Strategies to Make 2026 a Success

Megan DiMaria
2 hours ago
3 min read

Happy New Year(ish)!

The beginning of a new year is exciting, when resolutions kick in. Folks talk about the new diets they're starting, the improved sleep habits they're adopting, and the fitness goals they've set for the year.

Those aren't bad goals. We should strive to live a healthier lifestyle—eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep. But to be successful, you need to have a strategy to tackle the coming year.

Strategies for a successful year:

This year, be intentional about enjoying a new beginning. Look for the good and grab hold. Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18–19
Start your day with gratitude. I do this. My first thought each morning is to greet God and thank Him for another day. I ask God to get inside my head before any distractions steal my peace.
Read your Bible. Pray. It sets your perspective for the day. There are plenty of different Bible reading plans. YouVersion is a Bible app that has plenty of different kinds of encouraging and enlightening studies. I like a Bible study book that I can hold in my hands and make notes in.
Reach out. This year, take the initiative to cultivate some new friendships. There's almost always someone who seems nice, but you're both so busy. Step out and commit to a coffee date. Get to know a casual friend. Just do it!
Join a book club, it will force you to do a bit more reading and might introduce you to some topics you'd never considered.
Be mindful of the shows and movies you watch. I am someone who loves to enter the fictional dream, but I can't consume a video diet of only very serious or tragic shows. I need something light on occasion. There's a popular show that streams on TV. Several of my friends watch it. It's funny. I watched a few episodes, but the main character can't seem to complete a thought without tossing out an F-bomb. I can't take that. I choose to avoid vulgar language. I know that it will bother me. So, I removed it from my watch list. Protect your peace by being selective about your viewing habits.
Listen to music that will thrill your soul. It's fun to listen to the music of your youth (yay! for 70s songs), but consider also listening to some praise music. I listen while I'm cleaning my house. After a few minutes, I feel like I'm glowing from the inside out.
Avoid spending too much time on social media. I'm sure I don't have to trot out the reasons. The past year has been particularly trying for sensitive folks. People are allowed their own opinions, but if they express them without respect for others, you can mute, hide, or block them. Also, understand that what you see on social media isn't necessarily reality. It's the highlight reel from people's reality.
Get moving, and don't stop. Select an exercise regimen and keep to it. My latest exercise program is to bounce on a rebounder, which is one of those tiny trampolines. I find fun 10-15 minute routines. I used to walk on a treadmill, and sometimes use it, but I've learned that a shorter amount of time on a rebounder is equal to a half hour or more walking.
Guard your mind and your heart in 2026. Remember that feelings can be unreliable. Avoid thinking in extremes, and ask Him for wisdom in emotional situations.