My Year Of New

Last year towards the end of November, my roommates and I were sitting in our living room. This was a frequent occurrence; however, this time felt different. It was then that it hit me, that the imminent approach of December not only marked when our roommate, who was on exchange, would sadly go home, but it would be a new year. 

She would be leaving the U.S., but so would all of us. For the spring semester, all of my roommates and I would be traveling to a different country for our own study abroad experiences. Leading up to the new year, I was sitting at home, contemplating what I wanted both out of my study abroad and my new year. I realized that what I was really struggling with was being excited.

Ever since high school, I’ve struggled with not being excited for things. At first it was something I would say to myself, such as, hey, anything could happen, and while it could be great, try not to get too excited about it, because you may be let down. However, recently, I’ve found that I have to force myself to look forward to things. Instead of finding myself to be excited for things, the main emotion has been anxiety. While this may seem wildly personal, I believe that it’s something I’ve conditioned myself to do, that I ultimately, can change again. 

Last year, my new year’s article emphasized that because many people abandon their new year’s resolution so quickly after making it, there’s more possible longevity in beginning a goal when you feel ready to. With the new year so close, I found that my resolutions would begin with the start of 2026. Crafting a 2026 bingo card, I believe I set an achievable set of goals for my new year. Here are just a few — in no particular order — that I’m working towards in 2026.

Break a Bad Habit

My bingo sheet is a combination of goals I know I can achieve and some that I will really have to work towards. Breaking a bad habit is fully targeted at my phone usage. I’m on it way too much, and I know that. Since being abroad, it’s still been bad. Moving across the globe did not nip this issue the way I thought it would, but alas, there are many more days in the year to figure this one out.

Visit Six Places in Italy

Italy is heavily connected by accessible trains, making it simple(ish) — my roommates and I almost missed our first train out of Florence — to travel around. We visited Pisa, which seemed to be a very popular destination among other students here. Although some traveled to Paris or London for their first trip, staying local allowed us to have the flexibility to choose how long we wanted to stay. I’ve made it a new goal since going on my first trip to Pisa, to collect postcards in each city. Although I have no intention of sending them — their usual purpose — they’ll serve as a reminder of my trips.

A main component of many of my goals is that there is some space to move within. Goals really don’t work for me when they’re strict, especially when they’re ones I’m making myself. When looking towards the new year, I believe for some it can be counterproductive to try to make everything detailed down to the minute. You have the whole year, use it!

Shoulder Press 35s

For me, fitness goals can be some of the hardest things to hold onto. When work and school become busy, it can be difficult to stick to a regular routine. This year, I’m not aiming for a goal weight or mile time. The one workout I will do if I have time — besides cardio — is upper body movements. I’m already able to shoulder press 20s, which for me is something I have worked up towards. 2026 is the year I will shoulder press 35s, even if it takes until December to achieve. 

Drive at Least Once

Even once is high for me. I strongly dislike driving. Something I love about living on a walkable campus back in Boulder is that I can shut my brain off and just wander around campus. When you’re in a car, you can’t do that. I would say once would be achievable, but I also couldn’t tell you the last time I was behind the wheel. Let’s hope that 2026 is the year Alex learns to love driving. 

Watercolor 7 Landscapes & Journal for More than 50 Days

2026 is the year I come back to my physical reality. In a world where I have to be on my phone frequently, this year I hope to find a balance that I actually maintain. I love painting, creating things, and journaling. This year it’s a significant goal for me to participate in activities that don’t require the use of my phone. Creating thoughtful, purposeful art is something that I want to integrate into my routine. 

12 chapters, 365 pages. 2026 is my year of reinvention and joy. This year, I will and do have things to be excited about. I’m so excited to come back in a year and see how 2026 has changed me. 

• #2026
• #goals
• #new year