It’s that time of year again, friends—a moment to contemplate where we have been, where we are going, and how to move forward.
Over the last decade, I have transitioned from New Year’s Resolutions to Last Year’s Reflections. Each of us has our own way of entering 2026, and whichever path you choose, I hope you give yourself grace and approach this process with a smile. After all, we are here, right?
New Year’s Resolutions have never worked for me. I have this frustrating habit of overestimating my strength and setting grand goals, only to barely make it out of the gate. This often leaves me feeling like a failure, which isn’t the best way to start a new year.
Instead, I use the New Year to reflect on my actions, thoughts, and behaviors from the previous year. I take this time to congratulate myself on my accomplishments and acknowledge my efforts. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t spend the entire reflection session thinking I’m some badass on wheels. The key is that I focus on the positive rather than fixating on what I want to change or what I messed up. In my experience, this approach works better. When I reflect, I consider what worked and what may need adjustment. By starting the new year this way, I set myself up for success rather than failure.
For many of you, New Year’s Resolutions are what create change, so please don’t take my approach as the gold standard.
I would love to hear from you: are you on Team Resolution, Team Reflection, or neither?
