25 for 2025

thechubbyunicorn

The final update, Week 53...

5. Walk 2025km - 2099.31km
7. Send 25 cards / gifts to others - 1 
8. Try 25 new recipes - slow cooker beef ragu 
14. Try 25 new restaurants / cafes - The Olive Branch, Edinburgh 
16. Post 2025 photos to Instagram - 954 
19. Listen to 25 audiobooks - Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 

thechubbyunicorn

2025 was by far the worst year of my life. DH died very unexpectedly in July and I was suddenly a widow at 39. I've lost all sense of who I am without him and what I want from this life I have been given. I want, more than anything, to live a life DH would be proud of. For me that looks like making myself happy and being the best version of myself. This challenge has helped me to see what I enjoy in life and to get out there and do these things. Thank you to each and every one of you who have joined in this challenge and encouraged me throughout the year. Every single comment and like on my posts are very much appreciated as it means I can hear you all cheering me on. This challenge was only supposed to be a bit of fun but it ended up being so much more than that. 
I didn't come close to finishing the majority of my goals but that's ok because that's not the point. 

1. Read 25 books (3/25) 
2. Make 25 crafts (3/25) 
3. Explore 25 villages / towns / cities I've never been to (5/25) 
4. Eat 25 different cakes (12/25) 
5. Walk 2025km (2099.33/2025) 
6. Buy 25 gift cards for Christmas (32/25) 
7. Send 25 cards / gifts (30/25) 
8. Try 25 new recipes (12/25) 
9. Lose 25lbs (11/25) 
10. Create 25 (positive!) habits (3/25) 
11. 25 outings / experiences with DH (7/25) 
12. 25 new experiences / outings / activities with kids from work (22/25) 
13. 25 hours Continuous Professional Learning (11/25) 
14. Try 25 new restaurants / cafes (31/25)
15. 25 solo days out (21/25) 
16. Post 2026 photos on Instagram (954/2025) 
17. Watch 25 movies I've never seen before (27/25)
18. Tick 25 things off my master to do list (4/25) 
19. Listen to 25 audiobooks (13/25) 
20. Walk along 25 different beaches (10/25) 
21. Be able to run for 25 minutes (2/25) 
22. Tick 25 things off my bucket list (14/25) 
23. Try 25 foods I've never had before (18/25) 
24. Watch 25 documentaries (12/25) 
25. Save 25 of each coin / note (£1 to £20) (25/£1, 26/£2, 29/£5, 25/£10, 25/£20)

Sending so much love to you all. Hope to see you on the 2026 thread.  

Happy_Kitties

Have been very bad at posting but have stuck with the challenges throughout the year and will be doing it for 2026.
Summary of my 2025 challenges

1) 25 donations to local animal sanctuary. 10……need to do better in 2026

2) lose 25lbs in weight (esp as I need some major surgery this year)

3) 25 jobs in the garden. Really want to attack the garden this year and do some work on it…..plus free exercise! 1

4) 25 ‘me time’ activities.6

5) read 25 books

6) save £2500

7) save £250 on supermarket card for Christmas

8) declutter 25 items from the house each month   85/Jan 21/Feb. Lost track of doing monthly totals, but total to date= 320 items decluttered. COMPLETED. Will continue going 

9) sell 25 items  81 COMPLETED. Going to keep going with the challenge as it has been a challenge! 

I lost track of this one as I sold even more items after Christmas.,

10) 25 activities with family/friends 10 ( i have done little ones like coffee shop meet ups, I’m keeping this target for the bigger activities.
COMPLETED, it is because of doing so many fantastic activities in the last 4 months of 2025 that I didn’t get chance to post 

11) 250 minutes of volunteering each month -Yes, every month ticked off up to June COMPLETED

12) At least 25 mins of housework a day  

13) At least 250 minutes of exercise a week

14) At least 250 items to favourite charities for fundraising x 2.   149 items so far + 33= 182 items to charity so far + 33= 215. Total for first one 334. Now starting on the second total. 

Second total = 135 so far +35 = 170.
COMPLETED over 1177 items donated this year.

15) Use up 25 candles

16) 25 letters to family and friends 9
17) Watch 25 films 1

18) 25 jobs in the house 4/25, but one was a big one, a new kitchen which I didn’t have planned at the beginning of 2025 tbh

19) 25 Dun elm Bags of Joy for the Christmas appeal when it starts 52 COMPLETED.

