A few weeks ago, I saw a TikTok about creating a yearly Bingo card. For this creator, a Bingo card was a better way to check off goals and build a solid theme for the year. I decided to take a crack at a Bingo card and share what I put on mine. Hopefully, this will give you some food for thought. After all, it’s not too late to start creating your 2025 Bingo card.
1. Read 20 Books
Last year, I did the impossible: I finished my Goodreads goal for the year. My goal of reading 12 books was finished in December, but there were several months in 2024 when I didn’t take reading seriously. In 2025, I want to read at least 20 books. I don’t think it’ll be that challenging. I already have plans to read a bunch of Little House On The Prairie books (because I just finished binging the show at the end of 2024.) Plus, I mostly read romance novels. As long as I take reading seriously throughout the year and ruthlessly DNF (do not finish) books that don’t grab my attention, I think I’ll be able to read 20 books in a year.
2. Get Professional Headshots
I am long overdue for professional headshots. My LinkedIn picture is literally from 2022. If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you know my dad typically takes my photos, but I’d love professional headshots. I don’t know when I’ll make this happen, but it’s definitely a goal for 2025.
3. Pay Down $10,000 In Debt
Debt, most of us have it. I want to pay down a good chunk of mine. I don’t have much to say here except wish me luck! Paying off debt can be so challenging because of interest. I must be diligent to ensure I don’t fall into that trap. I’ll likely use a technique like the debt snowball method to ensure I can pay off debt and make it stick.
4. Go On 5 Real Dates
I’ve been bopping around Hinge on and off for the last few years, but my focus has been on my career. In 2025, I want to get serious and commit to going on at least five real dates. I’m unsure if I want to end the year in a relationship, but it would be nice to put myself out there.
5. Do A One Month Vegetarian Eating Challenge
I’ve been thinking about vegetarianism for a few years now, but I’ve never truly committed. Last year, I even bought Nisha Vora’s Big Vegan Flavor cookbook. She runs one of my favorite cooking YouTube channels, Rainbow Plant Life. In 2025, I want to put my vegetarian thoughts to the test and do a one-month vegetarian/vegan eating challenge. I think it will do my mind and body good.
6. Post 30 Short-Form Videos
I know TikTok hangs precariously in the balance, but short-form videos on Instagram, YouTube, and even LinkedIn are still possibilities. I want to embrace the idea of short-form videos more in 2025 by posting several of them throughout the year. There is a space for me to return to creation, and I want this year to be the moment I embrace that idea in its many formats.
7. Take Part In A Charity Walk
I have a few fitness-y things on this Bingo card, and taking place in a small charity walk is on my radar. When I’m in my groove, walking is a great release. Training for and participating in a charity walk is a great way for me to get more active in the new year.
8. Make $15,000 With Freelance Writing/Consulting
In the past few years, I’ve let freelance writing fall by the wayside, but I’ve learned many practical skills since joining my current company in 2022. In 2025, I want to use my writing and content marketing skills to write and consult for some companies. This will be the perfect way to supplement my income and make me feel more confident living on a single income.
9. Attend An In-Person Content Conference
As an introvert, I still get major FOMO when I see content marketing people at fun conferences. I’m not sure how realistic this idea is, but I’d love to attend an in-person content conference this year. Networking and learning from great minds in the industry would be a game-changer for my career.
10. Join A Local Club Or Meetup Group
As you’ll see throughout my Bingo card, connection will be essential to me in 2025. I want to meet more like-minded people in real life. Since I’ve been out of college, I haven’t joined any clubs, but they aren’t just for students. Finding or creating some gathering like a book, writing, or even a charity-focused club would make 2025 fun.
11. Go To 5 Live Events/Concerts
I love live music, but I don’t prioritize it as I should. I want to go out of my way this year to attend five live events/concerts. I’m already planning to see Hamilton in March, and I’m so excited for my first step into attending more live events.
12. Write 52 Poems, No Matter How Bad
Honing my creativity is another thing I want to get better at in 2025. I’ve been reading many poetry books, as they are my go-to when I need a quicker read. It’s been a while since I’ve written poems, but I used to write them a lot as a teen. I want to get back into writing poems, so I’m going to challenge myself to write one poem a week! It’s going to be creatively draining and exciting at the same time.
13. Move To Central Arkansas
Moving to Central Arkansas has been on my list for a while, but I keep putting off the move. I want to move to a bigger city, get my own place, and be able to explore more. I hope to cross this off my list in Q2-Q3 of this year. For now, I’m saving and enjoying the time I get to spend with my parents.
14. Take A Creative Course
Since I want to get in touch with my creative side, I want to take a course doing something I’ll probably be terrible at, like painting or pottery. Preferably, this course would be in-person, as I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone in 2025.
15. Go On 12 Solo Dates
Dating other people is important, but so is getting comfortable with and dating myself. When I make the move, I’ll want to ensure I’m actually getting out of the house, so solo dates will be necessary. I got this deck of solo date idea cards, which will be perfect as I’m getting used to the idea.
16. Explore 10 New Places To Eat (Preferably Small Businesses)
No matter where I am, in my current city, Central Arkansas, or on vacation, I want to explore ten new places to eat. Preferably, I want these new places to be small businesses, not big corporations. I’m sure I’ll try a few new chains this year, though.
