Ahhhh…. (said like the release of a big breath, not a scream!)…. We’re back! I’m actually sitting here feeling a little out of practice from writing after taking a couple of weeks off from blogging. It’s always a much needed break and this season was no exception. We’ve spent so much time together as a family and it’s been just really nice. Though I think we’re all craving a little routine and normalcy.
Tonight (I’m writing this on Sunday), we did a good dinner at home. A nice long bath time routine for the boys and an early, thorough bedtime. It’s been nice to be indulgent, both personally as a parent, but we’re ready for the year to really “start.”
This year, I don’t really find myself craving any big, dramatic changes. Just more of the same, in a good way. I really liked how I ended 2025, in particular, so I’m hoping to just keep on keeping on. Before New Year’s Eve though, I did fill my car up with a full tank of gas, started a new notebook, and cleaned all of our sheets on a non-sheet-wash day so we’d wake up with what felt like a clean slate. Which really did feel symbolic for how I envision 2026 with a focus on the embracing the everyday.
Sometimes, I do wish my life was a little more…. hmm, what exactly. Maybe fancy? Spontaneous? A little more exciting? But really at the end of the day, I love this life we’ve built. Our community– with my own roots growing even stronger here. The routines and structure we have. Our jobs and our hobbies. Our family!
Because I’m still me, though, I do have some intentions (in other words: goals) I want to carry with me throughout the year… but I’m trying to remind myself that anything could happen. So much of what unfolded in 2025 was completely unexpected and just fell into place on its own and I’m completely open-minded to that. It just can’t hurt to be a little goal oriented.
1. Letting go of “streaks”
I’m forever going to be a work in progress where it comes to my perfectionism. It’s something that really bothers me about myself and can hold me back from a lot… it’s a source of extreme anxiety. I’m in a better place today than I ever have been, but if it’s ever something you’ve dealt with before you know it’s not an easy fix. (And it’s not as pleasant as it sounds!) While I’ve made progress in a lot of areas, my tendency to stick with gamified streaks has been an issue for me. On the surface it looks like a good thing– it looks like discipline and sticking with good habits. But the roots of it are really not-so-good for me and I can find myself in an obsessive spiral trying to keep these streaks going to the point where it’s not productive or positive at all. So this year, I’m letting them go. (And making sure I don’t just replace one streak with another.) So far it’s been okay…
2. Pushing myself with workouts
Over the past 18 months or so, I’ve increased my stamina for workouts significantly. I want to keep that up and keep pushing forward. I don’t have any specific goals– no marathon training here– but I just want to challenge myself to choose the 45 minute workout over the 30 minute one when I can, to go to the gym even when I don’t want to, to not opt for the lighter weights when I can do the heavier set. I’m a firm believer that the small choices can make a big impact! Plus, I’m not getting any younger. I want to stay in good shape as I continue to age so I’m taking care of my body as best as I can.
3. Going analog
The screen addiction is real. I’m not against scrolling on TikTok or posting on Instagram (obviously– it’s my job!), but I do think I have a bit of an addiction going on. I invested in the Brick (full review to come) and I’m working on better habits when it comes to my own digital consumption. I also just want to incorporate more tangible things in my life and rely less and less on digital products. Creating real art. Reading physical books. Writing on paper. Taking film photographs. In 2026, I’m going analog. (Well, that is, within reason at least… you won’t find me actually giving up technology for good!)
4. Practice knitting
I got a head start on my “big” 2026 goal, which was to pick up knitting. I learned how to knit maybe a decade or so ago when I was living in NYC. I actually only ever got so far as knitting and purling a scarf…. I wish I had stuck with it. Even just in the week since I’ve picked it back up, I can already tell this is going to be another hobby that I love. It’s methodical and so satisfying. To hold a finished product in your hand is the best, too. I can’t wait to dive more into this world and learn more along the way.
