If you’ve spent time on social media, then you’ve likely been seeing the “2024 Out” and “2025 In” lists trend. If you haven’t, the lists are essentially someone’s snapshot of what they’re leaving in 2024 and what they want more of in 2025, kind of opposite to the thing written down for 2024. 

For example, I saw someone write: “saying yes all the time” for their “2024 Out.” In comparison to “intentional boundaries” for their “2025 In” list.

And here’s why I think you and I love these lists.

We love the lists because we’re nosy.

There, I said it. I’m a nosy person and I just want to know what people are thinking. Especially, as people  reflect on their own personal year and think ahead to the future one. The lists give me (and everyone else on the public platforms they share it with) insights beyond their highlight reels of the year. 

I love seeing the international travels and the foods someone tried, but what is more interesting to me about someone is what did someone learn about themselves? Where did they grow or where do they want to grow? Was there something about 2024 that made the year extra challenging, or mundane, and how does someone want to see that changed in 2025? 

The In/Out lists are more holistic in giving (everyone) a better understanding of someone as a person. And while I might be nosy for loving the lists for this reason, I don’t think I’m the only one.

We love the lists because of the intentionality it requires. 

Okay maybe I just love the list because it’s so intentional.

People aren’t writing whatever they want on these lists (although I suppose you could). Usually people are writing their 2024 Out and 2025 In lists with at least a little thought and intentionality, if not a lot.

Which means they must be spending at least five or so minutes thinking back and reflecting on all that happened in 2024. What did they love about the year, what didn’t they love? What about those specific “loves” and “hates” made them have those labels? Was it something circumstantial or a habit someone developed? Why are those specific things important to change from 2024 in 2025? 

Maybe people aren’t reflecting this deeply about their year to make these 2024 In and 2025 Out lists. Or at least, not in such a formal fashion. But I doubt everyone making these lists are just writing whatever comes to mind in the 30 seconds it took to reshare the template to their instagram story.

I love the lists because of the “look back to look forward” practice it develops.

This one was definitely just an “I love” reason, but read on.

This reflection practice of looking back to being able to look forward is a rhythm I am 100% for (and what our business and brand is about). 

You and I cannot think ahead to what we want to be true of our future without first knowing where we’re coming from. 

An author cannot write a story of a character and their development over the course of a novel without first giving the reader context to who they are as a person. Stories that are written like that tend to fall flat and leave readers lost or at least missing the significance of what an author might hope to convey.

for example:

Similarly, you and I cannot hope to see the significance of what we hope for in 2025 without first knowing the why, based on what happened in 2024. 

I might (as in I will) write “limited social media time” for my 2025 In list. Which is not uncommon, but is more significant to me because I know that in 2024, I spent way more time doing the “social media doom scroll” then I would ever care to admit. And I remember how much I regretted the time wasted after the fact. 

You might want to write “more play” for your 2025 In list. Which sounds fun and delightful. But maybe that might be coming from a place of a 2024 of all hustle and little rest, or doing work that was for the sake of achievement and less for just fun. Maybe your 2024 Out leading to the “more play” was “creating for work sake.” 

Where you can find these evergreen practices year round.

While the lists are trending for 2024 and 2025, I believe the practices, the rhythms, and the intentionality they invite, are for forever. Which is why I made sure these evergreen rhythms are built straight into our planners. Monthly so you’re not waiting until the end of 2025 to have to think through a whole year of “what happened” and an end of the year moment to really tie a bow on it. 

PS: you can grab your copy of the 2025 Kindred Planner at 30% off right now. Which is a steal. Especially because we’re more than halfway through our inventory!

And because I can’t stay away from an opportunity to design something aesthetic, here’s my template for the 2024 In/2025 Out lists and how to write your own.

Cheers to you and the start of your 2025!