2026 In's and Out's

I know we have already stepped into the second quarter of 2026 and this is a post I intended to share at the beginning of the year but things kept getting in the way (myself and procrastination). However we are here now and I wanted share some things I had in mind that I wanted 'IN' and 'OUT' of my life in 2026.

Let us start with the OUT

1. Gossiping

This is something that is so ingrained in our society, media and even some of our cultures. Sometimes it can be hard to even differentiate between gossiping or simply sharing an experience. To be honest I have been both the gossiper and the listener when gossip is being shared and both are equality guilty. I recently saw a post on Substack that said "gossip is the devils radio station" ....as in like the devil probably delights in the fact that we are slandering others or saying things that we probably wouldn't say if the person were in the room. That simple phrase called me out and I immediately felt disgusted that I had participated in something that the devil enjoys.

There is a poem by Oliya Charkhi called My Name is Gossip, this poem depicts the hurt and pain that gossip produces:

I am a mysterious phenomenon

I am a menace to the society and families

An element of devastation and destruction

People can't fathom my destructive powers

I thrive on losing or questioning people's sanity

I hurt without killing

I plant hatred and jealous in people's heart

I break hearts and ruin lives

I am sly, cunning and malicious

And gather strength with age

The more I am quoted, the more I am believed

I flourish at every level of society

My victims are helpless

They cannot protect themselves against me,

For I have no name, no face

I sneak and sow the seed of doubt in the soil of innocent hearts

to extinguish their joy

I sometimes hide behind a smile,

Or simply behind an innocent tear

Most of the time, I creep and stab from behind

To track me down is impossible

The harder you try, the more elusive I become

I target the vulnerable or the hurt

I simply don't let happiness chance

I am nobody's friend

Once I tarnish a reputation it is never the same

The wound I inflict never heals

I overthrow governments and ruin marriages

I destroy careers and cause sleepless nights

I generate suspicion and grief

I make innocent people cry

My name hisses hate

Yes, my name is Gossip

1. 

   So if you are thinking about gossiping, please perish that idea.

   
   
   
   

2. Impulse Buying

Buying things on a whim can lead to bad purchases being made and future regret. In some cases, the risk of impulse buying can sometimes work in our favor, and we end up loving the product we have purchased and even use it frequently. In my opinion, though, impulse buying has burnt me more than it has helped me. I often end up regretting it and wishing I had waited and thought about my purchase or even left it in my cart for some time to decide if this was something that I really wanted or if I was just being influenced by my favorite influencer. Sometimes I even look back at something that I bought on an impulse and realize that I never even used it; in fact, I don't even know where it is.

This goes to show that I probably didn't even really need it or want it, so I hope to exercise self-control in this area and not act on what I feel in the moment.

3. Doom scrolling

I would assume this is an "out" that many of us might have, especially in this age of technology. It's definitely a habit that I would like to break. I don't want to look back on my life when I am older and reflect on the precious time that I had and regret that I spent the majority of the time with my head hunched over my phone. Let's not be ruled by our phones in 2026 but make the most of the gift of life and each waking moment that God has blessed us with.

INs FOR 2026

1. Service

Life tends to get so busy that service is often overlooked. The week is filled with work, responsibilities, and many other things that can keep us so focused on our lives and trying to balance it all that we overlook the people around us. Service doesn't have to be a grand gesture. It could be taking your coworker out for lunch and paying for their meal, calling a friend and checking in with them, serving those in need in your local community, or even taking some groceries to a new mom. We can serve people in so many ways even during our busy work week. It takes intentionality to try and see ways that you can weave in small acts of service. I recently purchased something and the seller gave me a bouquet of flowers just because she wanted to. It brought me so much joy and I was so amazed by her thoughtfulness in that moment.

2. Coming out of the "Ideas Phase"

I have so many plans, dreams, desires, and projects that I often think about, but rarely do any of them step out of the "ideas" phase. I think it is so fun to think about different ideas and dreams, but I often get stuck there, and I am at the point where I want to step out of that phase and turn those ideas into plans and actions. Disclaimer: not every idea that comes across our mind has to be acted upon. I recently saw a post that said, "There's no business idea that hasn't crossed my mind this year. I've even thought of opening a new country." I related to this post so much! I even have a shared note with my best friend titled "Business Ideas," and some of those ideas we had on there had us laughing so hard that tears were coming out of our eyes. Coming out of the "ideas phase" requires us to just start, to stop procrastinating, stop doom scrolling (DOOM scrolling is OUT), and take one step at a time towards our goals.

3. Having Fun More

One thing I implemented at the start of the year was trying something new every month. It has been so fun and exciting. From running a 5k in January to doing the hardest workout of my life in a sauna. Doing something new every month has allowed me to be present and has definitely stimulated my mind. There are many studies that show how learning new skills or doing something new can improve our cognitive function. But even beyond all the benefits that we can get from that, it is also fun and even a way to connect with friends by bonding over a fun activity!

Thank you for reading and please share with me what are some of your "INs" and "OUTs" for 2026. I would love to hear them.

I hope this added a little sunshine to your day.

Until next time!

Kami.