It’s time to share my annual goals. I’ve had them planned for a few weeks now. However, I wasn’t 100% certain on some of them, so I decided against posting. It’s okay to change your goals after a few weeks or a month if they’re not right anymore. With that being said, here are my 26 goals for 2026.
PERSONAL
Take more pictures
This might seem like a random goal. In order to start making money from my blog again, I have to utilise social media again. However, I’m not a photographer or videographer; I just don’t enjoy it. That’s why I’m easing myself in by giving myself the goal of just taking more pictures in general and then uploading whenever I feel like, without a set schedule.
Stick to daily journaling habit
I always wonder why my brain can’t switch off before bed. I think a lot of it is to do with the amount of stuff rattling around in there. I’ve decided to implement the habit of daily journaling, both in the morning and evening. In a morning, I’ll just jot down three things that I’m excited for ahead of the day starting. In an evening, my aim is to write just half a page in an A5 notebook, but I can write more if I need to. Whatever thoughts or feelings I’m having in that moment, I just write it all down and get it out of my head.
Move out to a new city and start afresh
I need something new. I’m so stuck with where I am right now, but a move depends on my career. I absolutely love freelancing and self-employment, but I just don’t think it’s sustainable enough for me to have my own place. Sure, I’ll keep freelancing on the side, but I want to have a regular 9-5 job. Then I can use my evenings/weekends for blogging, client work, or simply relaxing. Right now, I’m craving routine and stability, hopefully outside of Hull.
Complete Project Pan with toiletries
This was also a goal in 2025, but alas, I still have too much. As well as the items that I’m using, I also have a set of four plastic drawers full to the brim with all kinds of toiletries (but a lot of it is skincare). The main aim in 2026 is to use up what I have and only buy replacements. Unless there’s an absolute bargain, I’m on a buying ban for any skincare, make-up or toiletries!
Learn how to do my hair and make-up properly
This might seem like an odd goal, but as much as I’m a skincare girly, I’ve never really been hugely into make-up or hair. Maybe it’s because I was forced to wear make-up growing up as a dancer, and it wasn’t very flattering. However, now that I’m in my mid-30s, I want to master the basics, finding products that suit my face and learning how to style my very flat, straight hair! Suggestions for all of the above are welcome!
Find a comfy pair of trainers
Another adulting goal. Hitting thirty a couple of years ago meant that my feet hurt after a few minutes of standing (as do my knees, shoulders and back, but that’s another problem). Finding the right footwear could at least help to minimise some of the pain. However, I’ve found that too many trainers are mesh, which I’m sure is comfy, but is no good for rain in this country! I’ll look at my go-to Hotter trainers first before venturing out.
Try more Hull eateries
Whilst I’m desperate to move out of Hull, there are still plenty of places to explore here. There are a ton of independent cafes and eateries, some of which I have tried and others I haven’t. I’m thinking about making a bucket list of all the places I’d like to try sometime, hoping to tick them off before I (fingers crossed) move out of town!
Stick to 26 new clothing pieces
I need to pare down my wardrobe (and all of my belongings in fact) because getting my own place will mean much less space for all of my crap! A big part of living minimally is your wardrobe, and I’ve found that as I’ve gotten older, I don’t enjoy having too many items. In fact, it’s more stressful having a jam-packed wardrobe! Time to have a major declutter and get some stuff listed on Vinted.
Digitise my wardrobe on app
With that being said, I want to visually be able to see what I have as well as log my outfits on a daily basis. I’ve had the app for years, but never really got into the habit of updating it daily. In 2026, I want to get all of my wardrobe uploaded and start logging what I’m wearing every day, whether I’m leaving the house in a ‘proper’ outfit or not!
Have a solo date day every month
It’s important to me to spend quality time by myself. Maybe it’s because I’m an only child and grew up fiercely independent, but I’ll be spending even more time alone in my own place. Solo date days can be anything from a coffee date in town and some extra reading time to a few days away and exploring a new town/city. I also try not to be glued to my phone on my solo dates, too, because it’s refreshing to have screen-free time!
Read 52 books
This is a stretch goal for me in 2026, as I only read 44 last year. However, I try to read every day on my commute (15 minutes either way) as well as before bed. I need to start implementing a phone-free and laptop-free environment during my lunch breaks whenever I work from home. My screen time is too high, and I need to get through my Kindle TBR! Yes, my Kindle screen doesn’t count!
Spend one hour a week on non-screen hobbies
Similarly to the above, less screen time means finding new hobbies. I love stationery, so bullet and junk journalling as well as scrapbooking are three hobbies that I want to carve out more time for. I’m trying to tie that in with watching YouTube videos whilst I do it, but in all honesty, I barely pay attention to them! I’ve also got a ton of bracelet-making supplies from the Eras Tour days, so I’d love to use them up.
Watch a movie musical every week
You all know that I love my musicals, but I don’t watch many movies. I’ve got a vast collection of musical DVDs, so it’s about time that I got through them. We’re not even a month in, and I’ve already watched four (the HSM trilogy and Dreamgirls, if you must know). I’ve got everything from the classics from the Fred Astaire and Judy Garland era to modern musicals such as Dear Evan Hansen and Heathers.
