A year in review: Last year didn’t always go as expected, but I think that’s the point. Somewhere between the chaos of school and the quite anxiety of not knowing my next step, I learned to romanticize my reality, even if it wasn’t cute. I don’t have all the answers, but I do have a few favorite things, some lessons I’m tucking in my back pocket, and a whole new level of appreciation for slow mornings and giving myself permission to breathe.

Things that saved me:

Journaling and putting my words on paper first
Saying no without over-explaining
Reading self help books
Finding comfort in routine

My Favorite Luxuries:

Trader Joe’s Flowers
Solo dates
A carefully chosen playlist

Lessons I’m keeping:

Trust the timing of your life
It’s okay to take a break before you burn out
Consistency > intensity

Everything I Loved:

1. Slow Mornings & Matching PJ Sets

I’ve learned to actually enjoy a slow morning. My mind is usually racing, always on edge about what I should be doing, but I’ve started carving out time that’s just for me. Between school, work, a social life, and everything else, I forget how important it is to pause and breathe. Sometimes it happens at night, other times I make it part of my morning. Either way, it’s helped me set the tone for my day. And let’s be honest, doing it all in a matching pajama set? Instantly makes me feel a little more calm and little more put-together, even if I’m still figuring it all out.

2. Just Because Flowers

3. Jelly Cats

4. Mixing gold and silver & over accessorizing

I used to be such a hater when it came to mixing metals. Like absolutely not. But honestly? It’s growing so much on me and I think it’s so chic. Lately, I’ve been slowly easing silver into my gold-heavy jewelry collection, and I’m very into it. I’m still an over-accessorizer at heart, but now it feels a little more balanced. A little less matchy, a little more intentional.

5. Romanticizing my planner

There’s something oddly grounding about sitting down with my planner open in front of me. Color-coding my week, adding little sticky notes, and writing out even the smallest tasks like “make bed” or “walk outside” makes life feel a little more manageable. It’s not just about staying organized, it’s about creating a space where I can feel calm and in control, even if everything else feels chaotic. I’ve started treating my planner like a journal, a vision board, and a mini scrapbook all in one. It’s where I track my to-dos, but also where I remind myself what I’m working toward. Little moments of peace in between all the noise.

6. Studying on campus outside

Go somewhere to study!! It makes all the difference. Even a change of scenery as simple as your favorite spot on campus can be the key to getting and staying focused.

7. Reading!!!

I have never read as much as I did last year. I started binge reading self-help books, and honestly, they’ve changed me. My all-time favorites are:

The Power of now by Eckhart Tolle

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

8. Yogurt Bowls

Yogurt bowls are so fun to make and so yummy! You can add so many different toppings, and if you’re not in the mood for yogurt, you can totally swap it out for oatmeal. My favorite combo lately has been:

strawberries
bananas
peanut butter
chia seeds
granola
Trader Joes mini peanut butter cups (omg makes it sooo good especially if you put it in oatmeal)
Things I’m Leaving in the Past
- saying yes when I really mean no
- thinking I need to do everything at once
- falling for every TikTok “you need this” video
- losing sleep over what hasn’t even happened yet
- glorifying being so busy
- buying things because they’re trendy, not because I truly want them
- the idea that progress has to be fast
- comparing my pace to others
- letting fear dictate my decisions

A Year of Small Wins