a 2025 list
happy season of the in-between
Hi everyone, I hope you’re having a sweet holiday season! Just a short one today to share a handful of my favourite things (as is tradition here) and practices from the year that was. I would love to hear yours in the comments, too! Remember, wherever you are this season, physically or emotionally — you are deserving of celebration and softness, of afternoon naps and reading by candlelight. You’re deserving of comfort foods, a slow morning, an extra cup of coffee, time to linger, time to daydream. There’s no way to be in the in-between wrong. Simply being is the medicine most of us need.
I cannot begin this list without going on about how happy I am I started dancing again this year. I’m so annoying! I know! But really. I walked into my first bellydance class in March, and in just a few short months it has gifted me more than I can explain (but will of course, write a future essay about).
I cannot emphasise how healing dance is for women (for everyone)!! It was also one of my greatest childhood joys that I gave up for all the wrong reasons. 2025 was the year I realised how those passions and obsessions we had when we were young were absolutely on purpose and it is essential we uncover them from the depths of I don’t have time, I’m not good at it and what’s the point.
But more on that another time.
Books
Fiction: I was obsessed with Elif Shafak this year. I read The Forty Rules of Love, There Are Rivers In The Sky & The Island of Missing Trees and loved them all. The Forty Rules of Love may have been my number one book of the year. I also read a few from Lisa See, my top pick is this one.
Non-fiction: I read a lot of Japanese books to understand on a deeper level the land I am currently living on. My number one was this masterpiece which I know I will read over many times, and has been a huge inspiration for my writing, retreat concepts and our upcoming yin training. I also loved this and this memoir.
Music
My album of the year. Of course I also fell in love with her, this blew me away, and I spent a lot of time writing to this. This was my favourite playlist. I bought this record player just last month and it has filled my home (and my heart) with so much joy!
I also went to see a lot more live music and shows than I have in previous years, and plan to do even more in 2026. More ballet, too!
Writing
I invested in this portfolio and I promise it is worth every cent. I use it for everything (I fill with the slim moleskin inserts). I have never felt more organised. For me and my not-so-typical brain, this approach really is the correct meeting point between structure and flow. Especially when paired with these.
2025 was the year I transitioned big time to working on paper and it has been a game changer for my productivity and mental health. This year I also journaled more consistently than ever before. I can say for a fact, writing is one of the most important tools and practices we have, both in work and business, and as a healing modality.
join the daily rest studio, follow me on instagram, or treat yourself to a poetic moment in japan
A few quick fires:
My go-to 2025 breakfast for gut health and glowy skin (I often omit the chicken and add jobs tears or hatomugi soaked overnight).
Random, but a superior Japanese toothpaste (that apparently you can buy in Australia, too)
My favourite publication on substack.
This perfume and this body oil both making the list, again!
My most-visited category in The Daily Rest Studio. And this one, too.
This year, I prioritised solo trips for working, writing and creative restoration as it was a huge year of holding space for others amidst my own challenges. I’m so happy I did. Travel is always worth every cent.
My favourite phrase was: You Can Just Do Things.
My hairdresser in Tokyo put me onto this (Italian) brand and my hair loves it. This is the only oil serum that doesn’t weigh down my super fine hair (I have tried a million!) and makes it so shiny and soft.
Found the happiest skin of my life at 35!
Found my all time favourite bra, too.
Most importantly,
2025 was the year I finally learned to feel proud of myself.
I can honestly say coming out of 2025, I have a true, rooted confidence I have never felt before in my life.
At times I feel it as if radiating from every pore.
It’s all that I have ever hoped for.
Like so many of us, 2025 pushed up against almost every single fear I held, poked all my wounds, insecurities and anxieties, and forced me to face them and myself, relentlessly.
And yet, in reflecting on all that has passed in the last twelve months I see an incredible amount of beauty too. One one hand it may have been the worst year ever, but on the other… it was the best, by far.
If you haven’t already, I would highly encourage to write your own list of favourites, expanding far beyond what I have shared here. Favourite memories, people, experiences, outfits, songs, meals, moments, coffee shops, practices, choices you had the courage to make (even if you haven’t yet seen the results)… and you might be overwhelmed by how wonderful life actually is and can be.
Thank you for being here.
Have a beautiful in-between season.
Do your best to do nothing at all, if you can.
You deserve it.
Elif Shafak is the best! I gave the forty rules of love recently to someone with a broken heart; it restored their faith in love. Also highly recommend the Bastard of Instanbul! My top fiction book was Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McGonaghy. Absolutely incredible. Blessed be!
As a fellow fine haired gal, I’m always on the hunt for products that don’t weigh my hair down. Can you like directly to the hair oil please? It’s just landing on the homepage for me.