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It’s going to happen whether you’re ready for it or not. It doesn’t matter if you go to bed early (transparently, this is current my favorite) or stay up and dance while the clock ticks time away in anticipation (this was my favorite years ago). It’s best to be kind to yourself–be proactive–and focus for 2026.
Have fun and make a plan. It can be a jot-on-a-napkin plan, or an excel spreadsheet with color-coded tabs, or something in between. But as the saying goes, “If you don’t plan on where you’re going, how will you know if you get there?”. Consider these options:
Set a Word for the Year
Is there a theme you’d like to follow? A achievement you want to reach? Chose a word that will remind you of this goal. Using a simple word can help keep you focused.
Control Your Calendar
If you don’t control your time it will control you. Part of our New Years custom to bring in the new year, my husband and I look over the upcoming year and make sure we schedule our priorities. We schedule get-away time together. We loosely schedule time when we want to travel to see friends and family members. If there are play times that we can set up this is the time we do it.
My husband’s a touring bicyclist, so he makes sure to share his scheduled trips with me and I share all speaking events and conferences I plan to attend. It’s a great time to make sure we’re in sync.
Prepare for the “Unprepare-able”
Bumps along our journey are waiting for all of us. We can’t stop what we can’t anticipate. But there are things we can do.
Review diet and sleep patterns. Do these habits need tweaking? Nobody needs to tell us … we know what we’re doing (or not doing). When we’re physically healthy, we’re ability to work our way through is much easier.
Pull close to God. When our souls are at peace, not much can rattle us for long. Consider setting time aside for God. Begin a Bible-reading program. Rough spots along the year will look less chaotic when viewed through a scriptural lens.
When our souls are at peace, not much can rattle us for long. Consider setting time aside for God.
Assess your friendships. God made us relational … we’re meant to be with people. It may sound harsh, but take time to evaluate your relationships. Are there some that zap the strength from you? Who lifts you up? Protect your underbelly of emotions and only allow those who respect and appreciate you into your inner circle.
Take heed. While we make plans, none of us are promised a moment more of time. Scripture tells us:
You who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
James 4:14-15 NIV
Even if our lives are short, we win when we challenge ourselves. Friend, when you wake, before you put your feet on the floor, thank God for the gift of a new day. I learned after brain surgery … after I was given ten days to live .. that I had nothing in on creating a new day. And what a gift it is when we’re allowed to see the sun set.
It's going to happen whether you're ready for it or not. It doesn't matter if you go to bed early or stay up and dance while the clock ticks time away in anticipation. Share on X
Do you feel like you don’t matter? Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.
Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.
Thoughts come spilling out here, typos and all.
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