Have you given any thought to your new year resolutions yet?

[PowerPuffGirdle]

I try and take a different approach to resolutions each year.

I sometimes do month-by-month resolutions.
Last year I did 25 in 25 - 25 small things to achieve/do in 2025.

For 2026, I'm thinking of setting myself a few 'big' goals. So far, I've got:

1. Squat my body weight
2. Change hairdresser

Inspire me - what are you planning for 2026?

Recover my reading habit.

@Holluschickie Fabulous - do you have plans for where to start? I mean, what book to start with?

Yes. And as usual., I will not make any!

The teens are going to try and lower their “Spotify age”

I am going to get back on a bicycle for shorter journeys (when weather allows) and just a general more natural exercise (rather than specific classes etc)

I have just begun Babel by R.F Kuang. Old one I never got round to reading. And then I want to begin the new year with Margaret Atwood's memoir.
Used to read a lot but my attention span is declining. I find if I go to a cafe and read away from distractions, I do much better.

Next year is big for me as I’m separated from my husband and will be in my own home soon.

Things I want to do:

Be in charge of my own finances
Make a cosy happy home filled with music and candles and blankets and laughter for the kids
Travel a bit
Pick up my hobbies again and maybe monetise one of them

No, I don’t make any. If you want to make a new habit or break a old one you shouldn’t wait till new years day to do it.

I love these.

I want to get a haircut three times this year. I usually do it only when my hair strangles me when I roll over in bed.

Truthfully, to give less fucks!
I spend far too much time beating myself up over what others feel or think.
I'll also do less of the because society says I have to shit and enjoy life much more.

Stop people pleading...🤗

Pleasing

learn to do the splits, always wanted to but I’m beyond inflexible so I am hoping it’ll push me to stretch more!

If you haven't already, have a look at the "What we're reading" threads on MN - very useful and well-read ladies over there!

This is brilliant. Is it just a case of stretching every day? Do you mind me asking how old you are?

This is lovely. Good luck and power to you!

Oh yes, I often get reccos from there.

I need to lose weight. I’m BMI 28 and have been for a while (last time at a good weight for me was early 2020). Generally I think I don’t look awful and can dress for my shape so mostly when I start a diet I give up after a week or so as I’ve no huge incentive. But my knees are starting to give me trouble (I’m 60) and I think carrying less weight will help me.

I had financial, physical health and mental health goals last year. I aced my financial goals, kept trying with most of my physical health goals, but didn't do enough. And as for the mental health goals, I completely ignored them! I realised I need very specific goals. "Walk more" "loose weight" etc are too nebulous to motivate me
This year I want to improve my physical health and hope that improves mental wellbeing somewhat. Current ideas are to:

Walk everyday. I have a very sedentary job and homelife. 10k steps seems unreachable right now. I'd like to aim for 30 min to an hour walk everyday and be consistent with that

Get stronger. I have a set of weights, I want to use them 3 times a week. I just want to be able to do 3 reps of 10 lifting 15kg

Be able to do a deep squat with my heels on the floor with bare feet. This is more about improving my general flexibility than a particular desire to be able to squat with my heels down, but I need an end point for motivation

Not give up on my healthy eating for more than a day. I refuse to 'diet'. I want to eat sensibly for life. More or less anyway. And this year, generally speaking I hugely improved my diet. But when I have a day where I go off track, I find it very hard to snap back to status quo the next day and I end up eating poorly for weeks. This year, I don't want to allow a day off from being sensible to derail the lifestyle I want

This sounds really positive.

A friend of mine took this 'small goals' approach to exercise last year and it really worked for her. She had her 'base' goals which were 20-minute walk a day and 10 squats every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

But then she added goals each month. I can't remember them exactly. But one month was to go swimming twice. Another month was to try a spin class.

She lost weight but, more importantly, got fit and really started to improve strength.

I’m 45 so not old but not exactly young either, I’ve been looking on you tube actually but yes essentially starting with stretching getting progressively harder… wish me luck!

Not pick my phone up so much. I’ve got headphones, so audible books for walking and reading more physical books.
Try to get fitter, not running or cycling or anything but I’m 62 so very aware of losing mobility as I age.

I find the first couple of weeks of January hard so normally go for Spring or Autumn resolutions. Last year I started mid Jan and lost lot of weight. My life has changed a lot over the last year so I need to think about what is realistic to achieve.

This sounds great! Can I ask, if it’s not too nosey, what your financial goals were and how you completed them? Think I might need something similar myself.

and how did you hugely improve your diet? Another area I need to focus on too!

Already broken mine and that is to stop eating mindlessly!!

congratulations!!! Could I ask what you did? This sounds very inspiring!