Last week, I passed my PMP certification exam. This was my biggest goal from 2025, and I’m so relieved and excited to have that under my belt. Last year (hopefully) was the end of a tumultuous couple retrograde years and I’m happy to put it all in the rear view with something tangible to show for it.

Now that I’m out from underneath the studying, I’m faced with a million different TikToks of young 20-somethings figuring out planners and annual productivity goals for the first time…

Word of the Year – Genuine

I was a little taken aback seeing semi-influencers talk about “planning more whimsy into their lives” or “planning on being more interesting in 2026” by reading obscure literature. I love a good spreadsheet, but I don’t see how recording hundreds of data points on daily stress levels or mood tracking and making a dashboard is going to help you feel more fulfilled. I also am not a fan of slogging through a subversive book just to say that you’re cultured. If anything, that approach feels performative and just makes more work for you to keep up with.

I think that everyone has things/hobbies/subjects that they are genuinely into. YOU ARE ALREADY INTERESTING IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I don’t think that you need to add more hobbies, or more outings, or just more stuff in general. Make time for things you already genuinely like and are interested in. Lean into things, make time for things, don’t be embarrassed about things you already nerd out for. You don’t have to be the best or the most passionate about something to find enjoyment in it.

With my kids, we’ve been encouraging them to get into whatever piques their interest without judgement and share it with their friends. The things that would’ve been considered “weird” 30 years ago are all mainstream: role-playing games, birding, coding, cosplay, reading for fun, crochet, having a “Roman Empire”, etc. So follow that lead, and just do what genuinely makes you happy.

Why Don’t You Get a Job

Yes, I am getting a big girl, full-time job this year. Period.

Beltline Race Series

Two years ago, I registered for a 10k and Half-Marathon. Because of work travel and getting sick respectively, I had to drop out and eat the cost. It really bothered me and I’ve been reluctant to sign up for anything since. However, I love the Atlanta Beltline project and have been wanting to do their complete race series for a number of years now, made up of the four different sections of the full loop around the city. As a Christmas present to myself, I signed up for the race bundle and my first race is in 3 weeks.

Definition of Done

This is a PMP term that I’ve been using lately with my kids. Yes, they said they cleaned up their play space but I still see stuff on the floor, toys not put in their right place, things done in a sloppy/lazy manner. This does not meet our agreed-upon Definition of Done, and they can’t check it off their to-do list.

Unfortunately, I have my own “half done” list as well. I have rooms that I’ve cleaned, but there is still a random pile that I need to take to Goodwill. Or, I have decorations that I need to put away, but I’m waiting to tackle a different room first. And the biggest culprit, I have little projects that are half done that I’ve procrastinated for months/years and they should probably see the light of day again.

Just to clarify, these are things that I do genuinely like (painting, needlepoint, an entire stack of recipes, prints to frame). Things that I want to see to completion before bringing any other randos into my house. Think about any books you’ve forgotten, projects that would only take 10-15 minutes to finish, loose paperwork that you’ve been meaning to file, etc.

“There are two ways to grow: by adding or by shedding.” -James Clear

Yes, you can apply this to your annual declutter, minimalist mindset, or mantra for the year. Whether we are talking about your physical body, brain, or growth as a person, I think we are all continuously evolving. That process is extremely personal and subjective. So for this year, I want to be very intentional about what I’m taking on and letting go.

Is X going to make my life easier or create more stress?
Does X align with what I’m trying to accomplish?
If I commit to X, do I need to de-commit to something else?
Will X be dependent on something or someone else?
And ultimately, is X going to add something good to my life or will it be something that I need to shed later down the road?

Last year, I had to shed a very big weight that I still have very mixed feelings about. But, it has allowed me to get to a clean-slate point that is very exciting. I feel like I can proceed with possibility instead of obligation.

In addition to creating your vision board, switching to your 2026 planner, and your post-holiday clean up, I hope that you can approach this year with a growth mindset and clear desk.