The Rules of 2025

Song of the Week: Rattle (Live) by Elevation Worship, 2020

Book of the Week: Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer, 2024

New Year is always a little bit of a mixed bag. I joked the other day with someone that ever since Covid, sometimes I wonder if I want a new year - I guess to put it one way, it’s a little bitter sweet to hit January 1st. I, for the most part, enjoyed 2024. It was a year where I felt like I hit my stride professionally, a vision for my future became more clear, and my friendships developed immensely - I grew deeper with old friends, while making new ones. Last year wasn’t without its challenges, but when I look back at it in aggregate, I’m grateful.

Further, and at the risk of sounding too giddy, I’m excited and expectant for 2025. I’ve been working on organization, discipline, order in my life and some of the inspiration has come from the return of a Rule of Life. I made a rule of life going into 2020 and…it didn’t last long - but here we are, a few years removed from a global pandemic, and I’m ready to get back at it. I’ll list out some things I’m looking to incorporate here in 2025, broken down by daily habits, weekly, monthly, and yearly. The purpose of a rule of life is not to overhaul your habits - it’s to create a framework - a trellis - that provides the structure for growth.

Daily

A Mile A Day - Prioritizing physical health and getting outside in 2025. I’ve learned that in order to be physically healthy, it needs to be a lifestyle and a daily pursuit, not just something done when convenient or based on feeling. This could be anything other than a flat walk. Hike, jog, sports, swim, bike, anything. A caveat: if I miss a day, I can do 2 miles the next day, or if I miss two days, I can do 3 miles - but no more than two misses in a row.

30 min with God This is a mix of Scripture and prayer. I don’t want to over complicate it, it doesn't matter what time of day, but a 30 minute block where there's no phone, talking with God and reading the Word.

15 min of Writing - This is Locusts and Honey. I think it will be good to have myself sit down every day and at least write a paragraph or two of what I’m learning. Sort of like a daily journal but with a specific point.

Weekly

Sabbath on Friday - This is the day off. Not just from work, but my intention is to keep Friday clear of obligations of any kind, other than spending time with people. Schedule free and able to rest and work on creative things and on building community.

Article per week for Journal - This can be freeform. Typically, I send these out on Friday, but I think in the new year I may bump it to Saturday. No word count, no agenda, just what I’m learning and reading.

Cook 2 Times - Cook a meal from ingredients two times a week (for one meal, with leftovers for a second meal). Health, finance, spiritual practice of slowing down and preparing food; all factors in this.

Monthly

Rest Weekend - The reality of it is, I won’t be able to keep all my friday’s totally free; looking to have a weekend (Friday and Saturday) per month that is clear of plans.

Digital Detox Day - One day a month, typically a Friday or Saturday, no extended phone time outside of texting/calling, no work, no TV, no video games. May make this weekly, but want to start with monthly.

Budget Night - Once a month, near the last day of the month, I will set a new budget for the following month, and go over every expense from the month prior to the current one. (e.g.: on April 26, review March’s expense statement, set June’s budget).

Yearly

Retreat - Planning to take at least one silent retreat a year that will run at least three days. The location varies for me, but the idea is to unplug, get out of my normal daily humdrum, and spend time with the Lord.

Explore - Looking to travel to a new city at least once per year and explore for a weekend. Some sort of travel itch needs to be scratched.

There’s no rules to the rule of life - I recommend setting an overall vision for your year first, then working down from there in terms of specifics. I sat down to plan, wanted to prioritize physical and spiritual health this year, and worked my way all the way down to daily rhythms - thinking, what are practices I can put in place to facilitate this growth. Practicing The Way is a great place to start.

In love,

Josh