2026 Goals!

This essay appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 1/5/26. Subscribe here! 

Happy New Year & first Monday of 2026!!

In all seriousness though, I know the first Monday after the holidays can feel a bit like a letdown. If you’re feeling some post-holiday blues, you’re not alone. One thing that always helps me is pausing to feel grateful for the time that’s just passed – and then taking action by looking ahead & finding something to be excited about. I love how annual goals help fuel that excitement. For me, these goals are not “standards” to live up to, but instead about identifying possibilities for the year ahead. With the right mindset, goal setting can be fun! 

My word of the year

Last week, I shared that my word for 2026 is LITTLE.

After a year of big moments, big changes and big milestones, I’m craving a year that’s a little quieter, a little steadier, a little more rooted in everyday rhythms. Instead of setting big, sweeping resolutions for the year ahead, I’ve been thinking about the small ways I want to move through 2026.

What’s ahead in 2026

Zooming out, 2026 feels like a year of settling in.

The biggest thing on the horizon is going back to work after maternity leave and finding new rhythms as Ben starts daycare. 

We don’t have any big trips planned, aside from traveling for a wedding, and I’m so excited that my parents will be in Indianapolis for a month this spring. I hope there’s a trip or two to Chicago and to family in Florida, but overall, I’m really looking forward to continuing to deepen our roots in Indy.

I’m also eager to rebuild my strength after pregnancy and postpartum, and to find my way back to things I love – like writing and running – that were necessarily deprioritized last year amid all the other changes.

Those are the big things for 2026 so far. We never really know what a year has in store, but based on what I do know, here’s how I hope to manifest LITTLEthis year.

My 2026 Goals

Like last year, I’m setting annual goals across a few different areas:

Personal Care & Growth

+ Embrace a soft re-entry back to work. Early this year, my maternity leave will end and I’ll transition back to work. I don’t know exactly what that will feel like – I’ve never been a working mom before – but I do know I want to focus on small, grounding rhythms that will make me feel good as I embrace this new change. I’d like to create a simple re-entry ritual for myself each workday: coffee, a familiar playlist and ten quiet minutes before opening email.

+ Listen to more audiobooks. Reading is such a big part of my life, but one thing I’ve never quite gotten into is audiobooks. With more expected time in the car this year (daycare drop-offs), I’d like to always have an audiobook going. It feels like a great way to keep reading woven into everyday life. (If you have favorite audiobooks, I’d love recommendations!)

+ Take a solo overnight trip. Not completely sure if this will happen but I’m into the idea of creating space for some solo rest and reflection.

Health

+ Establish care and an annual appointment rhythm in Indianapolis. Now that we’re settled in our new city, I want to make sure I have the basics – primary care, dentist, etc. – in place. After pregnancy and childbirth, I feel especially motivated to prioritize my health and take care of myself proactively.

+ Start running again. I’ve missed running so much. I’m excited to get back into the habit, focusing less on pace or distance and more on consistency and enjoyment. 

+ Try Orange Theory Fitness. I’d love to try a class (hopefully with Matt!) and see if it’s something I’d enjoy fitting into my routine here and there.

Relationships

+ Practice a nightly check-in with Matt. This year, I want to prioritize tiny, consistent touchpoints with the people I love. For Matt and me, I’m thinking this could look like asking each other a simple question most evenings: What was one good thing today? I’m hoping the small habit would help us stay connected on busy days.

+ Cherish a daily moment with Ben. Whether it’s a certain feeding, bath time or a stroller walk, I want to intentionally notice and appreciate something small each day, while giving myself permission to let that “moment” change as routines change.

+ Plan for and celebrate Ben’s baptism and first birthday. We have some meaningful milestones this year! We will get Ben baptized and in October, we’ll celebrate his first birthday. For both, I’d love to host family and friends at our home and celebrate intentionally. 

+ Build some monthly community rhythms. I’d love to find a book club near me to connect and build community through shared reading. I also have this idea of starting a low-key monthly game night with Matt and my brothers- & sisters-in-law who all live in town. I think this is the year to make it happen! 

Creativity & Fun

+ Write this newsletter more consistently. With all the change last year, there were times I had to deprioritize writing. There were also times when big things were happening (pregnancy, moving) that I wasn’t ready to write about yet. This year, I’m excited to write more openly and consistently. My plan is to support myself with better systems: writing earlier in the week, using an editorial calendar and treating writing as a steady, almost everyday practice.

+ Establish a weekly writing routine. Ideally, this will be a standing coffee shop date – a reason to get out of the house by myself and a signal that this creative habit matters.

+ Start writing book reviews on Goodreads. This one’s just for fun. I love reading friends’ reviews on Goodreads and would like to start jotting down a few thoughts myself. It will also be a good way to share what I’m reading in real time! My profile is here, in case you are on Goodreads too.

Home & Finances

+ Start a weekly review and monthly reset practice. I’m not totally sure what these will look like yet, but I want them to be simple check-ins that reduce mental clutter and help life feel manageable as schedules get busier.

+ Ruthlessly unsubscribe from emails. The state of my personal email inbox right now is… a lot. SO many unnecessary emails. I want to get much better about staying on top of my inbox and unsubscribing from email lists in the moment, with the hope that a year from now, my inbox feels significantly lighter.

+ Commit to the 24-hour rule for purchases. I plan to wait a full day before buying something to make sure I really want it or that it satisfies a need vs. an impulse.

So there you have it! My 2026 goals. 

Have you set goals or resolutions for the year ahead? I’d love to hear about it! 

Here’s to a year of LITTLE. I can’t wait!! 

Picture of the Week