End of Year Reflections/2026 Resolutions

We’ve done this the past few years - I figured I’d go ahead and start a thread for those interested.

This is a place to share any reflections (like the chicken is pondering) from 2025 and resolutions or goals for 2026. How did the year go for you? What do you want next year to look like? Are you even a resolutions person?

If you want to look at last year, here was our 2024 reflections thread, and here was our 2025 Resolutions and Goals thread.

I’ll be back to post my reflections and goals later today after I think on them a bit more.

 

[Lilith Ilves]

Ooh YAY I am excited to see how things went and make new resolutions

Spoiler: 2025 resolutions and reflections!

- 2025 WILL BE MY YEAR! (Idc I will have the best year yet, because after 2024 I deserve a good year.)
It in fact was not my year, I got very sick at the start of it which meant missing my first exam and then also a lot of stuff happened in my life that was more or less traumatic, however I made it through so a win is a win!!!
- I want to read 25 books!! I had 24 book goal last year and did 29 so hoping to do better!
I, in fact, did not read 25 books, barely got 15... It's fine I had a lot going on and I was very ambitious with this goal.
- Cutting toxic people from my circle and focusing on myself! It also goes along with the healing one that I want to work on things and heal my inner child and the person I am today!
I SORT OF DID SUCCEED! I did start putting more boundaries and making toxic people less involved in my life! I been protecting my peace to the best of my ability!
- Eat healthier! I want to eat healthier because ngl since having Pneumonia in march I have been running on fumes and constantly just too tired and my eating habits have slipped so i want to fix that!
Nope, it started good then I got super sick and stressed and all down hill with eating habits, especially once grief hit.
- Start working on building back my muscles in some parts of my body!
....didn't start...
- Do more things I like, I have always cut down on doing things I love because I am either too afraid to or feel guilty, but no moreee.
I have done this! I have tried to do more things I enjoy!
- Last and not least do well in my matriculation exams this spring and coming fall! English is my first one and so far I believe I'll do just fine but I still want to succeed!
I meannnnn I passed all of my exams and got 276/299 points on English which gave me an E meaning second best possible grade soooo I did well and am very proud of myself, especially given the place my mental health was at the point of said exams!

For 2026 I want to keep things actually manageable and reasonable! I have a lot of things changing, moving out completely on my own being one of them. So now for my resolutions:

- Cook and bake more
- Read 12 books (one a month isn't too ambitious RIGHT?!)
- Crush the rest of my exams and graduate!
- Start tracking my cycle and be consistent about it to keep up with my health better!
- Find myself again and enjoy the year!

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

I'm definitely keeping reading as a resolution. It's been great getting back to reading regularly, and I exceeded my Goodreads goal last year.

I also want to increase my steps, which can be hard to do in the winter but which I've learned helps me immensely in numerous ways. So I'm going to try to bundle up, throw on a podcast, and get walking more.

I also want to continue developing professionally, which is kind of made easy by being necessary for keeping my license. I just have to find trainings that are both affordable and interesting, which is a more difficult task.

I had another one but can't remember so I'll be back if I remember it!

 

[Sybil St. James]

I'm not a big resolution person and don't think I've ever posted in one of these threads to look back on lol.

But after last year and traveling so much, I really think I let it get the better of me. This year I really want to try and do better on focusing and actually DOING the things I like, whether it's writing or crafting, or bettering myself in general. For example I signed up for a photography class in October when I thought this year I'd be home more, and now there's a work project looming over my head I was tempted to cancel the class in case I had to miss some of the classes, but I've decided to keep it and hope for the best. I've already paid for it so why not

Of course that's all easier said than done when you deal with executive dysfunction of any kind and have a work schedule that tries to make it very hard to live your life lol. But I'm going to try, and that's what counts right?

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Ooh! Mine for 2025 were:

-Start driving lessons
-Cut down on pointless scrolling/youtube
-Go to sleep before midnight on weekdays
-Go for more morning walks

I’d say I did everything except the walks so I’d call that a success!!

This year… hmmm….

-Start therapy (again)
-Pass my driving test… and buy a car
-Develop more confidence at work for my new role
-Prioritise eating well and eating enough

Again, nothing very measurable, but if it worked before, maybe it’ll work again.

Happy new year everyone!!

 

[Amortentia Layton]

I haven't replied to one of these in the past so don't have anything to look back on, but the last few years my goals are usually to simply "Say yes to more opportunities even if nervous" or "Say no to things you don't actually want to do," which works out quite well.

