the imara edit

  • Releasing and renewing: Setting intentions for 2026

    2025 was my first year entering my 30s. I thought my first year in a new decade would be the beginning of a magical reset where I officially entered my grown woman era and everything in my life suddenly fell together. Things didn’t exactly unfold that way, but 2025 did bring some valuable lessons, and I can confidently say that some of the pieces of the puzzle are finally feeling like they’re beginning to come together. 

    Now that we’re at the start of 2026, I wanted to share everything I did to reflect on 2025 and set my intentions for the new year. To get started, I:

    Conducted a review of 2025

    It’s so easy to forget everything that happened over the past year. When I thought about my feelings toward 2025, the first word that came to mind was “uneventful.” 2024 was a big year for me. I traveled to different countries, ran my first half marathon, and stepped into a new decade. It was a hard year to top by any standard, and so as a result, my 2025 felt kind of…flat. It wasn’t until I looked through my camera roll, starting from January, that I was able to remember everything I did last year. I went to concerts, visited friends out of state, and made new memories with people I care about. It was overall a good year, and I needed those photos to remind me of that. 

    After I went through my camera roll, I asked myself some important questions:

    • What were my highs? 
    • What were my lows? 
    • What was I proud of? 
    • What would I want to do differently? 

    I went month by month and answered those questions honestly. I wanted to be intentional about what I brought into 2026 and what I was deciding to leave behind. 

    Set intentions for 2026

    2025 was a year I overextended myself, and it was the source of a lot of my lows. As an admitted people pleaser, this is something I’ve constantly struggled with. Reflecting on that highlighted that I need stronger boundaries in the new year. On the other hand, my highs revolved around the times that I honored myself, spending time doing things that were important to me, like solo days, adventures with friends, and taking the time to rest and look inward (something I love to do as an introvert). This signaled to me that staying true to my own interests and taking time to rest and reflect were things that I not only wanted to bring into 2026, but also needed to. 

    Decluttered everything (literally everything)

    It’s been a while since I did a good declutter. Like, I mean, really got into my space and rid myself of things that I hadn’t touched in years. I started in my closet and expanded to the bathroom, my bedroom, and eventually the kitchen. There were moments where I asked myself, “What did I get myself into?” and “Why did I start this???” But after everything was finished, it felt like my apartment could exhale. I know they say your space is a reflection of how you’re feeling, and it felt right to let go of everything I had been holding onto (literally and metaphorically).

    Rested and recalibrated

    I was fortunate to get time off from work for a winter break. I never take PTO, so this was something I desperately needed and didn’t realize. Over the break, I initially planned to get so many things done and schedule every day that I had free with productivity. I quickly realized my body was burnt out. Like I mentioned earlier, a lot of my lows were due to overextending myself and putting the needs of others before my own. My body was basically begging me to take this time to rest for once, and I listened. I slept in, read a lot, spent more time away from my phone, and reflected on what I wanted for the year ahead. 

    The edit for 2026: 2025 was a year of learning and growth. It was slower than previous years, but slow years are necessary to reflect and build upon what we’ve learned. 2026 will be a time to apply that knowledge, reflect on what we desire, and take actionable steps to get there. For me, that looks like setting stronger boundaries, pouring into my creative hobbies and interests, and spending more time with those I love most. 

  • Embracing solitude: My first mini solo adventure in San Diego

    I took myself on a mini solo adventure for the first time yesterday. I mentioned in my first post that I feel like I don’t use my free will enough. I’m often waiting for someone, or something, to give me permission to do the things I want to do. So, in an attempt to make better use of my free will, I took the day off and took a mini-road trip to San Diego to spend the day there by myself.

    This was the first time I did something like this, so the day before, I was a little nervous. Would I look weird being out on my own? Would I be safe? Would I be bored and want to turn around and go home? I left my what-ifs at the door and decided that I just needed to find a place in the city, and that the rest would work out on its own.

    A play-by-play of the day

    My first stop was Communal Coffee. The vibes were super cute (just what I was looking for), and I ordered the lavender honey latte. I used my time in the coffee shop to start planning my day. After I finished my latte, my anxiety crept in, and I suddenly became extremely aware that I was on my own. It felt weird knowing that I wouldn’t have anything or anyone to distract me from my own company.

    To take my mind off of my I looked up museums and opted to head to Balboa Park and visit the San Diego Museum of Art. I browsed the exhibits for a little over an hour and even discovered a new artist that I liked. After leaving the museum, it finally felt like I had found my footing for the day. My anxiety was gone, and I was able to wander around Balboa Park and enjoy the sun and my solitude. That didn’t last much longer, though, because my stomach quickly let me know that I was HUNGRY.

    I wanted some good fresh food, so I stopped by Ironside Fish and Oyster and enjoyed a glass of wine, oysters, and a lobster roll. 10/10 solo dinner with cute outdoor vibes to match. It felt so good to be on my own schedule and doing what I wanted to do. After finishing my late lunch/early dinner, I headed to the Sunset Cliffs. I found the perfect spot to read and enjoy he sunset solo and then headed home.

    What I learned from my first mini solo trip

    Honestly, this day was just what I needed. The stress of work, life, and adulthood in general had me feeling stagnant. I feel like this solo trip brought the spark back to my routine that I was looking for, and trust, there will be many more in the future. But…(there’s always a but), although my mini-solo trip did rejuvenate me, I think a part of it did highlight the fact that I am alone. Yes, I have community, but in a lot of aspects of my life, I have to resort to doing things solo.

