

Relationships and Social Capital

15. Social Capital

A reflection on the relationships I want to nourish and the people I want to stay connected with.

16. Personal Board of Directors

This list includes trusted individuals (real, fictional, or idealised) who I can advise me in my best interest.

17. People I Should Know

A guide to intentional networking and building meaningful relationships.

Achievements and Memories

18. Biggest Accomplishments

A go-to reminder for when I doubt my progress, this list celebrates what I’ve achieved so far.

19. Career Bucket List

From keynote speaking to publishing a book, this list captures the career milestones I aspire to reach.

20. Shows I’ve Been Involved With

A nostalgic look at the plays and performances I’ve been part of—it’s quite a list now!

Gratitude

21. Gifts Given

It’s rewarding to remember the gifts I’ve shared and the experiences I’ve created for others.

22. Gifts Received

Practising gratitude by recalling the kindness and thoughtfulness I’ve been lucky enough to receive.

23. Nice Things I’ve Got for Myself

Acknowledging the moments I’ve treated myself and appreciating my ability to indulge occasionally.

Practical and Aspirational

24. Places I’d Like to Go

There are so many places to explore—this list keeps my wanderlust alive.

25. Things for a Quiet Day

When an unexpected quiet day arrives, this list ensures it doesn’t slip away unnoticed.

Personally, I keep these lists on Notion, adding comments, pictures, and tags to stay organised. Every couple of weeks, I review them, check my progress, and make small tweaks to my plans for the fortnight ahead.

I hope these lists inspire you as they’ve inspired me. They’ve proven far more effective than New Year’s resolutions!

What’s on your list for 2025?

This revised structure starts with introspection and flows naturally towards actionable and aspirational items. Does this feel more cohesive?