Every January comes with a familiar feeling:
the pressure to do more, be better, change everything.
New goals. New habits. New plans.
As if starting the year quietly means you’re already behind.
This year, I’m choosing something different.
Instead of making a list of everything I want to do in 2026, I made a list of what I’m intentionally not doing. And honestly, it felt like exhaling.
What I’m Not Doing This Year
I’m not trying to grow everything at once.
I’m not adding more just because it’s expected.
Not rushing into things to keep up.
Not filling every quiet moment with productivity.
I’m not overcommitting my time.
Not saying yes out of guilt.
Not measuring my days by how much I squeezed into them.
And I’m not letting urgency make my decisions for me.
This didn’t come from burnout.
It came from paying attention.
I realized that a lot of what feels heavy isn’t the work itself—it’s the constant pressure to add more on top of what’s already enough.
What I’m Choosing Instead
I’m choosing steadiness over speed.
Consistency over constant change.
Presence over pressure.
I’m letting things take the time they take.
Letting routines be simple.
Letting days have space in them.
This doesn’t mean I care less—it means I care more about what actually matters.
When there’s less noise, it’s easier to be thoughtful.
When there’s less rushing, it’s easier to notice what’s working.
When there’s less striving, there’s more room to feel grounded.
Why This Matters (For All of Us)
I think a lot of us are tired.
Not just physically, but mentally.
Tired of always optimizing.
Tired of feeling like we should be doing more.
Choosing not to do certain things isn’t about giving up—it’s about choosing where our energy goes.
It’s about making space for:
- Slower mornings
- Clearer boundaries
- More intentional routines
- Small moments of calm
It’s about building a life—and work, and habits—that don’t require constant pushing to maintain.
This Isn’t About Doing Less Perfectly
I want to be clear: I’m not aiming for a “perfectly simple” life.
Some days are still full.
Some weeks still feel messy.
Real life doesn’t suddenly become quiet just because we choose intention.
But there’s a difference between full and frantic.
This year, I’m choosing full—with care.
A Gentle Question for the New Year
If you’re feeling the weight of expectations this January, here’s a question I’ve been sitting with:
What’s one thing you could choose not to do this year that would make things feel lighter?
Not forever.
Not dramatically.
Just enough to create a little breathing room.
Not every season needs to be about growth.
Some are about settling in, refining, and letting what’s already good be enough.
That’s the energy I’m bringing into 2026—and I hope it feels like permission, not pressure.
