„What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.“- Vern McLellan; 2026 New Year’s resolutions
You could almost feel it physically, couldn’t you? That quiet sigh of relief, that feeling of „finally.“ Many waited for 2026 like they were waiting for fresh air after a long dive. 2025 wasn’t a walk in the park for many of us. It was a year full of detours, stumbling blocks, and moments when you didn’t know what to do with yourself.
For some, it was emotionally difficult. For others, professionally. For still others, it was about their health or mental well-being. And no matter what the specific issue was, almost everyone felt at some point that they were giving more than they were getting back.
And yet, here we are.
Not because everything is suddenly perfect. Not because a calendar page changes everything. But because we are ready inside. Ready to take responsibility for our own lives again. Not perfectly, not radically—but honestly.
2026 doesn’t feel like pressure. It feels like possibility. A year in which we don’t have to reinvent everything, but can finally start taking ourselves seriously.
Why New Year's resolutions often fail
– and why that’s perfectly okay
New Year’s resolutions have a bad reputation. Too cheesy, too unrealistic, too ambitious. And yes, that’s often true. We make resolutions in January that no longer fit our lives by July. But the problem isn’t that we set goals. The problem is how we do it. Too much at once. Too little patience. Expectations of ourselves that are too high. We often forget that we’re not machines, but human beings with phases, mood swings, and changes.
And that’s precisely why New Year’s resolutions should be flexible. They should be adaptable. They should be allowed to change. They should even be completely discarded if they no longer resonate. A good resolution doesn’t feel like an obligation. It feels like a gentle guidance. Like an inner compass, not a deadline.
What really works are small changes. Things that fit into everyday life. Things that are doable, even on bad days. It’s not about doing everything perfectly. It’s about starting at all. And then sticking with it – in a kind way. Perhaps that’s the most important thought for 2026: Don’t be harder on yourself. Be more consistent in what’s good for you.
1. Movement that feels good
– and helps your psyche
For many, exercise immediately sounds like an obligation. Like a gym, a training plan, discipline. But movement is so much more than that. It’s not about chasing some ideal body image. It’s about reconnecting with your own body. Strengthening it instead of criticizing it. And at the same time, engaging with your own body. What can I do, what do I want, and what do I need?
Exercise helps clear your mind. Sort out your thoughts. Reduce stress. Sometimes it’s the only moment of the day when you’re truly present. When you’re not thinking about others or work. When you consciously choose to work on yourself. This helps develop willpower and a kind of discipline. Which you need in life.
And no – not everyone wants to become a bodybuilder. But almost everyone wants to feel better. A little fitter. A little stronger. A little more balanced. Maybe it’s yoga in the morning. Maybe a walk after work. Maybe strength training because it feels empowering. Everything counts. Everything is right as long as it makes you feel good.
2. Food that nourishes
– not stresses
Healthy eating is often equated with deprivation. With boring plates, strict rules, and guilt. But it doesn’t have to be. Healthy eating can be fun—yes, I mean that seriously. It can be creative. It can taste good. And it can also leave room for enjoyment.
I personally sought help from a nutritionist on this topic because I felt like I was only allowed to eat the same dishes all the time. She showed me a way to rediscover the joy of eating. And variety at the same time. There are endless possibilities for creating delicious dishes that are also nourishing. New spices, new recipes, new inspiration.
Food is our energy, which we need to achieve our goals, whether it’s for sports or work. Our bodies need to function, and they can only do so if they receive the right ingredients. Personally, beautiful cookbooks, a few new spices, and sometimes simply new kitchen gadgets help me rekindle my enthusiasm for cooking. Eating is not punishment. It’s self-care. And that’s exactly how it should feel.
3. Time for your own goals
– without guilt
How often do we postpone our own desires? How often is there no time left for what we actually want to do? A hobby or a side project isn’t a luxury. It’s a part of us. Something that motivates us, fulfills us, and helps us grow.
Consciously making time for it is a decision. Sitting down, writing things down, planning, researching—even if it’s just an hour a week—makes a huge difference. We strive for more. And we should consciously make time to achieve everything we want. And the best way to do that is with a plan. As an engineer, I know that preparation is by far the most important thing.
A vision board can be incredibly helpful. Not fifty pictures. Ten are perfectly sufficient. Clear. Focused. Ideally, place it where you’ll see it regularly—on your laptop, iPad, or phone background. Not as a burden. But as a reminder of what you’re working towards.
4. Allow more peace
– and quiet in everyday life
We live in a world that is constantly noisy. Everything is fast, everything is visible, everything is comparable. That makes it all the more important to consciously allow ourselves quiet. Not every free minute has to be filled. Not every day has to be productive. Sometimes doing nothing is exactly what we need. A walk without music. An evening without a cell phone. A book that „brings“ nothing but a good feeling.
Quiet also means becoming more aware of ourselves again. Letting thoughts come and go without immediately judging them. Giving ourselves time to feel things instead of pushing them away. Often, the clearest decisions are made precisely in these quiet moments. Quiet is not stagnation. It is regeneration. And without regeneration, there is no true growth.
5. Be more honest with yourself
– you’ll thank yourself for it one day
Perhaps the most important resolution of all: to listen to yourself. To take your own limits seriously. Not to sugarcoat everything, but also not to overthink everything. To accept that desires can change. That you can adjust plans. That you don’t fail just because you take a different path than originally intended.
Being honest with yourself also means letting go of old expectations—your own as well as those of others. Admitting to yourself what is currently too much and what you truly need. This honesty creates clarity, and clarity brings inner peace. You can always make a plan—but sometimes life has other plans. And that’s not failure. That’s growth. A good resolution thrives not only on looking ahead but also on looking back
Finally
– without pressure, without perfection
Take a moment to pause mid-year. Reflect. Ask yourself questions: What have I accomplished? What has changed? What doesn’t feel right anymore? This reflection isn’t judgment. It’s a gift to yourself. It helps you consciously continue on your path—instead of simply carrying on.
2026 doesn’t have to be a perfect year. It just has to be yours. With small steps. With honest decisions. With moments where you encounter yourself—not the version of yourself others expect, but the one you truly are. New Year’s resolutions aren’t a lifelong commitment. They’re an invitation. An invitation to put yourself back at the center.
And perhaps that’s all this year needs from you.
_____________________
RELATED POSTS
_____________________
FIND ME ON INSTAGRAM
