Rethinking Goals for 2026

Rethinking Goals for 2026

Last week, I shared some thoughts on goal setting and why thirty day plans work so well. Since then, I have found myself sitting with a much bigger question.

Where do I want to be this time next year?

As I began to explore the answer, a series of quieter but more important questions followed. Who do I need to be to get there? What needs to change? What do I need in place to support those goals? And perhaps most importantly, do I have the right support around me?

Just between you and me, I feel genuinely excited for 2026. Not in an overwhelming, everything is going to change kind of way, but in a grounded and purposeful one. The kind of excitement that comes from clarity rather than pressure. It feels calmer and clearer, much less reactive and so much more intentional.

I have already spent a lot of time reflecting on what went well this year and what didn't, and while there were plenty of things that have gone well and I am incredibly proud of them, there were also some monumental life changes thrown in the mix that hit me like a tonne of bricks. So much so that I could have wallowed for much longer in self pity. However, that is not my style.

What became apparent more than anything is how much I valued the support from family and friends through the tough times, who stuck around and was present, even at my darkest moments. I know now that I don't ever and won't ever want to find myself in that situation again. My energy, my confidence and my focus were severely affected. I realised that having support was a strength, not a weakness. As someone who has always been super independent, this has been a huge shift.

I've learnt (finally) that transformational change comes from where you want to be, rather than where you've come from. So going into 2026 the focus will very much be on the longer term vision rather than short term resolutions or gains.

Goals shaped by the past are often driven by what went wrong or what we are trying to fix. Goals shaped by a future vision are guided by who we want to become and how we want our life to feel.

Holding a longer view

By asking ourselves where we would like to be in 12 months time allows us to hold the vision for longer and gives us the space to break it down into achievable chunks. How to break it down is very personal. For some people quarterly goals work best, for others it may be monthly. I fit into the latter category. It seems more manageable with 30 day plans.

Putting that into perspective, it's more about creating the right mindset, by having clear goals, by surrounding ourselves with the right people, by making consistent progress. When you can see progress being made, however modest, motivation naturally follows. Confidence builds. Momentum grows.

Planning together for 2026

As part of The Accountability Collective, I am so looking forward to be hosting free 30 Day Planning Workshops on the first Tuesday of each month, starting on Tuesday 6 January. Don't get me wrong, this will be as much for me as it will be for you.

These sessions are designed to help you create plans that are yours, just as mine will be for me. Not generic templates. Not someone else’s definition of success. Your goals, shaped by your priorities, your values and your circumstances. The sessions are designed to be reflective, supportive, and practical, with absolutely no pressure to anything more than what is sensible for where you are in your journey.

With gentle check ins, shared intentions and plenty of encouragement, you will be leaving with clarity around what you are focusing on for the next thirty days, and the confidence that your plans are realistic and, if it is appropriate, aligned with where you want to be by the end of 2026.

By being part of the Collective, we will both have ongoing accountability, surrounded by a supportive, like minded community who will help us stay on track long after the workshop ends.

If you are approaching 2026 with a sense that something needs to shift, but you are not quite sure where to start, this may be the space you have been looking for. If you allowed yourself to plan from where you want to be, rather than where you have been, what might change?

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For more information and to register for the 30 Day Planning worklshos please visit.www.ingridvanderweide.com/30-day-plans