This year I felt the need to revisit something I did a few years ago. It made my year a little more enjoyable and my new year’s resolutions a little less stressful. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions of habits we want to start or get back to in the next year. We can have a long list which by February ends up, not completed or adapted and we are back to our regular habits. For 2026, try this idea for a new way to start a new habit or maybe get back to an old habit you have let slip. You can also add in getting back in touch with people you haven’t talked to or communicated with for a while or single things to do that bring you pleasure or relaxation.
The idea is to have a “Jar for Me”, jar, with 12 things you want to do in 2026. They can be health related, food safety related, stress reduction or mental health related or spiritual related. Really anything that you pick will be good. Write them down and put them in a jar. Then each month pick one out and choose to focus on that one thing for the month. It may stick after the month if it’s a daily habit or it just may be some single thing to do which you accomplish throughout the month. Here are some of mine and my family’s notes for the year which we hope to find ourselves doing.- Drink four glasses of water a day. (right now my mom might get one or two in)
- Send a card each week to a friend who I haven’t communicated with for years. Maybe an old school friend or co-worker who retired.
- Take a bubble bath or other things that relax me three times a week.
- Buy and use a food thermometer with my meats and poultry (my brother's).
- Read 30 minutes a day.
- Do a walk challenge with family or friends.
- Give co-workers or friends appreciation notes, just for making work or life more enjoyable.
- Try a new recipe each week and share with a friend.
- Take a new fitness or strengthening class.
