Kate Emery: 11 ideas on how to make 2025 a better year and a better you

Blame it on the fact that I’ve been eating chocolate for breakfast since Christmas Eve but, for my last column for The Sunday Times for the year, I want to get a bit treacly.

Plenty of people think of journalists as cynics, at best, and clickbait chaos merchants at worst. But 20 years in the industry has convinced me that most of us sign up for the crap hours and slightly less crap pay with the naive belief in the ability of good journalism to make the world a better place.

Yes, this comes from someone whose job includes brunch reviews, but since when has French Toast ever made the world a worse place?

So here is my guide to what we can all do to make the world — and ourselves — slightly better in 2025.

TALK TO STRANGERS

We’re in a loneliness epidemic and loneliness can peak in the holidays, when it’s easy to get the impression everyone else is living in a Norman Rockwell painting while you’re stuck in the Edward Hopper version. You don’t know the power of a chat in the supermarket queue or a friendly word on the street until you need one yourself.

VOLUNTEER

Whether you’re making sandwiches at the school canteen or walking dogs for the pound, volunteering is a known mood booster. One service I like is Brightwater Care’s “Sunshine Calls” service, which pairs lonely residents with volunteers for phone chats.

READ A BOOK

We’re reading less than ever and are poorer for it. Reading improves cognitive function, reduces memory decline, encourages empathy and decreases stress.

DONATE BLOOD

You’re more likely to need a blood donation than to be a blood donor. Donating blood takes five to 10 minutes of admin but it’s less faff than you imagine. Plus, they give you unlimited snacks afterwards. Sure, you might get some side-eyes as you fill your handbag with crisp packets but nobody is actually going to stop you: you’re saving lives.

GO TO A GIG

Live music venues — and some musicians — are on the bones of their arse. If you value music, seek out a gig that appeals and give it a try. BYO earplugs if you see any of the following words: “Scandi”, “death” or “metal”.

VACCINATE YOUR KIDS

With vaccine sceptic RFK Jr taking up the reins of power in the US, you’re going to see more vaccine scepticism online. If you want to “do your own research”, let that be talking to your GP or reading peer-reviewed papers — not a Facebook group run by someone with faith in the healing power of crystals. Vaccines come with risks, just like Panadol and being born, but they overwhelmingly save lives.

DON’T JOIN A GYM IN JANUARY

New Year’s resolutions to get fit or lose weight don’t last. You know what’s easy, great for you and will have an almost immediate positive effect on your mind and body? Going for a little walk instead.

EAT LESS MEAT

It’s not just your colon that will thank you. A plant-based diet is (in general) better for you and the environment. But you don’t have to go all or nothing. You can eat less meat without going full Tash Peterson and/or voting Greens.

SHOP ETHICALLY

Look for Australian-grown food and vegetables at the supermarket to reduce your carbon footprint. Look for clothes made under fair conditions (goodonyou.co is one of many good resources). Expensive doesn’t always mean ethically sourced but if you think that $5 seems cheap, someone is paying the price for it. Op-shops are the great undiscovered resource.

GIVE A SH.T

This year I took a holiday that involved shutting out the news for a few weeks. It was wonderful, honestly. But the reality is that being part of society means participating in it and that means being aware of what’s happening and what you can do to improve the lot of yourselves and others. Vote for politicians with policies you think are important, donate money to good causes if you can, or donate time if you cannot, and be kind when you have that option.

PAY FOR NEWS

Cynicism about journalism is high and I get it. But good journalism is still arguably the best, and maybe the only, way to hold those in power accountable. The ABC is wonderful but the industry needs diversity. Find a news service you like and pay for it, unless you want the next generation to get their news from Andrew Tate 2.0.