To start I would say I'm not someone who has traditionally been big with New Year's Resolutions, but with things going on in my life, the new year this year seems like a good time for me. So I thought it would be interesting to see what many of you all are trying to work on this year. Maybe even give each other some encouragement along the way.

I know for me, between my dad's health failing, some financial pressures due to COL and other unexpected expenses, my own health (being 41 now) kind of not being great this year, and just some general struggles, 2025 was a hard year for me. There were some good moments, including a few good vacations / trips, but overall the year was a struggle. I feel like seeing my hometown be attacked on New Year's Eve to start 2025 just set a bad tone for the year and it kept being one thing after another. Ironically, I truly get the feeling that most of us are glad to see 2025 end.

I know for me, I plan on doing the following in 2026:

- Focus on a whole body approach health wise, including physical, nutrition, mental and spiritual.

- Definitely planning on cutting back alcohol and coke/soda as much as possible. I'm not an alcoholic so it's truly for health purposes. I'm not going to drink at all between now and Mardi Gras. I'll allow myself to drink Mardi Gras weekend, but will then give up alcohol again for Lent until we get in May for summer. If anyone has any recommendations on non-alcoholic THC drinks or seltzers, please feel free to respond with them.

- Working out regularly. I started doing this in 2023 and by and large have been good at it. Had a foot injury in November that sidelined me, just now getting back into working out. Realizing now though I can't outrun a bad diet, which is what I was trying to do. Planning to do intermittent fasting during the week, only eating between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Using some meal replacement shakes like Huel (this was the one recommended to me for meal replacement) for lunch and some protein powders after workouts. Any nutrition recommendations for someone who hasn't been great on that front is definitely appreciated.

- Get right mentally and be more social. Since the pandemic, I lost many of my social groups and have become way too introverted and anti-social. It's definitely caused my social network to shrink. I'm hoping to find a good tennis group as I played until a few years ago. Maybe some other social groups as well like hiking and kayaking, especially to stay active and help with my other goals.

- Get right spiritually. Grew up Catholic but strayed away from religion. Need to talk to someone regarding issues with my dad and his behavior, which has strained my relationship with God. But I want to get back to God this year.

And while I'm at the age where I'm good being alone, sometimes even preferring it, I'm hoping that making these improvements, maybe I'll be able to get back into a relationship. It's been way too long and to be honest, I haven't had sex in years and I think that's also affected me, making me more prone to being depressed, anxious and irritable.

What about you all, any specific New Year's Resolutions? Any goals you all are working towards?

This post was edited on 1/1/26 at 2:26 am