2025 ends today. We’re 99.98% through the year.

A few months ago I started this practice of documenting what I paid attention to, borrowed from Austin Kleon. Today is a great opportunity to look back on the things that I paid attention to this year, and on some of the things I learned.

I think 2025 was about trust: trusting people, trusting myself, and trusting the process even when it felt like I wasn’t doing “enough”.

1. Tracking the input: I realised that how much I put in the process was more important than how much I “produce”. So instead of tracking how many blog posts I published, or how often I go for a run, I started tracking the time I spent on my writing, and the total distance I’ve run so far this year. It’s a great way to see the investment I make in the things that make my life better. And the more time I invest in those, the higher the chances of a positive outcome.

2. Using objects with an identity: I’ve been obsessing over using simple objects in my daily life. There is something quite rewarding and inspiring about using good quality, single purpose objects. They have a history. I’ve had them for years. For example, this year I’ve brought my moka pot with me on camping trips, and used my old Sony Cybershot compact digital camera from high school as a way to capture memories. I’ve given up my Garmin smart-watch for one of my analog watches - and I am eyeing the Casio F-91W, a timeless classic that meets cheap and functional. I am using my phone less, and it is intentional. How refreshing!

3. Reading novels: Over the last couple years I’ve built this practice of reading more non-fiction books, as a way to learn. I love it and I find it fulfilling, but I ended up feeling like I was never resting. In 2025 I picked up a few novels (Journey To The Centre Of The Earth by Jules Verne, La Gloire De Mon Père by Marcel Pagnol, Big Swiss by Jen Beagin and The Switch by Beth O’Leary). I’ve realised that not only did I enjoy it, I also needed it. It is a good way to rest the mind, and feed the artist inside me. I also forgot how fiction mirrored emotions and situations you run into in real life, which can be helpful with processing things.

4. Rail is a great way to travel: I’ve been enjoying taking the train more and more - across the United Kingdom, and France. It is such a relaxing way to travel (compared to driving or flying), on top of being a more sustainable public transport. It still amazes me that we have such infrastructure running across the country, and to other countries (even under the sea!!!). I just wish train ticket prices were not so much more expensive than plane tickets.

5. Concerts fill my battery: Sometimes I forget how much energy I get from going to gigs. Part of me feels like if I go I will feel down because I am comparing myself to the people on stage, but actually it’s the opposite. I am pumped and I come out of it wanting to do more! I loved seeing The Midnight at the O2 Academy in Brixton, and I discovered IDER for a “stripped down” gig with just a guitar and a keyboard at the Old Church in Stoke Newington. West End musicals also always put a smile on my face (Hamilton was awesome).

6. Building Lego is good for the soul: A few times this year I felt really down, and I got out of my flat to get myself a few Lego sets. I came back home, and started building them, while doing something else (like watching a movie or being on a video call with someone). It’s actually a great way to get your mind to focus on right here, right now, and get into a calm place. I highly recommend! I suspect there’s something about keeping your hands and brain busy, but also calling to your inner kid for some playtime.

7. Drawing simple stuff is good for you: I picked up my crayons to draw simplistic things like a penguin, or a Guinea pig, as a way to take a break and do something a little creative without the pressure of having to make something good. I was surprised to find it fun! I also enjoyed drawing cards for special occasions for people around me.

8. Playing for the sake of play: When I came back from midwest France in November, I found myself wanting to play music just to enjoy it, rather than as part of a project like releasing a YouTube video or an EP. It takes practice (I’m still not used to it), but it helped me meet a new side of me. I realised that having a nice and functional space would help me get into a creative state quicker, so I set up a dedicated table with my PRO-800 synthesiser, a patch bay (game changing!) and got myself some Genelec studio monitors. This is helping me reconnect with the playful Tom.

9. Advent of Code: Some people do crosswords to give their brain a workout. I have used writing code as a way to exercise. The Advent of Code is great for this: every day, you get a little Christmas story puzzle (usually parsing and manipulating data) and you have to solve it by writing some code that will give you the answer (like a number). You can do it in any language you want! It’s a fun little way to flex your brain and learn something new. And it’s free!

10. Building stuff: I’ve talked about it before¹; a highlight of this year is building things with my hands. Cutting and sanding wood, figuring out a solution to a physical problem… I find it meditative. And I guess it gives me a reason to buy power tools! Recently I made a very scrappy and wonky stand for my Behringer PRO-800 and pedals, and the most basic bookends you’ll ever find. As calming and grounding as it was, I think one thing I can try next year is making a plan ahead of time, rather than jumping into things head first… whether it’s for a woodworking project or booking a holiday more than two days in advance!

I find it so important to document what I am interested in, and what I focus on. I easily forget with time, and going back through my notes makes me realise that I’ve been accumulating material - scraps, ideas, inspirations - that is fuel for my creativity.

If 2025 was the Year of Trust, maybe next year I can lean into that trust and make more plans. Maybe 2026 can be the Year of Blueprint.

This post marks my 12th article in 12 months. This was a little challenge I gave myself this year. It’s far from my one-video-a-week era with my Metro Boulot Homestudio series (see @LesSondiers on YouTube), but I found it important to challenge myself. Turns out, when I look back at what I wrote, I’m happy with the outcome: not that it’s amazing stuff (it’s not meant to be), but that I showed up and built up material that I will tap into, next year.

And that gives me energy.