How to reset your life in 2026
Welcome and happy new year! I hope you are feeling refreshed and ready to take on new challenges and opportunities. Here are 5 tips to get started, the slow way.
As I write this, we are now two weeks into 2026 and the air
has started to settle again. Take a moment and notice:
how are you feeling?
Here’s what I hope you’re NOT feeling:
-overwhelmed
-confused
-under pressure
-behind
-like a lost cause
-disappointed
-drained
Yea, that’s not how we want to start 2026…It’s okay to feel these things once in a while, but if you’re in a general state of discontent, let’s do something about it!
While I really encourage ambition and self-improvement, I don’t want to pressure anyone into the grind of goal setting, striving and constantly pushing for more.
Today’s post is more about taking a slow approach. Just because life is fast paced doesn’t mean we need to be.
This post is for you if you are looking to find real meaning in everyday moments rather than in a far-off goal. It’s for you if you want tangible change right now, specially that feeling of a weight lifting off your shoulders. Let’s get started!
Tip 1: Forget what hasn’t worked
I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I look back on all my failed attempts at certain things, I just get down hearted. It’s very possible that if there is something you really want but pursuing it hasn’t worked, you just haven’t tweaked or customised it enough for YOUR particular circumstance.
Example: if you are a night owl but you keep trying to wake up early to work on your side hustle, maybe it’s time to stop fighting the alarm clock. Allocate a couple of nights a week dedicated to doing what you’re passionate about. The rest of the week you can pursue more balance.
Take an honest look at what is preventing you from thriving and let that system, that thing, that person GO.
I know this may not be an overnight thing, but at least be aware of what you’re choosing to move on from this year.
Tip 2: Embrace the uncertainty
Different people will handle uncertainty differently. What do you prefer? How much do you stick to your routine?
Would you be pleased if something completely unexpected happened to change your trajectory, your plans?
So much of the new year buzz is about getting clear on goals and new routines. That’s fine, but going with the flow is also good. Just because some guru says you need to have every minute of your day planned out does not mean that will work for you.
Maybe you really wanted to go to that evening class, but your kids are begging to go to the movies. Class will be there next week…
Maybe you’ve been planning that trip for weeks, but now your partner is sick - time to get cozy at home!
Life is a constant influx, we need to be discerning and weigh up what we thought was going to happen against the beauty of letting other stuff happen.
Tip 3: Identify your “helpers”
Look, I’m sure you could do it all on your own, but why would you? Goal setting is usually a very individual exercise, but the more we get into this crazy modern Internet era, the more I’m convinced we need to come together more often.
I’m positive you could identify at least one person to help you with each of your goals. For example. if you want to fix up your garden, you could enlist your green thumb neighbour. Or if you’re trying to get fit, a friend from the office might be a great gym buddy. Maybe you want to travel more; start following travel bloggers that welcome questions and are happy to give suggestions.
This doesn’t need to be a selfish move, by the way. You are a great asset and blessing to your helpers too! You can exchange skills, schedule accountability or work sessions with each other, share connections and resources, the list goes on.
Tip 4: Find rewards that matter
I’m no psychologist or habit expert, but my experience tells me that when I have a juicy reward at the end of my efforts, it makes the push so much easier.
Yes, I do value doing the work for its own sake. But a lot of times, I have found that if I’m not clear about what’s next, I can’t even take the first step. Of course, having clear goals is a big part of this, but today we are tackling the nitty gritty, aren’t we?
I’m asking…what is keeping you going for the next half hour, hour, two hours? Surely it’s not the goal that will take six months to materialise. We need short term motivators, reminders that we are capable and that what we’re doing is worthwhile.
And the reason I name this step “find rewards that matter”, is because often people reward themselves with, say, a chocolate bar, or a shopping spree. Again, in my own life I have found this doesn’t always hit the spot.
How about mixing it up? Going for a horse ride, or a trip to the op shop to unload those old outfits? Maybe you give your long-time friend a call to update them on what you’ve been up to, or maybe you put an extra $20 in your savings jar.
This is your life and you get to decide what keeps the wheels turning.
Tip 5: schedule more of what your idealised self would do
Have you heard of the concept of our higher self? I’m not into the woo woo side of it, but to put it plainly - if you have a vision of what kind of person you want to be, including how you spend your days, your money, where you live, etc. then it’s time to start acting like that person! It’s not exactly “fake it till you make it” because what I want is for you to seek the actual things you want.
Basically, behave like the person that has already achieved all the things you want to achieve.
Take yourself out for coffee, go for a long walk on Sunday, ask that person out for dinner, get that facial.
I think we think so much of what we want out of life is tied to our income, and that we simply are not allowed to have it as we are. But think again. You are worthy of having these simple pleasures. And if they do require more money, then hey, that’s what time and hard work are for.
I hope these tips have offered you ideas and something a bit different to reset your life in 2026.
If I can leave you with one message, it’s this: don’t be defined by your past patterns. To change your life, you need to change your days, and it’s impossible to do this if you’re busy reliving the ones already gone.
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives”
