My 2025 Memory Keeping Projects + Monthly Progress
My 2025 Memory Keeping Projects + Monthly Progress
Why I Plan My Memory Keeping Projects (and Why You Might Want To, Too)
If you’re anything like me, your phone (and your heart) are filled with moments you never want to forget. But without a plan, those memories can quietly slip through the cracks. That’s why I make memory keeping a priority, not just for myself, but for my family to enjoy today and for years to come.
From family photobooks on our coffee table to thoughtful photo gifts that spark joy, these projects bring deep meaning and peace. They’re more than pretty pictures; they’re the stories of us.
Each January, I carve out time to dream big and brainstorm memory-keeping ideas. Then I choose what matters most, set priorities, and here’s the secret: break them into simple monthly goals. This keeps me motivated while giving me the freedom to pivot when life inevitably gets busy.
Curious what this looks like in real life? I’m sharing my 2025 memory-keeping journey right here — month by month. Let’s dive in and get inspired together.
The Process: How I Set My Memory Keeping Goals for the Year
Let’s start with the fun part — dreaming big. Each year, I sit down with my notebook and brainstorm everything I’d love to do. Nothing gets filtered out. Family yearbooks, printed albums, digital backups, vacation photobooks, birthday books, photo gifts, if it matters, it goes on the list. Getting all those ideas out of my head brings clarity and shows me what’s possible.
But dreaming is only step one. To make it happen, I shift gears and ask, “What matters most this year?” My Family Yearbook is always at the top. It’s our tradition and my non-negotiable. Other priorities depend on the season of life. Right now, I’m focused on clearing junk out of my photo library and creating childhood albums for Carson, who’s graduating next year.
Of course, plans change. Some months are full, and others are slower, and that’s okay. What I’ve learned? Progress beats perfection every time. Small steps add up, flexible goals keep me moving, and a little grace goes a long way. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Just start.
2025 Monthly Memory Keeping Goals + Progress (So Far!)
Before I dive into the month-by-month goals, here’s what stays steady all year long. These small habits make a big difference in keeping photo chaos at bay:
Daily (or Weekly) Delete: At the end of each day, I quickly scan through the photos I took and delete anything that is blurry, a duplicate, or not a favorite. If I miss a day (because, life!), I adjust and do this weekly. On Sundays, I take a few extra minutes to pare down the week's photos to just my favorites.
Family Yearbook Weekly Pages: Each Sunday, I spend about 15 minutes choosing highlights from the week and creating a page for our Family Yearbook using the Project Life App.
Sharing to Frames: I also send favorite photos to our kitchen’s digital frame so we can enjoy them in real life, not just on a phone screen. I send photos to my mom, sister, and in-laws’ frames, too. It’s quick, simple, and makes everyone smile.
Now, here’s a peek at what each month has looked like so far (and what’s ahead):
January: Family Yearbook, Chatbooks + Purging the Photo Library
Wrapped up and organized my Family Yearbook pages in Google Drive for easy upload to Shutterfly (always waiting for that Unlimited Pages sale!).
Ordered and received our Family Yearbook by early February — our family loved flipping through it together!
Started my new Chatbooks Monthly Mini Subscription, uploading 30-60 favorite photos on January 31st.
Spent about 2 hours tackling junk in my Photo Library, a top priority for this year.
February–April: Chatbooks + Photo Library Purge Continues
Stayed consistent with uploading monthly favorites to Chatbooks.
Continued hitting my goal of spending 2 hours each month cleaning up my digital photo collection.
May–December: Big Projects Begin
Still going strong with Chatbooks and purging my Photo Library until it’s finished.
Memorabilia for Carson’s Childhood Albums:
Sorted his childhood memorabilia by year.
Starting to separate items to scan or photograph.
Next steps: scan/photograph items and organize them by year for easy album creation.
Carson’s Childhood Albums:
Once the memorabilia is ready, I’ll start creating the albums with plans to print and gift them when he graduates.
Physical Photos:
If I finish Carson’s albums early, I plan to start sorting and scanning our family’s physical photos to add to my digital collection.
Photo Gifts:
Beginning in May, I’ll also work on meaningful photo gifts for grandparents and family because shared memories make the sweetest presents.
Progress Over Perfection
If this year has taught me anything, it’s that having monthly memory-keeping goals makes all the difference. Even when life gets busy or plans shift (because they always do), having a roadmap keeps me moving forward. This gentle accountability helps push me on the days I don’t really feel like tackling a project, but it’s flexible enough to adjust when needed. At the end of the year, checking off even some of these projects feels so much better than staying stuck and overwhelmed.
Already, I can see the rewards. Having our 2024 Family Yearbook printed and in our hands, ready to flip through and relive our favorite moments, is such a huge win. And watching my boys enjoy our Monthly Mini Chatbooks as they arrive each month? That’s exactly why I do this. These aren’t just photos. They’re our memories, preserved and shared in meaningful ways.
You can do this, too. Memory keeping doesn’t have to be complicated or perfect. Maybe for you, it’s just one simple project each month. That’s more than enough. Small steps create momentum, and momentum keeps you going.
If you want more inspiration or to follow along on my journey, come hang out with me on Instagram@savvy_photo_solutions. I’d love to see what you’re working on, too — leave a comment and share your memory-keeping projects for this year!