Reflections and Plans for 2026

The year of 2025 held major physical and mental transitions. I gained a new medical diagnosis, changed my job, and moved house 150+ miles away. It was 100% the right move for me to do, but it definitely had a lot of transitional adjustment time to settle into this new life.

I was clear that 2025 was not going to have a major focus on my writing, and I can confirm reading and writing took a proper rest this year (I wrote1,448 words of fiction), and I’m trying to be okay with that because of everything else that took priority.

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Reflecting on 2025: Exhale.

I didn’t measure things per week as I set them out, but I’ll comment on the overall trends.

Inhale. (Practical Steps) – 1.5 / 2 completed
* Declutter / Explore Options to Move – I downsized and decluttered many items, and continue to work towards simplifying my space.
I also moved house. so I’m out of that mouldy flat and feel I can tick this goal off as I hoped to achieve it. Tick!
* Complete Courses (EJL1, Core100, NP) – I completed EJL1, and an AET course, and then in September, began a PCGE. I did make some progress on Core100, but again, this got put on the back-burner when courses which were time-bound came up.  Half-Tick!

Pause. (Grounding) – 1.5 / 3 completed
* Meditate for a minimum of 3 minutes each time – I have found some mindfulness practises which I am integrating into my day, although this is only half-done.
* Rest night (read/write fiction or watch Youtube/Twitch) – I did this before I moved house, and have managed to adjust it to have at least one night a fortnight where I can ‘rest’ with gaming, a bath, or novel-planning. I wrote 1448 words of fiction across 2025 – keeping writing as a routine I continue to return back to. Half-Tick!
* Skincare routine AM and PM – I have got this down almost 100% of the time, with only the odd day I miss one part of my routine. Tick! 

Express. (Physical Health) – 1.5 / 3 completed.
* Move my body (Staff, Shivanata, Archery, Yoga, Walk, NFA.) – This has had ups and downs. In December I’ve got back into a routine of 2x a week, but this needs to be a priority for 2026.
* Continue Intermittent Fasting (16 hours.) – Tick! 327/365 days I made 16 hours. On 108/365 days, I surpassed 18 hours of fasting.
* Eat only healthy breakfasts (No junk before midday.) – Outside of holidays where chocolate for breakfast is easy to fall into, I’ve managed this while at home. I do struggle with managing my brunch at work, especially when I consider some of my cereal bars and snack options as including too much sugar to be considered ‘healthy’. So, half-tick.

Speak Up & Sing. (Creativity) – 1 / 2 completed
* Connect with people (Patreon/Podcast/Newsletter.) – This had ups and downs as my consistency amidst moving house and changing jobs and healthcare shifted my priorities again. I want to really plan out what feels doable for 2026 around these aspects.
* Commune with Friends and/or Nature – I did make it to a few Druid celebrations and I’m connecting with friends fairly well considering the new level of distance. Tick!

Stretch Goals: *ignores these*
* Eat only healthy lunches.
* Rest Nights a week.
* Work on OBDO course.

That’s 5.5/10 for my 2025 goals.
Not as high as last year’s 68% completion, but considering the year I had, I think I’m okay with this.

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The Year’s TA-DA List:

Publications This Year:

• I published 1 Medium article in 2025 on Our Ability for Growth and Adaptation.
• I wrote 5 newsletters, which you can sign-up to here.
• I wrote 10 posts on my Patreon, 7 of which you can access with a free membership.
• I published 4 videos on my Youtube channel, and recorded 4 episodes of the new series of the Podcast [on hold until Summer 2026.]

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Planning for 2026

My word for 2026 is “intention,” and this means 4 main practices: intentional movement, nutrition, pauses, and creative projects.

Physical Movement. 
*2x a week – Physical Movement. (Staff, Yoga, Pilates, Dance VR, NFA, Walk) Aiming to build up to 3x a week.
*Daily – Track pain-medication and use of aids to look for patterns.

Nutrition.
*Daily – Continue Intermittent Fasting (16 / 17 hours.)
*5x a week – No junk before midday.

Pause.
*Daily – Breathwork Exercise (cut down the noise).
*1x a week – Slow Living: Read / Watch YT Subscriptions

Creative Projects.
* 1x a week – Writing practise (Patreon / Newsletter / Fiction)
* 1x a week – Spiritual practice (tarot, runes, meditation, ritual, craft)

I should probably add the goal of “complete Teacher Training” somewhere in there too!

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How did 2025 shape up for you?

Do you have any guiding ideas for your 2026?