It’s the final day of the year, and I wasn’t planning on writing another blog post before 2026 rolled in. Setting intentions. To map out what’s coming next with a clarity that only the end of a year can bring.
Spotify drops your year-in-review playlist. YouTube serves up a montage of your most-watched videos. Every platform is basically tapping you on the shoulder saying, “Hey, remember this?”
I’m usually not one to dwell on the past, because I prefer looking forward to what’s ahead, but 2025 hit differently.
The Past: Period
2025 didn’t turn out the way I planned. I came into this year with a set of expectations, a mental roadmap of what I thought would happen. And like most plans, life had other ideas. What actually unfolded was something far more interesting.
The last two months, in particular, feel like a preview of coming attractions. November 29th marked the day I started this blog. A decision that seemed small at the time but has become a daily anchor.
Since then, I’ve managed to publish one post every two days on average, which is exactly the rhythm I was aiming for. Not too aggressive that I’d burn out, but consistent enough to build real momentum.
Reading back through those early posts today, including the ones about resetting my life and laying out my 2026 goals, I thought I’d want to revise half of them or abandon the ideas that seemed too ambitious in the moment.
Instead, I found myself nodding along, thinking, “Yeah, this is still exactly what I want.” If anything, I want to double down and add more to the list.
The Present: What Needs Attention
Today, as I sit here on December 31st, I’m looking at my goals with fresh eyes. And I’m realizing there are some things I can’t keep ignoring. Most of them are personal areas that deserve the same intentional focus I’ve been giving my work.
So here’s what I’m adding to the mix for 2026:
- Pay more attention to my health, especially cutting back on smoking. This one’s been nagging at me. I know what I need to do. It’s time to actually do it.
- Put real effort into physical exercise. Not the “I’ll start next week” kind of effort, but the kind where I block out time, show up, and make it non-negotiable. My body deserves better than what I’ve been giving it.
- Level up my Chinese. I’ve been stuck at the basics, and it’s frustrating. I want to feel comfortable having conversations, or asking where the bathroom is. This means dedicated practice, consistent study, and pushing past the plateau.
Read also: I Finally Started Learning Chinese. Here’s How I Start Learning A New Language.
- Overhaul my office and desk setup. My workspace should energize me, not drain me. It’s time for a reset better organization, better ergonomics, better everything.
- Take digital minimalism to the next level. I’ve started this journey, but there’s more to do. Fewer distractions, more intention, cleaner systems. I want my digital life to support my goals, not sabotage them.
None of these feel like massive asks on their own. But together, they’re going to require discipline.
The key, I think, is tracking. I need to measure what I’m doing.
Not in an obsessive way, but in a way that lets me see patterns, identify what’s working, and course-correct when necessary.
I tried a Notion template for this once, and it became a time sink. I spent more time documenting than doing, which defeated the whole purpose.
And no, I’m not turning this frustration into another app-building project (though the irony isn’t lost on me, given that I’m currently building a note-taking app for language learners).
For now, if I don’t find a better solution, I’ll keep it simple: Apple Notes. Basic habit tracking. Nothing fancy. Just enough to keep me honest.
The Future: 2026
I’m genuinely thrilled about 2026. Not in a naive, kind of way, but in a grounded, “I’ve done the prep work and now it’s time to execute” kind of way.
This feels like a year of transformation. A year where the systems I’ve been building start to pay off.
A year where I deliver the language learning app I’ve been pouring myself into, hopefully with some coaching and consulting work woven in. Maybe even a podcast that actually lands.
If I hit 80% of my goals, I’ll call it a massive win. I’ve spent December laying groundwork, creating what I think of as an “edge” or a head start that puts me in a position to move faster and more effectively than I could have otherwise.
So as this year closes out and we stand on the edge of 2026, I’m feeling ready. Ready to build, to grow, to stumble, to learn, to show up every single day with intention.
And last but not least, to everyone reading this: thank you for being here. Whether you’ve been following along since that first post in November or you just stumbled across this today, I’m grateful you’re part of this journey.
Here’s to a happy new year. Here’s to a strong, purposeful, transformative 2026. Here’s to all of us becoming better versions of ourselves. Not because we have to, but because we chose to.
Let’s make it count. See you on the other side.