HEALTH + FITNESS
Move my body daily
I’m soft launching my way to 75 Soft right now, and one of my main goals is to move my body every day. I’ll allow myself one day off a week to do nothing but six days a week, I want to either walk or do a workout. Walking days are reserved for whenever I’m out at work or out of town. Work from home days will require a home workout, such as dance or HIIT. I just need to collate a few YouTube workouts, so I have a few videos to go straight to every time I need to!
Strengthen my back
Around ten years ago, I suffered a slipped disc in my lower back and have had the occasional steroid injection to help with the pain. However, in the last couple of years, I’ve noticed the pain is in my upper back now, partially from bad posture, but mostly due to a lack of movement! I want to look into exercises that I can do daily to strengthen my back, and maybe look into visiting a chiropractor if it remains an issue.
Stick to weekly resets, especially meal prep
My weekly resets are what I do to set myself up for a successful week ahead. I try to do them on Sundays, but sometimes a Monday or a Friday is more suitable for my schedule. Mostly, I like that you can switch them up if you need to, such as a heavy cleaning reset mid-month and extra planning at the end of the month. Meal planning and prepping are high on the list of weekly reset tasks, because I need to be more prepared nutritionally!
Start dance classes again (virtual or in-person)
As most of you know, I grew up going to dance classes most evenings until I was a teenager (and didn’t like that I was being pushed to go to dance school/college when I had no intention of doing so). Now I’m over 30, I want to enjoy dancing again and am looking into signing up for classes, probably virtually to begin with. I’ve been doing some YouTube dance classes on occasion when I feel like it, and I definitely enjoy them when I do them! I’d love to start dancing once a week and maybe learning proper routines again.
FINANCIAL
Stick to my savings plan
Setting up the plan is one thing, sticking to it is another. Does it mean that I need to increase my income? Absolutely, or I won’t be able to save much at all! I’ve got a Help 2 Buy ISA, a Lifetime ISA, a regular saver and multiple savings pots on the go. I’ve set myself annual goals for each savings account, with an aim of saving a set amount every month. Also, I’ve listed them in priority as I’d rather fund certain accounts more than others.
Pay off all debt
I won’t share the total amount, but right now, I have three credit cards and an M&S store account, all of which need paying off. I’ve paid off most of one of the credit cards, but now I need to work on paying off the rest. In an ideal world, I’d pay off all of my debt in 2026. However, if I want to save to move out, I’ll have to balance paying off debt with saving for a move.
Work up to making £X a month
I’ve also decided not to share my dream monthly income goal. It’s not excessive, but it’s more than I earn currently. I want to do this by balancing my part-time job (maybe a full-time one if it turns up), freelancing for clients, side hustles (surveys, receipt apps, Vinted), and possibly making a small income from my blog or digital products. However, the priority is always my clients and my PT job.
BUSINESS + BLOG
Get professional photos done
I’ve been in business for around six years, and have never had professional photos taken. I think it’s about time I invest in them to use across my platforms. I’d love to use a local photographer, so if anyone can recommend someone, let me know!
Go through all biz courses/eBooks
I highly doubt I’ll get through every single business/marketing course and eBook I’ve ever signed up for, but I want to make a stab at them! Ideally, I’ll be prioritising one per month, taking whatever notes I need to, and most importantly, applying them to my business! In Q1, I’ll be focusing on SEO and email marketing.
Go FT self-employed again or get a FT job
This is another of my main goals in 2026. I’m at that point in life where I’m at a complete crossroads. My freelance income is such a rollercoaster that renting just isn’t viable. That means I either need to live at home longer and keep building up my business, or secure a full-time role and finally move out. I’m honestly open to anything and everything at the moment. Whilst I’d love to remain self-employed, it’s not looking great financially for me.
Stick to consistent posting schedule for blog + business
I’ve set up my content plans for my business and blog for the first quarter of 2026. However, I’ve already failed to stick to them! I did say that January was a trial month for me, so I guess getting prepped and ready for February should be another goal!
More focused work time
This is a very vague goal, but when I’m working from home, I need to structure my work days much better. It’s one of those things that I did in the early days of my business, but in the past year or so, I’ve just done the work whenever my energy allows me to. Back in the day, I was timeblocking and time-tracking all day, every day! I don’t think I’d go back to tracking every minute of my day, but at least having a task list for the day and a couple of focused work blocks is an improvement!
Save regularly for tax bill + pay early!
In the last two years, I’ve been scrambling for pennies and paying the day before it’s due in January. In 2026, I still want to file straight away in April, but I either want to pay monthly towards my bill, or save a certain amount every month in a tax savings pot. It might seem like a minor goal to some, but it would give me much better peace of mind!
And that’s everything for my 26 goals for 2026. It does seem like a lot, which is why I like to split them across various categories. There’s also a mixture of fun and testing goals there, as goal-setting doesn’t always have to be serious! Life will go on if I don’t watch a movie musical every week!
If you enjoyed my post all about my 26 goals for 2026, you can check out my monthly goals posts right here. Yes, I already posted January’s goals before this. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok too!
