In the past, I’ve written about why New Year’s resolutions suck and why S.M.A.R.T. goals don’t in this blog post. Additionally, I was breaking everything down into monthly, bite-sized pieces, but it felt way too time-consuming and redundant. So, this year, I’m sticking to a straightforward yearly list. This list is in no particular order.
I’m also leaning into flexibility—if the last few years taught me anything, it’s that plans can change in a heartbeat. I’m leaving out the stuff I can’t control, like doctor visits, social worker paperwork, clinic back-and-forth, and all the travel and costs that come with embryo adoption. I’m praying that this will finally be our year. *Sigh* It’s been a long road, so I’m trying to stay grounded and just take things as they come. Let’s get started, shall we?
My 2026 Game Plan: The Full List
1. Be able to hoop in both directions with ease. I’m getting better with this and want to do this with and without shoes.
2. Hula hoop every day that I’m not working. I’ve actually been doing great with this so far, but I don’t want to jinx it! Basically, if I miss a day, I just do a double session on my next day off.
3. Upgrade my hula hoop to a fancy HDPE or a polypro hoop. My current basic HDPE one works fine, but it’s definitely not fancy. Also, I’ve realized how much I actually hate my first DIY weighted hoop—it weighs a ton! If you’re curious about what I’m talking about, you can check out The Hoopologie Guide.
4. Lose the excess post-pregnancy weight and winter weight. I still have about 25 lbs to go, and honestly, I’ve struggled to drop the baby weight after both pregnancies. At least I’m finally doing something about it this year!
5. Buy some new clothes for the Singapore trip. We’re going on a trip near the end of March, and I’m also hoping to fit back into some old favorites that are still a bit tight.
6. Fit into my jeans from 2018. This totally ties into my last goal. I’d be so happy if I could at least fit into these again!
7. Upload one blog post a week, or at least aim for 3–4 posts a month. I really want to be more consistent with this since it’s so easy to let blogging slide when life gets busy.
8. Goal to cash out again on Redbubble at least once in 2026. Actually, I already hit this goal yesterday! ✔️
9. Goal to cash out at least once on Medium. I’ve been stuck at $4.00, and the minimum payout is $10. I haven’t been very active lately, but I’d love to change that. If you use Medium too, please give me a follow—I follow back! @sereneluna
10. Learn to be happy without spending money. I want to stop online shopping just because I’m bored or trying to fill a void. I actually stopped collecting things for this exact reason. I know I have a bad Temu habit—especially at 2:00 AM—but I’m trying to be way more mindful about it.
11. Use up my makeup and hair products before buying more. I’m planning to finish what I’ve got first and just learn to manage with what’s already in my stash. Honestly, I just have way too much stuff right now.
12. Take a “spiritual enlightenment” trip once a month. I’m recording these dates in my calendar because I want to stay consistent. I started off strong in October 2025, but honestly, it’s gotten way harder with the kids around. I really need a day of zero responsibilities and have someone around to make these “solo” therapy sessions work.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ꜱᴏ ꜰᴀʀ:
🍄 Oct 8, 2025
🍄 Oct 20, 2025
🍄 Oct 31, 2025
🍄 Dec 11, 2025
🍄 Jan 15, 2026
🍄 Feb (Pending…) ✨
13. Make more of my own capsules for microdosing. I plan on using the specific varieties I have on hand—I just need to set aside a day to actually blend and prep them. I’ve already got my empty #00 and #0 gel caps ready to go. Years ago, I made “weight loss” supplements from Pinterest using various spices from my kitchen, so I’m definitely no stranger to making my own supplements. 😝💊
14. Learn to be happy with drinking water. Instead of soda water, tea etc. because it’s getting expensive, I want to buy some lemons or limes to flavor water. Even lemons and limes are expensive, but I buy 1 at a time and they last a long time. 🍋💦
15. Replace my broken Nalgene water bottle. If not, I guess I’ll have to get used to using the Stanley cup I already have. TBH, I still prefer the Nalgene.
16. Finish using the Cirkl cartridges and don’t buy any more. I haven’t touched them in months and honestly don’t care for the brand—it’s a very overrated water bottle, in my opinion.
17. Finish the art projects I have already started. I’m currently working on the diamond painting feathers. Just to clarify, I’m not doing these for Becca; she actually has the same diamond feather set that I do!
18. Start treating my body better. I want to go to bed at a decent time, get enough sleep, and drink plenty of water. I also want to read more books and journal more often. It’s all about the fundamentals, yenno?
