New Year, Same You, Better Goals

 #53 1/2/2026


"I never knew words could be so confusing," Milo said.

"Only when you use a lot to say a little," answered Tock. - The Phantom Tollbooth


What would have to happen in 2026 for you to look back on it and consider it a success? Put things into realistic perspective. To achieve something new, you may have to let go of something else you have been doing. If there was an audience watching your life, what would they be yelling at the screen for you to do?


How to Make a Goal Instead of a Flimsy Resolution

For years the most common New Year's resolution that is made is one involving working out and/or losing weight. A noble decision, but one that is usually backed by very little planning or meaning. Having the holidays to reflect on the last year and look forward to the new year does lend itself well to making some new goals; let's do it right. 

Make your goal very specific. I will continue to use weight loss as an example: Exactly how much weight, and at what rate are you planning to lose it? Are you accounting for weight you might gain due to muscle growth? Is there a better metric for you personally to watch? Perhaps your main issue is blood pressure and monitoring that over time is more valuable than the weight on the scale. 

Be realistic. You might have 50 pounds to lose in order to get down to an ideal body weight, but that does not mean it is wise to declare: I want to lose 50 pounds in one year. Odds are it took you more than a year to gain all that excess fat, it may take a while to lose it as well. One to two pounds lost per month is very reasonable and can still amount to losing over 20 pounds in one year. If you lose it this slow and steady the results are also more likely to last. Many have lost weight, it's keeping it off that is the real epidemic.

Make your goal measurable. Weight loss is a more easily measured goal; you step on the scale. Other goals may require more thought in order to measure your success. It does not need to necessarily be recorded, but there should be some way of telling you are getting there. 

If you are working on a new habit, start simple. You could completely rework your weight loss goal to instead be: exercise regularly. This still works toward your weight loss, but now it is a direct activity that can be simplified and specified even more. 'Exercise regularly' can start with: do some kind of activity every day. Then you make it even smaller: 5 squats every time I brush my teeth. Sounds silly, but for anyone who hasn't started, now you are doing 5 more squats than you did before. It's easy to do, attached to a preexisting habit (teeth brushing) and quickly mastered. Now you can upgrade to a little bit more: walk every morning when I wake up. Build upon your small, simple goal rather than staring at an insurmountable 50 pound weight loss that has no light at the end of the tunnel. 


Suggested Rewarding 2026 Goals

  • Walk for 10 minutes after lunch and dinner
  • Fill up a large water bottle every night before bed
  • Keep my phone out of the bedroom
  • No caffeine the first hour of the day
  • Never miss 3 days in a row of exercise
  • Move in the morning
  • Read a few more books than you did last year
  • Fast once a month

January Tiny Challenge: Daily Squat
In the spirit of making it simple, this month's challenge will be to do some kind of squat daily. It does not need to be weighted or even challenging. At some point each day you should find yourself in a squatting position for at least a few seconds or reps, however you see fit that day. This could be a break from the office chair or a moment you bring yourself to your child's height for interrogation purposes. 

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