20) Items bought at a reduced price for Xmas 2025 presents. (Only the completed present will be logged as some presents are made up of several bits, esp with the younger ones) 22/25. If I counted individual presents it would of been completed, which I will have to start doing as teenagers are beginning to age out for presents

21) Items bought at a reduced price for birthday 2025 presents 26/25 COMPLETED. WILL CARRY ON WITH THIS. 

22) Boots blister pack recycling service used 25 times 5

Happy New Year everyone, will be jumping over to the 2026 thread

DundeeDoll

sending love @chubbyunicorn I didn't know your OH but my guess is he's proud of you every day. And yes, finding some enjoyment in every day is a great thought for 2026. 

tinkerbelluk

Hello you lovely lot, And just like that… we’ve reached the end of 25 for 2025.

Before I get into my final update, I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken part in this challenge in any way. Whether you posted regularly, shared a list and quietly followed along, cheered others on, used the thread to procrastinate, completed some goals, none of them, or changed your list more times than you care to admit, you’ve all been invaluable. This thread has been supportive, motivating and full of kindness, and that’s what makes it work year after year 💖

@thechubbyunicorn I can’t imagine what you’ve been through this year or how hard it has been navigating everything you’ve shared. The strength it takes to keep showing up, even just here, is huge. Your DH would be so incredibly proud of you, and I hope you know how supported you are.

Once again, this challenge has been a good anchor for the year. It’s kept me motivated, given me something steady to come back to when life felt busy or a bit wobbly, and reminded me that progress does not have to be perfect to be worthwhile. I haven’t completed every goal, but looking back, I’ve achieved far more than I would have without this challenge quietly nudging me along in the background.

So here’s where I landed by the end of December.

📘 Answer 25 journal prompts of self-discovery and awareness – None in December, finishing at 0/25. One year I will face my fears and do this!
🎉 Celebrate 25 things (National / Awareness Days etc.) – One in December, finishing on 8/25. A lovely idea that I didn’t quite plan well enough this year.
🎨 Complete 25 hobbies that make me happy – Two in December, finishing on 18/25.
📝 Complete 25 things off the master to-do list – No progress in December, ending on 13/25.
🧽 Deep clean / declutter 25 areas around the house – One more in December, finishing at 12/25.
📦 Get rid of 25 items from loft / garage – No change, finishing on 9/25.
🌳 Have 25 fun family adventures / days out – None in December, ending on 7/25.
✨ Learn / do 25 new things – Two more in December, finishing on 13/25.
🎲 Play 25 games – Six in December, finishing at 13/25.
📊 Spend 25 mins each week budgeting / planning – 40 weeks out of 52 completed. Not perfect, but a habit that genuinely helped.
📸 Spend 25 mins each week organising photos – Definitely my weakest one, finishing on 9/52. Lesson learned for next year.
🚶‍♀️ Walk 10,000 steps 25 times – No walks in December, finishing on 13/25.

✅ COMPLETED

💛 Do 25 things with family and friends – Two more in December, finishing on 25/25 ❤️
💖 25 donations to charity – Three in December, finishing on 25/25.
🤞 Enter an average of 25 competitions per day – 12 months out of 12 completed, with a box of cakes and AirPods among the December wins!
🎧 Listen to 25 new-to-me albums – 26/25
⚖️ Lose 25lbs – Some crept back on, but still finishing at 25/25, with a much kinder mindset around it this year.
🧘‍♀️ Practice 25 mins of mindfulness each week – 52 weeks of 52 completed, and probably one of the most valuable habits I’ve built.
📚 Read 25 books – Another four in December, finishing on 39/25
💷 Save £2025 over the year – £88.82 in December, bringing the final total to £4,510.78 / £2025. Still slightly stunned by this one.
📮 Sell 25 things on eBay / booty sites – Another six in December, finishing on 79/25.
📺 Watch 25 new-to-me documentaries – I stopped counting at 34/25.
🛒 25 donations to food bank – 25/25.
🌸 Treat / do something for me 25 times – 25/25, and absolutely carrying this energy forward.
🎬 Watch 25 new-to-me films – Seven in December to bring it to 25/25

All in all, this challenge has done exactly what I hoped it would. It’s helped me be more intentional, more aware of my time, and more appreciative of the small wins. The goals I didn’t complete don’t feel like failures. They’ve simply shown me what needs better planning, more flexibility, or maybe just a bit less pressure next time.

Thank you again to everyone who’s been part of this in whatever way. The 26 for 2026 thread is now up, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how everyone does. See you on the other side!