It’s that time of year. Having looked back at my progress in 2025, I’m ready to set some goals and aspirations for 2026. Some build on last year’s goals, some are new.
Sew more
Having rediscovered my love of sewing in late 2025, I want to sew more in 2026 and more fully embrace slow fashion. I am forever on a quest to cull the clothing I have, and it seems like despite major culls every year, sometimes twice a year, I still have drawers and cupboards stuffed to overflowing.
So much of what I have doesn’t get worn. It doesn’t fit quite right, the fabric is a bit uncomfortable, it’s not exactly my style, or sometimes I’m not even sure why I don’t wear it. So this year, I’ll be on a quest to sew clothing that fits me properly, in styles and patterns and colours that aren’t just ‘close enough’ (‘close enough’ almost invariably ends up in the ‘rarely worn’ pile) but are instead fabrics and prints I genuinely love and want to wear. I’m expecting that culling will happen more effectively when I have clothes I truly enjoy. I won’t hold on to clothing that isn’t quite right in case I want to wear it again, because I’ll have pieces that are actually, exactly right.
Also, sewing is meditative and creative and makes me feel successful and competent. I take great pleasure in straight seams, neat buttonholes, and smooth inset sleeves. There are times when I have to rely on hand basting to make joins work and slowing down and working by hand is good for me.
Orchestra
Last year I aimed to play viola in two concerts. I played in three – two with the Queensland Medical Orchestra and one with Indooroopilly Chamber Orchestra. In 2026, I am aiming to play in three concerts again. This time, my goal is to play viola in two and sing with the QMO choir in one.
Visit the library
Getting a library card in 2025 was an excellent decision, and I want to keep that going this year. After converting almost entirely to ebooks over the past decade, I’m appreciating reading paper books again for some of my reading. I also like the process of finding new books at the library, just browsing randomly and seeing what’s there. If it looks interesting I can borrow it, if I don’t like it, no biggie. It’s quite different to browsing an online bookstore. Having return dates on books is also good for prompting me to pick up that book and finish it, as well as providing a reason to pop back into the library periodically.
I will keep reading on my Kindle too. I want to buy books from authors I enjoy and I also like the convenience of being able to pull out my phone and continue reading if I haven’t brought a book with me.
Observe seasonal festivals
This one is building on my 2025 goal of observing the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter festivals. I like that I’m feeling more in touch with the cycle of the seasons and where we’re up to in the natural year. This year I would like to make a habit of checking in on my progress and wellbeing every six to seven weeks, using the festivals as check in points, and resetting or redirecting my goals as needed. I think this can also tie in to my next goal, which is:
Do a pull up
Pretty much every year I aim to reset my fitness and wellbeing goals and I do so with more or less success each time, and that’s okay. I’m in a different place this year, with my studies complete for now. My goal is to work on my functional fitness at the gym regularly with the aim of supporting me to work safely as a registered nurse. My one concrete goal for 2026, and I have a whole year to get there, is to do an unassisted pull up.
About ten years ago, I was able to do two or three pull ups, so I know it’s something I can achieve. Back then I did underhand pull ups, so my lovely strong biceps did a good part of the work at lifting my body off the ground and getting my chin over the bar. This year, I’m aiming to do an overhand pull up, making my lats and other back muscles do the work to get good and strong and capable. Just one. If I do more that’s great, and as I remember things once you can do the first pull up, the second and third tend to come a bit more quickly. But a single pull up will be a massive achievement.
Achieving a pull up is a multifaceted goal. Body recomposition is part of the process, and I will be continuing to use GLP-1 medication to help support my progress. As boring as I find it, I imagine there will eventually also be some running involved too. Getting my core, shoulders, back and grip strong enough to do a pull up will mean big compound lifts (the kind I like) on the regular. So there will be plenty of squats, deadlifts, and bench presses this year.
I’m still keen to find a ballet class again or return to 2ballerinas, again to support my strength and conditioning. It’s probably lower on my list for the moment, but when I do my seasonal check-ins every six weeks or so, I can decide whether it’s time to prioritise ballet classes.
Nursing
Having achieved my 2025 goal to graduate from my nursing degree, 2026 is all about getting an RN job and putting it all into practice. I’m currently waitlisted for a graduate program at my preferred hospital, which should mean I’ll be allocated a position some time this year. But I am not comfortable just waiting around for that to happen. I have signed up with a nursing agency and am currently working as an agency Assistant in Nursing, with a view to transitioning to RN shifts once I complete their requisite AIN hours. So one way or another, I aim to be working regularly as an RN in the first half of 2026.
Wear lipstick
I used to wear bright red or pink lippy for all my nursing shifts. I think it helps improve communication (I cannot back this up with research, but I think it’s true), and I know that some of my older patients particularly think it’s cheerful. I think that’s worth 15-20 seconds to swipe on some colour before I start my shift, so my goal is to do that for every shift possible.
Moisturise
This is just a habit I need to develop. I am now of an age, and my skin is drying out. As a nurse, I know how important emollients are to keep skin in good nick, so I need to practice what I preach. Also I have spent a lot of money on these tattoos, so I want to keep them looking schmick.
So that’s my plan for 2026. My next check in will be around Lunasagh on 1 February.