2025 is winding down, and our attention is starting to shift from the holiday celebrations and busyness of December to thoughts of what life might look like in a brand-new year ahead. Now is a great time to pause and reflect on 2025: What went well? What needs to change? Where am I getting stuck? What is good in my life and needs to be fostered further?
I love the idea of taking a good, reflective assessment of our lives! It’s the starting point from which we can dream, plan, and make small steps toward being the future self we’d like to be. And while setting the loftiest of goals is oh SO tempting, I want to help you make sure that you actually reach them successfully in the year ahead by keeping them reasonable. With that being said, here are my top ideas of problem areas to assess and how to set goals in 2026!
- Declutter. It’s really hard to see where you’re going and what you need to do next when your environment is closing in around you. Clutter is a huge source of underlying anxiety and stress, even if we don’t realize it. And, living in this insanely materialistic society, we are literally drowning in our own objects. Make decluttering a regular practice. Even if you spend 15–20 minutes a week slowly going through your space, you’ll be shocked at the progress you can make! Don’t be afraid to enlist the help of a friend; decision fatigue in processing your life is a real thing. There are TONS of helpful websites and videos out there to help you get started! If you can breathe easier, you’ll be able to take a much better self-assessment.
- Self love, then improvement. It breaks my heart when I see people starting with an eye of hate towards their current lives & bodies. If you’re setting goals out of self-contempt, this will not be healthy or sustainable. Don’t get me wrong; taking a critical look at where you’re really getting stuck can be useful. Just, please, view yourself with some compassion and grace. Find that hard? Get curious and ask yourself ‘why’ and where this voice of self-contempt is coming from in your life.
- Set small, measurable goals. Small is best. Slow, methodical improvement over time is the best. Don’t get sent on a fool’s errand of any fast-paced changes. Be kind and respectful of your body and set yourself up for real success! I’m just an impatient as you are to start your new life immediately, but real, true change takes time. Jot a few timelines down in your calendar: 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, next year just to check in and reflect on where you started, how far you’ve come, and where you’re going next.
- Expect setbacks. I hate to hear this just as much as you do. I know your eyes are dead set on the prize, but there will be setbacks. Sickness, injury, financial emergencies, weather, etc. We can’t control all of the variables. Life has a way of making sure you’re really committed to your goals. Stay the course! If you can make it through a setback successfully, you will soar into the next chapter of progress with even greater energy and fortitude! You’ve got this.
- Health & wellness. Of course, this season of indulging of some of our favorite comfort foods may be propelling you into the throes of health & wellness goals. And, these are wonderful goals! A health body, mind, and spirit is essential for a good life. But, I want you to realize our culture is diet-obsessed. The next quick fix to shed pounds is not a healthy or sustainable choice; there is so much research to support this. Instead, I encourage embarking on a more health-sustaining journey, such as gentle nutrition, intuitive eating, finding movement you love (see #11), and healing your past traumas, hurts, & fears through mental health interventions. Don’t wreak further havoc on your mental health with a dismal nutrition & exercise plan. This year, choose lifelong, sustaining health.
- Family & friends. Did you know that social capital, or the social network you have around you, is the #1 predictor of health and longevity? #1 is social! This is amazing news for us all! Now is the time to foster your social network. What can you do this year to really see, love, & enjoy those who matter the most to you? I find setting a small, reasonable bucket list of items for the year ahead helps me love on and connect with my family best. Remember to come back to this list, maybe at the beginning of each month?
- New skills! Do you feel stuck in a rut and downright bored? 2026 may be your chance to start fresh and pick up a new skill! During the 2020 pandemic, there were so many people who developed new hobbies and skills (ex: cooking, hair cuts, web page design) because they simply had to get creative with their time and needs. Now’s your chance to begin learning a new skill! Start simple with online or library resources and grow from there. It’s never too late to learn, and your brain needs this stimulation to keep it healthy, too.
- Learn to cook. New to cooking? Need to improve your skills? Listen, cooking may not be fun for everyone, but everyone has to eat. With the current price of restaurants & fast food, not to mention the quality, etc., your ability to cook reasonable and tasty food for you and others around you will be a tremendous gift! Try an in person class in your city, or just binge-watch some online videos. Get your kids involved and secretly teach them a life skill while having fun & bonding together. On our bucket list for 2026 is learning how to freeze more, so we aren’t left scrambling while exhausted from the day’s work quite so many times this year ahead.
- Finances. Let’s face it; you are basically running a small business. Whether you’re single, a couple, or have a full-blown family, that state of your finances is going to dictate so much of your life today and into the future. Now’s a great time to take a close look at where your money is going and to make shifts & changes as you’re able. Remember: this is a long term project. Small, measurable goals for each month, year, and decade are HUGE for your long term financial viability and freedom. A couple of great first steps include: set a monthly budget, establish an emergency fund, and pay off any debts quickly if you can.
- Rest. This is essential to life and often overlooked by us and by the well-meaning wellness professionals that are guiding us. Humans are not machines. They need and deserve rest. Build some time for rest, quiet, prayer, reflection into your daily rhythm. Even 15 minutes can have wonderful benefit. When’s the last time you had an actual restful vacation? If frenetically dashing through airports and racing through a myriad of excursions is your idea of rest, please, think again.
- Leisure & movement. I wanted to group these together because it is very important that the movement you’re embracing is also satisfying and fun! Gone are your days of slogging through workouts meant to punish and hate on your body. I challenge you to find a way that you love moving this year. If you already know, how can you make this a reality? Movement speaks to each of us differently. Last year, I reignited my passion for tennis, and, boy, is the flame burning fierce into 2026. I want this same passion for movement for you! It can and absolutely should look different from others around you. Dream big! Also, it’s worth mentioning that leisure can and certainly should encompass more than movement, too.
- Get into nature. Your body is desperate for it. I can’t emphasize this one enough. We need to take in the natural world. It is therapeutic for the mind, body, and soul. Try to plant a few nature-excursions on your calendar, or make a daily walk a frequent practice. Dressing for the weather is essential for making this tolerable or even enjoyable when the climate is harsher.
- Put your phone away. We all know this. The phone is killing our connection with others and mental health. Are you feeling anxious or worried? I guarantee you or someone you talk with frequently is immersed in some fearmongering topics online. It’s clear: what we consume on our devices is influencing us deeply. While a life free of the phone is next to impossible to achieve, we can absolutely make some progress toward a less-phone influenced life. Remember to start small here. For example, make certain rooms (ex: bedroom, living room) or times of day (ex: when your family is home together in the evening, Sundays) phone-free. This is scary & weird at first, but then, it becomes oh, so magical. Plus remember, your kids do what you do, not what you say (Ugh!)
- Find ways to embrace the seasons. This one seems apropos for the new year for those of us living in a wintry wonderland. I’m not denying the need for sunlight for our mental health, and I totally encourage you to get that in any way you can. But, I just want to offer some positive options for darker, dreary days. I personally love to embrace Danish concept of hygge. Basically, it involves embracing what is warm, cozy, comforting, and family/community-oriented in these times. Try beginning or ending your day with fire or candlelight. Enjoy a tea time after work or school. Make a cozy nest where you can retreat to for repose. Find ways to embrace this season of slow and rest when you can.
I hope I’ve planted a few seeds in your mind for how to approach setting any goals for 2026, and also a few ideas for great goals to start with. I sincerely wish you all the best in 2026. This is your year to step out of the chaos: you were made for more! The future is a bright one. I’m rooting for you and walking with you, my friend.
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