19. Finish my lucky paper star jars. I’ve done one out of six so far. Once I’m through with those last two diamond painting feathers, I can move on to the paper stars for teacher gifts. It’ll probably take me several months to finish them all! ⭐️
20. Finish reading 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson. I still haven’t finished it because reading always makes me so sleepy. It’s definitely a goal to finally finish reading the book this year.
21. Finish transferring my iPhone photos to the computer and then delete them. I have a hard time deleting photos, but I need to make more storage space. I have a ton of digital clutter that needs to be dealt with. 👩💻
22. Organize my work binder and catch up on my reflections and work goals. These are due by September 30, 2026, so I have some time to get everything in order.
23. Get a pedicure this summer, maybe for my birthday. I recently got one and really liked it. I guess this is more of a bucket list goal, but I’m counting it!
24. Learn how to braid hair. I’m terrible at it, but I really wish I could learn. Or maybe my husband can learn how to braid it for me instead.
(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS
I think my goals for 2026 are quite reasonable and realistic. Instead of overcomplicating things, I’ve focused on what I can actually handle while leaving room for the unexpected. Having this list written down feels like a great way to keep myself accountable, and I’m looking forward to seeing how much I can check off by the end of the year.
Do we share any similar goals? What are your goals for 2026? Do you believe in New Year’s resolutions, or do you think they’re a waste of time too? Let me know in the comments section below ↓ I’ll do my best to reply to everyone.
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Thanks for stopping by! ♥
I’m getting a copper water bottle. Seems they maybe better. Besides they look cool.
That sounds like a great choice! Copper bottles definitely look cool and I’ve heard they have some awesome benefits too.
This a one of my favorite sets of goals I’ve seen. Everything is fairly simple, but health and wellness are so important. I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts for the embryo adoption… I’m hoping this is your year! 💖
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Erin. To be honest, it’s been a real struggle lately and I’m feeling pretty defeated. It’s so emotionally exhausting when it feels like everyone around me is either pregnant or having baby #2, 3, 4, and I’m just over here wondering when it will finally be our turn. *Sigh*
I really appreciate you keeping us in your thoughts for the embryo adoption—I’m truly hoping this is our year. 🤞❄️ Your support means the world to me while I try to stay hopeful through all of this. 💖
I completely understand how you’re feeling—I’m in a very similar place right now. It seems like everywhere I look, people are getting pregnant so easily (and sometimes even unexpectedly), and it can be really tough to stay hopeful when it feels like we’re still waiting for our turn. You’ll definitely be in my thoughts, and I’m really hoping this is the year for both of us. 💛
I really appreciate the support! It’s definitely a tough season, and I’ve found myself trying to stay off social media and avoiding baby announcements to protect my peace of mind. Sending you so much love and hoping for the best for both of us this year. 💛
I think this might be the first time I’ve ever seen your face 🙂. Reading heavy materials can sometimes make me sleepy as well. Plus, self improvement stuff can sometimes just be quite challenging. I think it would do us all some good to just come out and admit that openly. My own self improvement study has been coming out in fits and starts, it’s not this consistent thing that I wish it was. Life and moods get in the way.
Yenno, it’s funny that you say that. I actually have shared a couple of pics of myself on the blog before, but it’s very rare when I do . I also completely relate to getting sleepy while reading heavy materials; this is probably why I rarely read books anymore. I think you’re right that we should all just be more open about how challenging this stuff actually is, especially when it comes to mental health and self-help.
These are pretty cool and straightforward goals! All the best with everything. I can’t hula hoop at all 😅 I used to own one and was terrible at it. I’d like to hear more about your microdosing experience and tips, so perhaps that’s an idea for a blog post as you work on consistency 🙂
Thank you, Rochelle! 🙂 I’d love to write more about microdosing. Tbh it’s been a total game-changer for my health by keeping my ocular migraines and auras at a minimum. I was actually taking >1000mg Tylenol every day and have finally managed to quit!
With my nursing background, I feel knowledgeable enough to handle this unconventional plant medicine. I’ve been experimenting to find my “sweet spot” and can share more tips in a future blog post, especially since readers seem interested in this topic! 🧘♀️🍄🌿
Wishing you best of luck with your goals! I think they’re all realistic and quite doable which is great. I think the major mistake people make is that they have really unrealistic or farfetched goals and get disappointed when things don’t work out.
Absolutely agree, Pooja! Often, I notice if they aren’t S.M.A.R.T. goal-related in nature, New Year’s resolutions and goals in general tend to be too vague. It’s hard to gauge how to achieve a goal if it’s not defined.
Yup, absolutely and breaking them into small steps you can do monthly helps so much too!