As 2025 comes to a close, I am reflecting on some highlights from this year. This post will focus on activities, with more categories to follow soon!
5-Year Journaling
I started a five-year journal in January 2025. This type of journal gives you a small space to write for the same calendar day across five consecutive years. As I move into 2026 and beyond, each page will let me see what was happening on that same date in previous years, which is where the fun really begins.
Truthfully, I usually jot down notes in my phone and eventually turn them into journal entries (rather than writing in the journal every day). But it accomplishes the same goal!
Waterfall Rappelling
In February, I visited Costa Rica for the first time with my friend, Jaime (the same friend who I went white water rafting with in Colorado a few years ago). She suggested that we try waterfall rappelling, and we ended up with two tour guides all to ourselves. The tour also included a couple of ziplines and a cliff-jumping opportunity.
I’m not sure that I will feel the need to go waterfall rappelling again, but it was a highlight of the trip and a fun way to spend the day!
Lay-Flat Business Class Seats
I ended up traveling with Jaime three different times this year: Costa Rica, Frisco (CO), and Spain. For the trip to Spain, I transferred Chase credit card points to Air Canada and booked fairly luxurious Lufthansa flights compared to the budget-focused travel I have done in the past. Sadly, I only booked the nice seats for the trip over to Spain because there wasn’t a deal for the way back.
I didn’t take any photos of my lay-flat experience since I went straight to sleep, but below are photos of my Lufthansa lounge meal, the snack & meal on the second leg, and a mountain view from the plane window.
Taking a Career Break
As of early September, after nearly a decade in the full-time workforce, I have temporarily stepped away from it. My past two jobs have not been the right fit for me, so I am taking some time to decide what’s next – and to have some fun!
I have my “frequently frugal” side to thank for being able to afford this break, and I can’t overstate how fortunate I feel to be in this position. I am enjoying the adventurous travel days, the slow leisure days, and everything in between. After all, what is money for if not this?
And speaking of my money – I currently have more of it stashed in my high-yield savings account than I typically would. That’s because I don’t have a consistent source of income right now, so I want to make sure that I have access to liquid cash rather than having it tied up in a less predictable investment account.
In a typical year, my checking and savings account balances stay pretty consistent while my retirement and other personal investment account balances increase. This means that – usually – the percentage of my cash assets decreases while the percentage of my invested assets increases. This is true for my checking account, which represented 1.1% in of my assets in December 2024 and now only 0.6% in December 2025.
The percentage in savings would have also decreased in a regular year, but because of my career break, it has actually increased from 4.6% in December 2024 to 9.4% in December 2025.
But enough about that! The rest of the things in this list all began or significantly increased coinciding with the start of my career break.
Hanging with Wren (& other family time)
My niece, Wren, just had her first birthday in October. It has been so much fun to watch her grow and change this year. Since I stopped working in September, I have been making weekly visits to see her and other local family.
Therapy
Motivated by the desire to get the most out of my career break, I decided to find a therapist for the first time this fall. I also just think that it is helpful to have a neutral third party to chat with on a regular basis, so I intend to continue past my break, as well. I am fortunate to have good insurance through Hans, so each appointment only costs me $15.
Evlo Workouts
Evlo workouts
Strength training is something that I have been meaning to get into for years. My 2024 goal of forming a gym habit was unsuccessful – and I made it most of the way through 2025 with very little at-home activity, either. Then I found a 6-week free trial of Evlo Fitness (as of December 2025, code LIZMOODY is still active).
All of Evlo’s instructors are Doctors of Physical Therapy, and the website offers tons of alternatives for each exercise so that you can tailor your experience while still generally following along with the videos. I am starting to learn my preferred exercises for each muscle group, plus effective warmup and cooldown movements. I recommend giving it a try if you need some workout inspiration!
