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[Embracing a Fresh Start: My Ins and Outs for 2025]-[2025 INS AND OUTS]

Trying Not to Care · B2 · 2025-01-13

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📋 Summary

A New Beginning After a Stagnant Year

As we kick off 2025, Ashley reflects on the challenges of 2024, describing it as a "shit show" marked by stagnation and unexpected "curveballs." Feeling unaccomplished, she emphasizes the importance of using the new year to pivot from dwelling on past failures to focusing on future potential. This episode serves as a roadmap for personal evolution through a list of "ins and outs" designed to foster a more intentional and fulfilling life.

Breaking the Cycle of Digital Consumption

One of the primary "outs" for 2025 is doom scrolling. Ashley admits to becoming addicted to her phone, using it as a transition tool to fill voids during mundane moments, which she calls getting "sucked into the vortex." She argues that mindless consumption offers no satisfaction. In its place, she advocates for intentional screen time. The goal is not to go "cold turkey" on entertainment, but to set boundaries and ensure the phone is used to "help me" rather than "hinder me," whether for learning or meaningful connection.

Investing in Personal Growth

Ashley is embracing reading and learning as a core "in." Moving away from the pressure of "self-improvement" books that led to burnout in 2021, she is now focusing on thrillers, mysteries, and expanding her vocabulary. Furthermore, she is committed to investing in herself—financially and emotionally. Whether it is prioritizing her health following a PCOS diagnosis or returning to therapy, she rejects the idea that spending money on her well-being is "selfish." She argues that by being a healthier, happier version of herself, she becomes a better friend and partner to others.

Rejecting Aesthetics and External Validation

Ashley challenges the pressure to "niche down" and maintain a curated, perfect online image. She dismisses the idea of having a single "aesthetic," noting that humans are complex and shouldn't be "boxed" into being just one thing. She encourages listeners to be a "mix of everything" they love, embracing their authentic, multifaceted nature. This ties into her desire to stop caring what people think. She reminds listeners that we are all on a "floating rock," and worrying about the criticism of strangers—who are often just "insecure" or "bored"—is a waste of life.

Romanticizing Life and Prioritizing Connection

To combat the predictability of adulthood, Ashley advocates for romanticizing your life and reconnecting with one's inner child. Whether it's eating "dino nuggets" or watching nostalgic shows, she encourages finding joy in small, present moments. Finally, she emphasizes investing in friendships through quality time like "sleepovers," while simultaneously settling in friendships and relationships as an "out." She uses the metaphor of a Birkin bag: just because someone fails to recognize your value doesn't mean you aren't "valuable." She urges listeners to stop trying to force connections that aren't beneficial and instead wait for those who recognize their true worth.

🎯Key Sentences

1
I was just like you know what let's just take a little break
2
2024 just threw me a lot of curveballs.
3
It really takes my mind off what I didn't do
4
this is going to be the real deal, more in detail.
5
I had to get really real with myself
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📝Key Phrases

1
threw me a lot of curveballs
2
put all of my energy into
3
get sucked into the vortex
4
pushing all my other things on the back burner
5
go cold turkey
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📖 Transcript

The following podcast is a dear media production.
Hello, welcome to or welcome back to try not to care.
If you're new here.
My name is Ashley. Happy 2025.
It is the first episode of 2025.
And I got so many comments that were like, where's the episode because I didn't post last Monday.

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