More/Less in 2025

And a thank you!

Hello and Happy New Year!

Back in February I wrote a list (I love a list) exploring what I would a little more of in 2024 as well as a little less of.

The post was never intended to be a set of goals or resolutions. But I decided to revisit the list given that it is 2025 (just!), and partly to see what I thought now, several months on about the things that I had included at the time.

Turns out that I am pretty content with the list. I have spent more time cooking, writing, spending time with loved ones and enjoying moments of silence, although the ‘overthinking’ and ‘news scrolling’ are still works in progress. But I recognise that the former is something that I will need to reflect on for the rest of my life in some form or another. Yet, ageing has helped me to look at some of the parts of myself that are less positive, and in some cases, uglier in a different light. I cannot completely change myself, and nor do I want to.

However, while my more/less lists are mostly fine as they are, I do have a few additions. So, in this post you can find the originals, as well as a few extras (in italics).

Do you have anything that you would add to a more/less list? Please let me know.

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MORE

• Reading

• Silence

• Creative writing

• Music

• Photography

• Cooking

• Exercise and taking appropriate rest

• Spending time with loved ones

• Saying no to things that I don’t want to do

• Saying yes to things that I do want to do

• Fermented food (I love kimchi and would like to experiment with more of this in my diet)

• Taking time for art (e.g., visit galleries and exhibitions)

• Hugs from those I love

• Being open to difficult discussions rather than shrinking/backing away (and as someone who is conflict avoidant, this will be challenging)

• Learning about my community in Hong Kong (for example, after seven years, I think that it is time to commit to learn more Cantonese beyond a few basic phrases)

LESS

• Alcohol

• ‘Shoulding’ over myself

• Judgement of myself and of others

• Overthinking/procrastinating

• Mindless scrolling on the internet

• Time on my phone generally

• Time with/thinking about people who drain my energy

• Less colds please!

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Before I go… a special announcement! 📣

I wrote a guest column for

Leyla Kazim

, which will be published tomorrow. The post focuses on the influence of strength training on body image. If you get the chance, please check it out! (I will share a link to the post tomorrow). And you can find Leyla’s brilliant newsletter ‘A Day Well Spent’ here.

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And finally, a huge thank you for taking the time to read TBOI. If you are a new subscriber, then welcome! It’s great to have you here. Like what you read? It helps tremendously if you hit the ‘like’ button, or share this post with a friend. And if you wish to share a comment, please do!