Everything Old Is New Again
Reviving Foundational Strengths
I’ve heard it said that how you spend New Year’s Eve—specifically, what you’re doing at midnight—sets the tone for the entire year ahead. And I’ll admit I rather superstitiously factored that into my annual plans when I was younger. But all the woo-woo aside, it feels inaccurate. When it comes to setting intentions for a brand new year, I believe in the power of January 1st.
Last year I talked about ending the year as you mean to continue. It’s one of the driving factors behind my annual December Writing Challenge. But starting as you want to move forward offers much of the same mojo to get you revved up. It’s a pretty common approach and it works well whenever you start anything new. Author Leigh Bardugo discusses it as how she gets on with her writing. She’s even got a hashtag, #BAYMTGO—Begin As You Mean To Go On—that she uses each January. She posted writing prompts late on the 31st for writers seeking inspiration to kick off a new project.
What makes this concept so helpful is you don’t need a clear starting point. It’s nice to roll out on New Year’s Day, but it works just as well on a random Tuesday or a Friday night when you get a new idea or even in the middle of a project that’s run off the tracks. Take a deep breath, draw a mental line in the sand, and declare it the beginning. Decide on the approach you want to take, step over your starting line, and go.
In my case, I’ve issued myself a staggered start. Over these few days between the first of the year and the return to work, I’m adding a few things on a schedule. My goals for the year involve recapturing positive habits and routines I’ve somehow dropped in the last few years, from simple things like making my bed first thing in the morning to more detailed work schedules. So, I spent New Year’s Day quietly at home, enjoying the downtime, but still putting a few small routines back into my day. Made the bed as soon as I got up. Did ten minutes of simple stretches before breakfast. Read for an hour before I went to sleep. Things that were good for me but also made me feel good.
I also like that I chose routines that bookend my day. It was more instinctive than planned, but in retrospect, it was the right decision. Getting started in the morning is less about what time I rise (I will never be one of those up-at-5 productivity gurus), and more about what I do to signal to my brain it’s time to get moving. And for the last few months, my first cup of coffee was tasked with that job. Don’t get me wrong—I’m still reaching for the coffee pot. But I find myself feeling more alert after moving a little than when I rely solely on a caffeine jolt, and my days tend to be more productive when I start them with a little movement.
Reading before bed is a lifelong routine, and yet, in the last six months or so, I’d completely lost my grasp on it. I’d climb into bed and pick up a book, but my eyes would start closing before I managed a page. Eventually, I stopped trying. The combination of exhaustion and waning ability to focus made it feel pointless. But I missed it, physically ached for that cozy bedtime reading break. And so, I’m trying again. It means climbing into bed earlier than I used to in order to stay awake past the first page, but that’s fine. Also, I’ve already noticed that once I’m a few pages in, the sleepy feeling dispels and I tear along just as I ever did.
My work-related routines go back into effect on Monday, and my healthy diet routines later in January, after my birthday. Those are my personal starting lines. The space between them gives each added batch of habits a bit of time to solidify before I add any more, and I’m already looking forward to the next set.
Reaching for these lost routines gives me a chance to reconnect with myself. I have plenty of other things to do for work and family and so on, but these core activities remind me of who I am and my capabilities, even if they’re not individually much of a challenge. It brings to mind the Maya Angelou quote: “Nothing will work unless you do.” People reference it frequently in terms of putting in the work, practicing your craft, but I like to think it also means you need to be functional. You need to do the things to keep yourself working—your mind, your body, your heart.
And so, this is how I’ve chosen to start 2026. In the wake of a few overwhelming, truly dysfunctional years, I am opting for a reset. Reaching for my foundational routines, remembering who I am, setting myself up for success whatever else comes along. Because no matter my goals or plans, nothing is going to work unless I do.
A few bits of housekeeping for this newsletter. I’m excited to bring back the writing craft posts, most specifically to continue with my series on editing for submission. Those will resume next week. I am also going to be changing up the subscription plans a bit. Don’t worry—if you’re a free subscriber, you will still receive all of the regular posts in your inbox. However, going forward, I will start to lock down some of the archive on the website. This means older posts will migrate behind the pay wall starting February 1st, and new posts will join them once they’ve been up about six weeks. It’s important to me that I provide advice and resources to writers for free as much as possible, but the newsletter also takes up a good chunk of my time, so I’m seeking a way to balance that out. Please know that I appreciate all of you who take the time to read and comment and support the newsletter, regardless of how you come to these posts.
That’s it for now. I wish you all a very happy new year. I’d love it if you want to share your some of your goals or plans in the comments, whether for your writing, books you’d love to read, or a new adventure on your horizon. Here’s to a wonderful 2026! Until next time.🥰
I second all that you say about moving and practicing what a body needs for functionality—I’m older than you and this wisdom eventually becomes gospel. My goals have remained the same for decades. (It’s in the operational sense that how I pursue them evolves.) They are “learning” and “giving” —unconditionally. Since retiring from a career in education, I have focused on craft. I copy every one of your thoughtful craft posts. I met you, once, at a conference. I can’t believe I thought my work was ready to be pitched then. I’ve learned so much; it expands continually. My goals around giving have taken on the challenge of sharing writing that I am beginning to believe will be truly meaningful to readers. That’s it! Thanks for your support to writers and to yourself as you take on your own challenges.
I love the idea of returning to foundational practices! Over the past few days I’ve returned to doing a Yoga with Adriene video daily, one of my favorite self care practices and a core one for my mental health. Today my husband and I returned to the gym. I had high hopes to finish my current draft by years end, but an insane work schedule and the worst cold I’ve had in recent memory combined with the onslaught of holiday events completely derailed those plans. I’m returning with a soft word count and aiming to finish this draft in the first quarter of the year instead. A few other things I want to bring back are keeping healthy snacks around and going on walks!