Welcoming 2026

It’s been a full year and I haven’t published much. But I’m still going, writing (even if I don’t publish here), still trying to not give up.

I tend to get hyped up as I droom scroll - seeing people’s challenges, advertising for various work out programs, meal programs, weight loss programs.  I think to myself ‘I can do that - I can make that happen’, and then it goes nowhere. I dream up a 75-soft challenge, creating a habit tracker, and then I never start.

I give up before I can fail. 

So for the first time ever, I’m scaling back. I’m being realistic with the person I actually am. 

I’ve created a 6-week challenge for myself of do-able things.  Things that won’t take me out of my comfort zone too far that the thought of trying freaks me out enough to not start. Things I try to do, things I want to do, habits I’d like to get into. I set what feels like a realistic time frame to get certain projects done, while also challenging myself doing things each week. For the first time in a long time, this doesn’t feel overwhelming, but also doesn’t feel like I’m not going to do nothing the first 6-weeks of this new year–which is way too easy to do during these dark, cold weeks of winter. 

So here’s the challenge I’ve created for myself, starting January 1: 

• 30-minute work out 3-4 times each week

• 30-minutes of reading 3 times a week

• Close all 3 Apple watch rings 3 times a week

• Finish the 2 needlepoint projects I’ve started

• Finish the Coursera course I started

• Post on Instagram 6 times

• Post a blog 2 times

All these came from my need for motivation to stop laying around watching TV and/or playing on my phone as well as needing to get into a work-out routine, and track, in an effort to help break through my current weight-loss plateau.  I also think it would feel great to kick start the year strong, and be able to look back and say, “I did that!”

So count this as blog post #1 - I can check one more box off.