My New Year’s Edit: What Stays For 2026 and What Goes From 2025

December 30, 2025

Happy New Year! I hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday season. A new year can bring forth a lot of feelings – It’s exciting and a bit intimidating. While a new year is a good opportunity for a new start, remember that it’s also just a date. You don’t have to have everything figured out by December 31st in order to have a great year.

Resolutions aren’t really my thing. I just try to grow with whatever season of life I’m in and work to become a better version of who I am. I learned many lessons in 2025 and I’m sharing what I want and don’t want to bring into the New Year.

Regardless of your stance on resolutions, there’s something powerful about a fresh beginning. If any of this resonates with you, I hope you feel inspired to make your own changes for the year ahead.

What Stays:

Slow Mornings
- I’ve loved my slow mornings with my kids this year. I really gave into the un-routined routine if you know what I mean. I still have my non-negotiables, but for the most part, I’ve given in to not having it all together at the top of the day. I find this is better for my nervous system than constantly stressing about what’s next. There’s been nothing I love more than to sit on my couch with a slightly lukewarm coffee playing with my babies. Puzzles have been our go to!

Short But Effective Workouts
- Being a mama to two toddlers means I have to plan my time wisely. I know I need to get movement in daily, but I also know I don’t always have an hour to do it. I’ve been loving 15-20 minute workouts on either the Melissa Wood Health or Form apps. I also just bought a walking pad to make movement more convenient. This is the one I purchased, and I’ve been loving it so far!
Reading
- I LOVE to read. I read before bed and it has truly enhanced my falling asleep process. I’m not looking at a TV or phone right before trying to shut my brain off for the night, so I’ve been falling asleep instantly. I use the Kindle Paperwhite and turn it on dark mode for nighttime reading. If you’re trying to get into reading, I recommend the Kindle. I know people love the feel and smell of books, but the Kindle is small and stores several books at once. Another perk is that if you share a bed, you can read in the dark without needing a lamp.
Cooking At Home
- In 2025, I tried so many new dinner recipes that ended up being staples in our home. I get most if not all my recipes from Tieghan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest. One of my favorites is her Browned Sage Butter Chicken Pot Pie. I will definitely be purchasing more of her cook books to try in 2026! It’s also nice to know what’s in your food. When you cook at home, everything is in your control and you can make the best choices for your family.
Getting Outside
- Being outside fills my soul. Even in the winter, you better believe I’m taking my dog on a long walk at least a couple times a week. Being outside is SO good for you. Sunlight boosts your Vitamin D, you don’t have access to a screen, you become more in tune with your circadian rhythm, you hear and see nature, the list is endless! Even if you take a short 5 minute walk around your block, I believe you’ll notice a difference.

What Goes:

Spending Too Much Time On My Phone
- This is probably a common one for most people. As a SAHM, I go on my phone to stay connected with the world. However, I can’t do two things at once. If I’m on my phone, I’m useless to anyone and anything around me. Obviously this isn’t conducive to having kids, so in the New Year, I’m making it a goal to be on my phone less. If I want to scroll Instagram or TikTok, I can do it during naptime or if they’re doing independent activities. There is nothing on my stupid phone that’s more important than my children getting all of me when we’re together.
Financial Irresponsibility
- This is a big yikes for me. I’m not bad with money per se, but I’m definitely not great with it. I’m going to try to be more conscious with what I spend my money on. I’m not saying don’t treat yourself, because I truly don’t have a problem doing that. However, I do have a problem being able to justify each purchase by saying “I deserve this.” My goal is to have a better relationship with money in 2026.
Doing Things Just To Please Others
- I’m not typically a people pleaser, but there have been times where I really don’t want to do something and I end up doing it anyway because I’m getting persuaded. I’ve learned that no one has to live in your body but you. If you are truly don’t want to do something, don’t just do it because it’s the easier route. You will have so much more self-growth once you’re comfortable with saying no. I’m still working on this!
Carrying Responsibility That Isn’t Mine
- I can take on other people’s feelings and problems as if they are my own. I’m not saying this as some compliment to myself – Rather than doing much about it, I mostly just carry the anxiety around. Not everything is our responsibility, even if it affects those we care about. We don’t need to hold guilt that wasn’t ours to begin with.
Doubting Myself As A Good Mom
- This is probably the most important point for me. I’m constantly wondering if I’m making the right decisions for my children. Some days I hit my limits and I yell, or I have no energy and we lay around a lot. But even on those tough days, I make certain my kids know how much I love them. We have dance parties, we bake, we build forts, we read endless amounts of books, we snuggle. The way I love those babies is something fierce and if that’s not enough to be a good mom, I have no clue what a “good mom” actually is. If you feel this way, just know you’re not alone. We’re all doing amazing, mamas <3