2026 Habits and Goal Setting

 I've never been one for New Years resolutions. A goal you set and promptly forget once January ends.

But after I read Atomic Habits by James Clear a few years ago, I realised that what I actually worked for me was habit setting. Finding small actions that I wanted to change and choosing a habit to set in place. 

So for the last few years I have been setting habits that I want to work on across the year, which I've found much more fruitful. Though, for 2026, I have thrown in a couple of goals to the mix as well.

Let's go through them!

General Habits/Goals

My general habits are mostly about reducing screen time, a habit I'd really like to work on this year. Being chronically online as part of work means that my screen time is HIGH! In 2025 I focused on not having my phone in bed, which slowly fell off later in the year, but I wanted to bring it back in 2026. By throwing in a slightly higher reading goal (I got through 134 books in 2025, so 150 is a wild increase), I am hoping I might achieve this.

Health and Wellness

I am conscious of not falling into the 'New Year, New Me', lets lose a bunch of weight and be a new person category that many people dive into when setting New Years resolutions. 

Across 2025 I had some challenges with hormone imbalances (the joys of being a woman, honestly) that meant I did put on a little bit of weight, out of my control, but I also just ended up not feeling like myself. My habits for 2026 are about trying to bring that feeling of loving myself and loving movement back. 

My focus is really on consistency, not perfection. Knowing that missing a workout or having a 'lazy day' because I'm not feeling it is ok, and doesn't send you backwards. I want to get outside more and get moving more, even if just in a passive way. 

Also, water is good for the soul, so more is always better!

Finance

I've had a turbulent few years and financial goals have definitely fallen off the radar because of it. But 2026 is the year I want to start feeling more financially secure and feeling like I have some knowledge in the area.

While I am not including my actual financial goals for the world to see (because that's for me to know and not you), but I also want to be accountable to myself. I want to invest more this year, while also growing my nest egg. 

This means I need to cut back on unnecessary spending, so I really want to focus on purchasing the necessities and not much more. I saw someone on Tik Tok share how she purchased one non-essential item a month across 2025, saving a few things across the month and choosing one at the end of the month to treat herself too. While I feel this will be hard for me, I liked the concept and want to give it a go.

Fingers crossed 2026 will be the year of getting rich and of wellness!