My life changed quite a lot at the end of last year, but definitely for the better. This year is very much finding my own independence and voice without the background noise of other people. Things that others may have done in their 20s or even as a teen, I'm only figuring out what they mean now. I don't really have a goal this year, so much as to just make the most of the time and situation I have right now, because the chance to be where I am is temporary and I want to be able to be more self assured once this changes again.

Oh and I want to start Calisthenics now I don't have surgery to worry about this year

 

[Professor Selene Le Fey]

Looking back on my 2024 feglection and keeping a few quotes.

hmm. I didnt post or record my resolutions for 2024. but i did see a reflection on 2023 i had written that has called that a year of stabilisation and grounding...
so if 2023 was grounding (which is a sort of autumn sounding word), 2024 was lonely (defiantly a winter word). my goal for 2025 is going to be scaling back and building myself back up (a spring phase if you like).

as we don't have a resolutions thread yet i am going to put them here.

1) i am going to take time to look after myself. build myself back up to where i was in the past. and make sure i am not harming myself to look after others. (if that means finding a new GP and booking an appointment today to try and get on top of said mental health then that is it).
2) each month i am going to do at least one activity just for me. and not feel like i am missing out because I don't have someone to do it with (it doesn't mean i have to do said activity on my own. just that i should do it and not wait around for someone to join me)
3) make sure I donate something to charity each month.
4) not leave all my work CPD to the last minute (again)

my 2025 was definatly an improvement on 2024 in regards to my wellbeing. letting go of a lot of the stressers of 2024 has left me the chance to take 2025 to nurture myself and grow. (and grow is definatly a spring word, so does that mean my reflection word for 2026 be bloom?)

as for my resolutions. how did i go
1) yes. I met that one. I went to a GP (who i didnt like) got a mental health refferal. and have been seeing a psychologist. (and also found a different GP who i like) and the psychology sessions have definatly helped.
2) I think i mostly hit though i wasnt keeping tabs on that.
3) absolutely failed.
4) umm. could be better. and should probably unofficially be a resolution again for this year.


when i saw my psychologist this weekend she asked if i had made any resolutions (not that she necesserily believes them to be a good thing) and i said i had. and when she heard them she was like actually they are pretty good ones.

3) Rennovate my kitchen - it has needed doing ever since i moved in but the stress and pressure of all the decisions needed to do that was overwhelming me to make any. but at the end of last year i decided what i wanted to do. and even baught an oven in the boxing day sales.
2) get back into swimming. at the end of last year i went to an open swimming training which was good fun. and i do like swimming it is good for you. and i liked that swim club, so i might join, and i like how it can be a bit of a social in the club. but, unlike basketball and team sports, how you perform is just for you. if i wnt to swim laps at my own pace for fitness, that doesnt impact people who want to beat personal speed records or who are training for a large open water swim. (plus i think i have put on quite a bit of weight this last year or so so swimming should help)
3) bring some whimsy back into my life. there is something with whimsey tht is good for the soul. nospecific frequency or action with this. but you know what whimsy is when yo usee it, a cute outfit, a cup of tea and a book i na park. or a wlak along a river. whimsy is good (this one was definatly liked)

(come to think of it i should also add in a 4) not leave my CPD to the last minute, and to reply messages and pay bills in a timely mannor)

 

[Professor Adorah Zumwalt]

Not me coming back over a week later I needed time to reflect and feel like I'm still kind of reflecting on what I want to do this year.

Last year I talked about getting rid of clutter and my storage unit. I did get rid of the storage unit - the clutter... well, I guess that depends on your definition of clutter. I love little knick-knacks and momentos so they're hard to part with. I also wanted to bake, which I did not do. Lastly, I wanted to post on HNZ more, which I think went okay. It's something I could work on this year, as well.

For this year, I have a lot of things I want to try and do, but they revolve around a few themes:

1. Routine - setting routines for myself, which are helpful for my gremlin brain. I've been doing okay with a night routine but want to get better at a morning and workout routine (and reminding myself that it's okay to miss a day).
2. Community - I have lived where I am now for a few years, and I've yet to really make a community like I had where I previously lived. It's a bigger town, which makes it a bit harder, but I'm taking a tap class and a sewing class, which will hopefully help me meet people.
3. Fun - I'm just trying to have more fun and do more things rather than sitting in my house scrolling. I like Mia's word "whimsy," and feel like that is a good word for what I'm hoping to establish, as well.