Don’t get it twisted: This isn’t going to be a piece on 401Ks or index funds. (Financial advisors, please look away.)

These are some of the best investments in things that actually move the needle in my day-to-day life.

Looking back, there were a lot of unsexy, low-cost, high-impact purchases that genuinely made 2025 better—both for my business and my sanity.

So here's my extremely unqualified, totally subjective list of the five best investments I made this year~!

I always had such a crappy time sticking to a journaling routine. Part of it was my own inability to habit-form, but an even bigger part of it was the pressure I felt around this specific thing.

Journaling is its own sort of art form for a lot of people. There are countless videos talking about journaling "routines," and doing exorbitant hauls with fancy supplies. That pressure makes things HARD!

So, I just decided to reject it. I don't do "morning pages," I don't journal with prompts, I don't create "challenges," I don't make it so d*mn hard for myself.

When I have something to say, I write it down. If I don't, I skip a day. It's that simple.

In finally taking that pressure off of myself, and by using the lowest barrier to entry materials possible, I have finally formed a solid journaling habit. This habit has been SO HELPFUL for working through my aspirations, dealing with my interpersonal conflicts, and remembering how I've spent my days.

All I had to do was give myself permission to do it imperfectly! 🤝

My old laptop had such a solid run. She tried her best, really. But over time, after many years of handling my saved projects and multiple tabs and weird Sims 4 downloads, she decided it was time to cross the rainbow bridge.

I was lucky, because I found this sick deal that you guys might be interested in (NOT financial advice, just putting that out there):

I discovered that if you get an Apple credit card and purchase a new Apple product using it, you can get 0% APR for 12 months!

So, I was not only able to get $250 of trade-in value for my old laptop, but I also managed to break up this laptop into 12 relatively affordable zero-interest payments.

I am adulting, you guys!

In September, I went to New York City to attend Drinks With Benefits, a non-alc festival packed with over 50+ brands. You might not know this about me but, while I am a generalist, I am also someone with a LOT of experience in the non-alc space. Among others, I've written for Dry Atlas, FABRIC, and Cali Sober Mom.

I've never actually been on a "work trip," so this was sick. It made me feel very important, like I knew what I was doing and earned my spot there.

I also met one of my favorite clients IN PERSON, which is the first time that's ever actually happened.

This is obviously my first time running a business. So, since we're in the ~scaling season~ I decided to turn to an expert in operations.

Specifically, I'm searching for a virtual assistant to help me source opportunities for speaking gigs and podcast spots, as well as sort out some of my funky systems.

I've never been on the receiving end of something like this, to be candid. So, it was pretty cool!

The wonderful woman who helped me, Della, gave me TONS of advice about hiring and what having a VA can look like logistically/how much it could save me in money and time.

I was so concerned about having a cat, let alone a kitten. I thought that it was honestly going to derail my routines, and as someone who is both self-employed and works from home, having that solid schedule is essential.

Little did I know that cats are VERY routine-oriented creatures, and owning Ziggy (as troublesome as he can sometimes be) has actually helped me stick to a solid schedule.

Also, having a little guy to sit on my lap during work? Priceless!

This would be higher in the list, except that it's a very NEW development. I've been pretty anti-workout classes for a very long time, mostly because I'm easily embarrassed and unathletic.

But, I really want to get into shape, and yoga felt like the lowest barrier to entry environment. (There's a studio directly across the street from me, LOL!)

I am pleasantly shocked by how much I've been enjoying it! Turns out, everyone is much too concerned with themselves to care very much about what you're doing.

P.S. If you're struggling with what to post or how to make your content strategy actually work without selling your soul, reply to this email. I read every single one.