26 for 2026/a look back at 2025/January Ins and Outs

 I did... ok on my annual goals last year. I abandoned the baking goal and did not write or do pomodoros, and I only recently got back into my regular yoga practice. I did have fun listening to new music. The key for me is to expose myself deliberately to music reviews and news about music-- this reminds me that I want to listen to it.

The best thing about 2025 was also the most surprising: running-- I loved it so much. Ben and I kept talking about that on vacation as we ran a 5K on the beach and returned to the beach to run every morning but one when we ran through Harbour Town. On that run, we discovered a tiny little cemetery we've never seen before with graves dating back to the early 1800s, and we even ran on a golf course for a bit. It was so fun to see our favorite place in a whole new way. I am grateful for every mile I logged and sad it took me 47 years to become a runner.

For this year's list, I thought about 3 domains with 8 goals (2+6) in each area. This only gave me 24, so I also want to think about 2 HUGE areas and how to develop SMART goals for them each season

BIG GOALS:

creative writing

professional development

Hobbies and Home

1. Re-design my blog

2. Keep track of blog content

3. Use IG to promote blog posts

4. Read a book a week on my Kindle

5. Meet up with 2 new blog friends and keep current connections

6. Buy: lamps, pillows, duvet covers, seasonal candles

7. Buy a house in Peoria?

8. Perfect toll house cookies

Fitness:

1. Increase run to 40 minutes/day

2. Run just about every day in 2026 (think about what to do if I can't)

3. Run 3 races including a 10K

4. Hit protein and fiber macros MOST day (how many is most? 90%?)

5. Take a barre class

6. Ingest less sugar 

7. Get a new friend for Annabel (that'll make me walk more)

8. Join a gym with Cooper

Celebrations:

1. Make a big deal about milestones:

2. Make sure to book Xmas pop up restaurant and outdoor globe

3. Buy flying wish paper for NYE 2026

4. Bake a variety of cookies for Christmas 2026

5. Stuff my own stocking

6. Shop early for holidays

7. Make Hanukkah special (December 4-December 12)

8. Visit BU and UW-EC once each semester

Something I am thinking about still is how to track these goals. I made a google sheet for 2025 and was never motivated to open it, so I stopped tracking (after setting up a really complex tracking system), which led to abandoning many of the goals themselves. I think checking in seasonally will be really helpful because it will impose structure on the whole process, so I plan to do my seasonal panning in the same google doc I used to write the list (as well as in my google calendar). Monthly, weekly, and daily planning all happen on paper with the calendar as a guide, and I will open my 26 list then, too. I will also print a few hard copies (for my office, to tuck in my monthly planner, etc) to have it handy.

Finally, because I always like to hop on a trend the second it's stale, I am also going to keep a note on my phone with ins and outs every month. Here's January:

I want to hear about your plans for 2026--  tell me what 2026 is going to look like for you!!