Why I’m Choosing a Simpler Year in 2026

This year, I’m not setting big, overwhelming goals. I’m choosing simpler ones—goals that fit real life, motherhood, and the season I’m in.

The last few years I have found myself more and more discouraged as I set big goals, always dreaming, with very little to show for them come the end of the year. Part of this definitely has to do with the unwillingness to accept where I am in life. On one hand I want to believe I can do it all and prove it to myself and on the other hand I find myself questioning what it’s all for.

Those thoughts conflict with one another and often leave me waring against where I should be putting my time, but what I have noticed is when I don’t have clarity on where to put my time I just waste it staying busy. I get all the dishes done and the laundry put away, the house is always vacuumed and all the toys are in their place. I like that I keep a space well kept and that I can do these things quickly, but I will overly compensate at home almost to numb the fact that I want to be doing something…but I don’t know what should take priority.

I still play with the boys and enjoy all the time I get with them, yet I noticed that these feelings of needing to do more kept creeping up on me more, even when I would be content playing or just being with them. I am sure we all go through these stages as parents. Almost like we have to consciously choose to be present with our kids, even though we love them more than anything, we can find ways to shew them off or create busyness for ourselves out of necessity to not sit still.

So this year, while I am still dreaming big, I am only going to focus on moving the needle in the areas of my life where I actually have the control to do so. I can’t guarantee myself that I will get a commission or sell 10 art prints from my online store but I can continue to put my work out there in new ways and make sure I continue to create. Discouragement comes when the goals we set are tied to things that are out of our control.

I will always be more of a workhorse than a calm princess. I just like a little bit of a mess, I like to work with my hands, I love new ideas and solutions. I enjoy trying new things and learning. But…I plan on using that skill of work more to my benefit this year by not hustling harder but being consistent in the few lanes that I chose to embark on this year.

Consistency does not equate to constantly and that is something I had to learn the hard way in 2025. That if I didn’t get enough sleep because I am sharing my bed with my two toddlers than it’s okay if a workout comes later in the day, turns into a 30 minute walk, or waits for the following morning. That a 5 minute sketch with crayons with my kids is better than no creativity at all. Everything comes down to perspective and the more satisfied I can be with what is done in a day the better the journey will be.

As the year went on the farther I felt I got from my faith. Now I don’t mean I ever questioned what I believe and I didn’t go into a dark place but I was trying to do everything on my own. I don’t know where this need to prove anything and everything to myself comes from, but it is something I plan to explore with the Lord this year. I see that I need more fun in my life, that I need a more lighthearted approach to the things I enjoy doing. These are deep rooted things I have struggled with throughout my life since my early 20’s and I think it’s about time I addressed them with my Father.

I have reached a point in my life where I just want to give it all to God. Everything I do I want to give to Him and hope that He is glorified in it all. I haven’t known how to do that and have often stopped doing things or redirected myself out of fear that I was missing the mark. At the end of the day I realize every redirect I became more confused and farther away from myself, and in turn farther away from Him. So, in the slowing down I am going to give myself permission to start my days with prayer and in the word before anything else.

I am looking forward to 2026. There have been many blessings this past year. I have learned a lot, I tried some new things, overcome some trials and uncovered some new ones. I have grown as a person and discovered new areas that could use some growth too, and I am happy for all of it. This year I am welcoming in simplicity, being smart with my planning and my energy, and most of all I am committed to giving my life back to the one who gave His up for me.

What do you say? Let’s make 2026 a heck of a year my friends!

XO,

Jaz