    We’re all obviously alone in life and only have ourselves in the end, but I’m in a stage of life where most of my circle is settling down, getting married, or starting families, and I’m just not there yet. I know, I know. A romantic relationship won’t solve all of my problems, but it would make certain lulls in my life feel less lonely.

    I think two things can be true at once. Solo days can be rejuvenating and mandatory to refresh our sense of self, but they can also put a spotlight on the desire for companionship if it’s something you’ve been missing. I have a lot of thoughts on being single in my 30s and everything I’ve learned from it, but I’ll save that for another day and another blog post.

    The edit: The only advice (or edit) I have for myself and anyone else who might be experiencing the same thing is to not dwell too much on being single and to enjoy doing things solo. Use this time to make the most of solitude. Don’t wait for anyone to start living the life you want to live and doing the things you want to do. At the end of the day, the only person you’re waiting on is you.

  • The things I’m avoiding out of fear

    Daily writing prompt
    What details of your life could you pay more attention to?
    View all responses

    Lately, I’ve been having a nagging feeling that I’m not living life to the fullest, so I think the details of my life I could pay more attention to involve all of the things I feel like I’m avoiding out of fear. Taking a risk is scary, but I think living with regret is something I should fear more.

  • How people treat you is more about them than it is you

    Daily writing prompt
    Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.
    View all responses

    Whenever I had negative interactions with someone, I would internalize it and think their behavior was a reflection of me or something I did. As I’ve grown older and met more people, I’ve realized that everyone has a battle they’re facing. They could be dealing with trauma, loss, grief, or just having a bad day. You never know what someone is going through, and if they are acting negatively, it most likely has to do with something they have going on, rather than with you.

  • So our thirties are basically our twenties?

    I feel like I’m in a constant state of trying to figure out how to do life “correctly.” It’s funny because I had a blog in my twenties where I wrote about navigating life and trying to figure it all out. I’m 30 years old now and still wonder the same things.

    Being an adult is weird, hard, and messy. Don’t get me wrong, the first year of my thirties has already been much better than my twenties (I’m older and wiser now), but there are parts of my life holding me back from the potential of what I know it could be. So, here are a few areas of my life where I feel like I’m struggling and the edits I’m going to make to improve them:

    Lacking a stable morning/night routine

    I am a doom scroller until the end, and I spend way too much time on my phone. I love scrolling on TikTok and Instagram and saving recipes I know I’ll never make. Unfortunately, this takes over my night routine and creates a snowball effect where I stay up way too late (revenge procrastination), which causes me to sleep in and ruin any shred of a morning routine I could have had. Not ideal, right? I feel like having a productive morning routine ties your life together. Ideally, I would get up early, get a workout in (or some kind of movement), tidy up my place, journal, and start my day intentionally.

    The edit: I’m going to create a morning and night routine I can actually stick to. I want to be a 5 a.m. girlie so badly. I’ll test it out for a week and circle back with my results. Stay tuned.

    Not having a solid financial plan

    I have gone into debt, paid off debt, and gone into debt again. Granted, I’ve learned hard money lessons from my twenties, and I’m grateful for growth, but there are definitely current areas for improvement (credit card debt, a car note, and student loans I try to forget about). I also know that I have a YOLO mindset when it comes to money and can, at times, spend pretty frivolously.

    The edit: I’m going to try to get myself out of this financial rut by having one day a week where I look at my finances (budget, create a debt payoff plan, and check in on my savings goals. Maybe I’ll call them Money Mondays.

    Not consistently practicing self-care

    I go through phases where I’ll take really good care of my mind and body, and then phases where it feels like I’m just barely scraping by and simply trying to make it through day by day. Earlier this year, I was marathon training, working out consistently, and eating healthy. I ended up getting sciatica and catching bronchitis around the same time, and that derailed everything. I haven’t worked out in months, and I feel the impact. My body feels slower, I haven’t been eating as well, and overall, I just feel icky. I want to get back to a place where I’m taking care of myself mentally and physically. You only get one body, so you have to treat it right.

    The edit: I’m nowhere near where I was when I was marathon training, but I can find small ways to incorporate movement in my day. It could be a short walk or trying yoga, but I have to get this body moving again. I also want to spend less time on my phone doomscrolling and feed my mind by reading a new book or pouring into a hobby (like this blog).

    Lack of fulfillment/not taking advantage of my free will

    I am a very cautious person. I always want to do the right thing, make the right choice, and keep myself safe. Although it’s obviously important to stay cautious, it’s held me back in so many ways. It’s stopped me from trying new things, entering relationships/dating, or even exploring new hobbies, from fear of failure. Life is short, and I don’t want to continue to live with regrets or what-ifs. I want to step out of the box that’s been holding me back for so long and start doing things that scare me a little bit (in a healthy way).

    The edit: Plan one mini adventure for myself, a week to escape the routine of work/home/sleep/repeat. It can be something as small as trying a new cafe or taking myself to a museum, but I need to get out of the house and start doing things that take me outside of my normal routine.

    The plan is to start small. They (not sure who) say progress isn’t built overnight and is made up of the little steps you take in the moment(or something like that). I know not every day is going to be perfect, but I think these edits will get me one step closer to getting out of this little rut I’ve been stuck in.