10 For 2026

Another year, another list.

I know it seems passe to care about New Year's Resolutions and the like these days, as no one keeps them, but I like this format. I get romantic about the possibility of 365 more days to do something different. To try and be better. To move the needle forward on whatever it is that is important to you.

Here's the 2026 Edition: 

1. A completed, working draft of Book 4 by the end of the year. I've got 40K words and it's time to figure out what to do with them. It needs a restructure. I know how it ends. I sort of thought I knew how it begins, but that might be changing, and I need to figure out the rest in between. 

2. Built-in bookshelves! (Also: fix the gutter, fix the window, privacy strips for the fence, get new doors hung in the back hallway, fix the van bumper.)

3. Being Present: I know that's a buzzword these days, but I want to unpack it a little bit. I want to get into the habit of putting my phone down rather than having it with me at all times, so I reflexively scroll. I want to read more physical books and work on having fewer screens-- not just for me, but for the kids. I want to intentionally use my PTO/Sick Time when necessary so I can actually have a work/life balance and not just talk about it. I don't know how exactly I'm going to quantify this, but I'm going to try it and see. 

4. Declutter and purge! (We've been doing a lot of this already, but I want to continue to do so.)

5. The Random Grab-Bag Resolution: I want to get a t-shirt blanket made, I have a beautiful map downstairs, and I want to find something to do with it. I've got a wood-burning kit I've never used. I want to do some wood-burning this year. And before I do the thing that every male in his 40s does and get a smoker, I want to try and do some smoking with my Weber grill just to see if it's something I can get into in a real way. 

6. Health: The old chestnut, but expanded to include mental health, physical health, and making sure I'm hitting those 10K steps whenever I can. Be nice if I could end the year smaller than I started it, but I think that's step two. Step one is to integrate exercise and physical activity, and stand wherever I can, so that it becomes a habit. Specific action items: addressing sleep apnea (a CPAP is being ordered), visiting either a chiropractor or a massage therapist to work out the hip, and establishing a stretching routine to reduce daily stiffness. 

7. MISOGI TIME: I had to think about this a bit, but decided on the Manitou Incline. I'm going to have to get myself in better shape than I am now before attempting, and I considered things closer to home (like maybe RAGBRAI), but one of my goals is to summit a 14er or a verifiable mountain of some kind, and I feel like this would be a good way to start. I also think the logistics of getting myself to Colorado for a few days in 2026 have a higher potential to be accomplished than, say, taking off for a week somewhere else. A key part of this challenge is: getting myself in shape AND THEN attempting. Not gonna drive out there right now and take a crack at it, because I don't think that will end well. 

8. Duolingo: The circle has returned around to Portuguese! 2026 will be my year of Portuguese and I'm hoping to get to a 1700-day streak on Duolingo for the year. 

9. Reading: I didn't hit 40 on my Goodreads for 2024, so I think I'm going to take another run at 40 this year. Here's the Official TBR List for 2026 if you want to follow along.

10. The Annual Control Resolution: Have A List of New Year's Resolutions! (Thus, ensuring that I'm not a complete failure at this!)

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