Maura asked: “You once referenced New Year’s Day is one of your favorite days of the year. In advance of New Year’s Day 2026, would you consider a post about how you structure the day or what you most enjoy to set yourself up for success?”
It is! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fresh start feeling of January 1st. I love reading everyone’s goals lists. I love starting off in a new planner, trying out new habits, and there is always a productive energy (for me, I know this is not universal) that often makes things seem easier in the early portions of the new year.
(I also usually take off a solid chunk of time leading up to 1.1, so I am usually rested which I am sure helps!)
BUT. Do I actually DO anything specific? Not really!
We do try make NYE special! Some years, we’ve headed down to Miami Beach and spent the evening with Josh’s parents and sister’s fam, often with some kind of culinary theme. Other times, we just hang out here and do something celebratory at dinner — last year we made dumplings, and this year I’m planning on a big charcuterie board and fallen chocolate cakes for dessert (these; unfortunately behind a paywall but if you really want the recipe, email me and I can send the pdf!).
I always try to get the kids (and Josh) to answer questions about the new year (I’m going to print out this list!) and I often do not make it up until midnight, but this year I probably will because I (somewhat purposefully) have not really adjusted down from Mountain Time yet.
A Few Recent Great Podcast Eps & Blog Posts with Year-End Recaps + 2026 Goals:
(My favorites are the ones created by people who come across as very genuine sharing their own goals and struggles.)
1- The Reframe: 2025 Recap / 2026 Goals (Kathleen mentions me a few times in these episodes and gives me way too much credit! I love how she sets REALLY BIG AUDICIOUS goals and often gives herself partial credit.)
2- Rising*Shining (and Girl Next Door): 2025 in Review / Girl Next Door 2025 Reflections episode
3- Happier Ladies: Rites, Rituals & Rhythms for the New Year; Festival of Techo Kaigi (haven’t listened yet and so excited to!).
4- Optimistic Musings: 2025 Recap, and 2026 Goals!
Have you posted your goals, or heard a great “goals” podcast ep? Share the link below, I would love to read them (and I’m sure others probably would too!)
Little YT bonus: 6 second ASMR-ish video of me flipping through ~35 days worth of morning pages in the Midori Hibino 🙂
5 Comments
I will post my 25 in ‘26 goals/to dos in January. I am still editing the list! I like this approach rather than big lofty goals for my personality type. There are several ‘try this’ kind of goals but I like that low bar approach. I had try OTF on my 2025 list and loved it so much that I got a membership after trying a class pack.
I love the fresh feel of a new year. Plus this year I have the excitement of a new planner. I like the metaphorical fresh page feeling and this year, more ever before, I will be so happy to close the door on the year.
Happy New Year! I love January fresh-start energy as well, even if my goals are not goals at all, more like nebulous, impossible-to-quantify, evergreen and constant ideas and intentions (i.e., be present, nourish my life, practice patience, other hippie things).
I learned there is a concept of New Year Imperatives! Yours sound like that 🙂
Thank you for your thoughtful response! I was delighted to see it.
I too have a 26 for 26 list, broken into categories and then will plans to tackle in various quarters of the year. New this year, I fed it into AI to ask for help making categories, defining themes, capturing a short written vision. It was surprisingly spot on and helpful. Like most AI, very affirming of my intentions lol. 😊
I love the idea of using AI to help with goals, particularly some of the vaguer, currently less specific ones. Thanks for the suggestion!