That time of year is rolling around again — the time when we all start fretting about kicking bad habits and transforming ourselves into a perfect, lean, goal-focused machine overnight.
But this year, I want to approach things differently.
Instead of chasing unrealistic New Year’s resolutions, my focus for 2026 is positive motivation. I want to set goals that I genuinely know I will work towards — goals that benefit me as a person — while also taking the time to acknowledge, accept, and work through the inevitable hurdles and setbacks along the way.
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Reflecting on 2025 & Embracing a Fresh Start
This past year has been completely up and down. I’ve definitely felt the weight of the hurdles, and I’m certain I’m not alone in that. However, there have also been positives. Whether it’s due to the development of my frontal lobe or simply reaching that “enough is enough” point, I’m determined not only to set realistic goals for 2026, but to actually reach them.
2025 taught me a lot — mostly that it’s okay to step away, change pace, and come back when you’re ready. Motivation comes and goes, perfection isn’t realistic, and passion doesn’t disappear just because you take a break.
If you’ve ever started something you loved and then drifted away from it, you’ll understand how intimidating it can feel to return. But I’ve realised that restarting doesn’t mean failing — it simply means continuing.
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Why I’m Choosing Intentions Over New Year’s Resolutions
Instead of strict resolutions, I’m focusing on intentions — things that support my life rather than control it.
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Restarting My Lifestyle Blog in 2026
First and foremost (and keeping things topical), one of my main goals for 2026 is to maintain a consistent presence on my blog.
I started this blog last year as a space to share a bit of everything I love: lifestyle, baking, fitness, and the little moments in between. Life got busy, consistency slipped, and the blog quietly sat in the background. But as 2026 begins, I feel ready to pick it back up — this time with intention, consistency, and far less pressure.
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Prioritising My Health & Fitness Journey
Another really important focus for me in 2026 is my health.
I started going to the gym in 2025 and began cutting down on some negative habits, and I genuinely started to feel a difference — not only physically, but in my mental health and self-esteem too.
I drink a lot of caffeine, and I do drink alcohol. While neither is excessive, I want to treat my body with more kindness in 2026. My goal is to gradually cut down, with the eventual aim of mostly eliminating them — while also accepting that I’m allowed to enjoy these things as a treat.
I want to better understand what exercise and nutrition my body needs to feel healthy and strong. With my current knowledge sitting somewhere near zero, I plan to document my journey and share what I learn along the way — hopefully helping others feel more confident in understanding their own bodies and making sustainable changes.
My focus here is progress, not perfection. Setting realistic goals and listening to both my body and mind will be key throughout this process.
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Rediscovering Hobbies & Slower Living
Alongside this self-care and self-improvement journey, one of my biggest goals for 2026 is to refocus on my old hobbies.
We hear it all the time, but reevaluating how much time we spend on our phones — and redirecting that time into hobbies we love — really does make a difference. While I don’t want to deter you from the internet (for very selfish reasons), I do think it’s important to manage screen time and channel our spare moments into creativity and rest.
Some of my favourite hobbies include drawing, colouring, using my Cricut and sewing machine, crocheting, baking, and reading (keep an eye out for my Book Club series this year for recommendations). I always wonder why I don’t prioritise these more, considering how much joy they bring me.
Allowing ourselves space to be creative and embrace slower living can be incredibly beneficial for disconnecting and improving our mental health — and I’ll definitely be sharing more on this throughout the year.
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Creating a Simple, Intentional Home & Lifestyle
Another focus for 2026 is my day-to-day lifestyle.
My partner and I bought a house this year, and in this economy (with a little help, of course), I’m incredibly proud of us for taking such a big step towards our future. Now that we’re settled, I really want to focus on creating a simple, calm, and intentional life within our home.
Decluttering and reorganising is a big part of this. No more hoarding or buying random things I don’t need. I want to sort through old belongings, donate or sell what no longer serves us, and ask myself honestly: Have I used this recently? Do I need this?
Clearer space, clearer mind, clearer life. I’ll be documenting this journey too — with all the little tips and lessons I pick up along the way.
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Financial Goals for 2026: Boujie on a Budget
Feeding into this idea of building a future, one of my 2026 goals is to focus more intentionally on finances.
My partner and I are in a stable position, but without children or dependents, we do tend to splurge — with savings often ending up in the travel pot and disappearing by the end of the year. While I fully believe in living while you’re young, I also have dreams of marriage and children, and unfortunately, they don’t come without a price tag.
In 2026, I want to focus on:
• Cheap but effective alternatives
• Small, realistic ways to save
• A boujie on a budget lifestyle
• Cutting down on those “cheeky takeaways” and “it’s only a couple of quid” purchases
(Any tips are very welcome.)
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Self-Care, Mental Health & Monthly Resets
Finally — and possibly most importantly — I want to focus on me.
I lost a lot of motivation in 2025 and stopped prioritising the things that made me feel good and confident. In 2026, my goal is to do at least one monthly reset — giving myself that “it-girl” feeling again without breaking the bank.
This includes things like doing my nails, face masks, hot baths, looking after my hair, skin, lashes, and eyebrows, and simply taking time for self-care. I’ll be sharing what I learn along the way to create routines that are cost-effective, beneficial, and confidence-boosting — so we can all come out feeling like the goddesses we are.
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Final Thoughts: Progress Over Perfection in the New Year
I want to end this post by emphasising that while all of this may seem daunting, these are my goals — and a year is a very long time.
I’m not striving for perfection by February. I’m simply setting standards for myself to grow, evolve, and find my natural light again. Many of these habits have already existed in my life at some point and made me feel good — I’m just picking the best parts and seeing what I can build from them.
If this post encourages you to reflect on your own goals, then that makes me really happy. And as I bring you along on this journey, remember: everyone’s path looks different. Change begins with intention, determination, and giving yourself the grace to start again.
Happy 2026 🤍
Amy x
