✨5 Things I’m Determined to Change in 2026✨
Hi friends!
As I sit here on a Sunday evening and prepare for the ever so dreaded Monday morning that’s quickly approaching, I was thinking about some aspects of my life that I want to change not only for my mental health, but for my overall long term well being. While my life is pretty lovely as-is, there are always things that could make it even better and for me, those things are as follows:
How I Spend My Free Time
This is the type of thing where I’m perfectly content doing what I do now, but I know I could do better for myself. On a typical day, if I’m not cleaning the house, 99% of my free time is spent laying on my couch doom scrolling. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good couch rot sesh as much as the next guy, but too much of it will stop doing you favors. I couch rot a lot – like, to the point where making basic plans or having basic errands to run feels like I have to exert every last ounce of energy in my body. I’ll never fully give this up, but I know if I found some type of cheap hobby or even just switched my location from the inside couch to the back porch couch where I could get some fresh air, it would work wonders for my overall well-being.
Eating Habits
I don’t eat super great. Sure, I’m not eating pizza and ice cream for every meal, but I don’t meal prep, count fiber/protein/carbs/etc. or even attempt to stay within a certain amount of calories. If I want food, whether it’s 10am or 11pm, I eat it. I don’t load up on junk food, but my chip cabinet stays stocked. I believe you can eat anything you want in moderation, and one of my goals for 2026 is to eat a little less bad stuff and a lot more good stuff.
Start Cooking More
Yeah, yeah. I’m 25 and don’t cook. Sue me. And when I say I don’t cook, I mean, like, the fire department at my house, winding up on the news type of “don’t cook.” I suck at cooking. You know the meme that’s like, “me when someone’s trying to explain the rules of a new card game” and their brain is short-circuiting like Patrick Star? Yeah, that’s me trying to cook literally anything. I can follow some recipes, but it takes me literally 4x as long as the average person, and it probably isn’t going to taste good anyway. I’m very lucky because my fiancé is a great cook, so I do eat a fair amount of home-cooked meals. However, I want to learn how to cook at least basic dishes without help.
Not Letting Frustration Get the Best of Me
Ever since I was a kid, when I feel an emotion, I feel it. And unfortunately, that includes anger and frustration. My problem isn’t that everything pisses me off. It’s that the little, unimportant things piss me off. My hair wasn’t cooperating while I was getting ready for work? Morning ruined. Some guy was driving like an ass and slowed me down for 0.5 seconds? Watch out. One of my favorite sweaters shrank in the dryer? You better hope you aren’t in the house when I set it on fire. It’s always things that, in the grande scheme of things, shouldn’t even make a dent in my daily routine, but sometimes I just can’t help but let the frustration get the best of me. Well, news flash – it’s 2026. We aren’t letting the little things bother us anymore. What are we, 12 years old? This year, I’m leaving the anger behind and learning to laugh about it instead!
Exercise
This one is such a rollercoaster for me. I go through phases – one phase where I feel like being active 24/7 and then one phase where I have to muster up all of my energy just to take the dogs out. Look, I’m not one that can self motivate when it comes to exercise. I need a class, a subscription, something that will penalize me financially if I don’t show up. That’s how to get me up and moving. Unfortunately, (idk if you’ve noticed), everything in this world costs an arm and a leg nowadays, so paying monthly fees (especially for my favorite style classes like Pilates or Barre) isn’t always feasible. This year, I want to get into the habit of getting consistent exercise, even if it’s just an extra long walk, without depending on a person or place to make it happen.
Let’s Do This
These are all things that I know are very much achievable. The hardest part is changing my mindset and staying consistent. Whether you have some of the same goals as me, or some that are completely your own, let this be your reminder that you can do it! Remember: success isn’t linear. And each month as you track your progress, I will be right there with you!
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