17. Start An Emergency Fund And Save (At Least) $7,500
Another goal for my 2025 Bingo card is to get my money life in order. I feel financially stable because I have enough money every month to take care of my bills with some cash to spare, but I don’t have an adequate savings system set up. One of the first things I want to tackle is getting an adequate emergency fund together. I want to save at least $7,500 in that fund, but if I can manage to save more, that would be fantastic.
18. Visit Utah
Utah might seem random, but it’s related to my day job. I’ve been with my current company for over two years but never made a trip to HQ. I want to fix that this year, and I’ll likely tackle this goal sometime in Q2- Q3. I currently have no plans to freeze and be at a higher elevation.
19. Volunteer 20 Hours At A Local Organization
Giving back is another thing I want to focus on in 2025. Currently, I’ve stopped donating money to charity to have more money to focus on bills, paying debt, and ensuring I have a better grasp of what’s entering/coming out of my bank account. That might change at some point, but I need to get more financially stable first. I still want to give back, so I want to donate some of my time to charities instead. I’d love to find a good local charity or two and volunteer at least 20 hours of time there this year.
20. Publish 20 Posts For The Happy Arkansan
If you’ve seen my blog, you know that I haven’t been as present here as I should be. That’s another thing I want to change this year. The Happy Arkansan has brought me a ton of joy, and there is no reason I can’t create more here. The goal is to write and publish at least 20 posts this year. I guess I’ve already done one, so I’m already on a roll! Yay!
21. Go To Church Once A Month
My relationship with God is interesting. In general, I don’t feel like I need to go to church to have a relationship with God. I feel like if I do good for other people, God will know my heart. I don’t have the best relationship with churches because I feel like people who attend church don’t always have the best intentions. However, there is something nice about the music and worshipping with other people. I don’t know if I can handle church every week, but I would like to make more of an effort to fellowship with others. Committing to once a month is the perfect balance I need.
22. Do A Month Long Walking Challenge
As you saw earlier, I am craving more movement in 2025. I have such a good time when I go on vacation and walk for miles through museums. I’m unsure how to capture that feeling long-term, but I want to commit to a month-long walking challenge this year.
23. Find A Primary Care Physician
Another health goal is to find a primary care physician. This has been on my radar for years, but I haven’t prioritized it. I know I need to hunker down and find one, even if I need to find another one when I move to Central Arkansas. Health is so important, and I only have one life. As I move into my 32nd year, I need to get serious about having regular check-ups.
24. Network With 15 Content Marketing Professionals
Lastly, I want to network with 15 content marketing professionals this year. What does this mean? I want to have a 30-45 minute coffee chat with 15 content marketing peeps this year. This doesn’t have to be in person; Zoom is fine, but I want to be more intentional about actually meeting people and not just liking their posts on LinkedIn. If you want to follow my professional journey, don’t be afraid to connect with me on LinkedIn!
Ways To Incentivize Your 2025 Bingo Card
I plan to take my Bingo card very seriously this year, so I am incentivizing the completion of different squares, Bingos, and the card as a whole. I hope to complete a blackout or at least several bingos. Here are some ideas I’ve been mulling over to make completion more likely.
Put Your Bingo Card In A Place You’ll See It
First, this shouldn’t be out of sight, out of mind. If you consistently check in with your progress, you’ll be more likely to complete it.
- Use your Bingo card as a background on your computer, phone, or tablet.
- Schedule automated Bingo check-ins every month on your calendar.
- Share your Bingo with other friends and family members for accountability.
Save For Every Space You Complete
Tie space completion to saving for something fun. You can put aside $20-$50 for every space you complete (including the free space.) If you complete a blackout, you’ll have $500-$1,250 to spend at the end of the challenge.
Celebrate With Something Small Once You Hit Specific Milestones/Bingos
Throughout the year, throw small celebrations for accomplishments like marking off a certain number of spots or achieving different Bingos. Make sure these rewards are small but significant to you. For example:
- Treat yourself to skincare like a face mask or lip balm.
- Enjoy a DIY spa day with a bubble bath or pedicure.
- Sip on seasonal coffee or tea blends.
- Indulge in a favorite snack you rarely splurge on.
- Savor dessert from a local bakery or ice cream shop.
- Dive into a book you’ve been excited to read.
- Stock up on craft supplies for your hobbies.
- Snag a cute mug or soft throw blanket.
- Plan a movie night with your go-to snacks.
- Visit a local park, museum, or nearby event.
- Grab a travel-inspired treat like a guidebook or souvenir.
Have A Year-End Celebration With Your Savings
If you’ve been saving throughout the year as you complete challenges, celebrating the end of the year by doing something significant with your savings is great! Buy yourself a new bag, get a few new pairs of shoes, purchase concert tickets, etc. You can do so much with the large sum you’ve been saving throughout the year!
Conclusion: Will You Be Doing A 2025 Bingo Card?
There you have it, folks, my 2025 Bingo card. I created a card that would stretch me and be fun to complete. Some challenges are pretty simple, and some require all the steps!
I’m looking forward to seeing what I can cross off this time next year.
Are you planning to do a 2025 Bingo card? If so, what’s on your list?
