2026 goals
In 2026 I'd like to be better at goal setting. Every December, I jot down resolutions like "read more" or "go on walks" while having grandiose visions of the New and Improved Me only to give up/forget/move onto other things by February or March. This flightiness doesn't happen because I'm lazy per se (although that's true too), but because I'm listening to other people's goals and neglecting what I know about my own lived experience while I mindlessly copy them.
Goal setting shouldn't result in guilt/shame by the end of the year. Realistic goals are based on what I actually want, not what I think everyone else thinks I should want. Realistic goals are not performative; achieveable goals are stubborn and grounded in self-knowledge.
I was watching (or reading?) something recently that completely changed my perception of to-do lists. To-do lists stress me out, because they typically include things I do not want to do. The author of this video (or of this text? lol it's funny how memory works) talked about how documenting things you do on a daily basis gives you a visual confirmation of your ability to do difficult things. This visual reference builds self-confidence as a result.
It's funny how an idea can seem so deep and impactful, and then just plain obvious when you think about it more. Anyway, what I'm saying is, if you flossed today, write it down. My new year's resolution is to set goals that instill confidence.