4 Months Later: Why I'm Actually Making New Year's Resolutions in 2026
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Each week, I share real talk about building a life you actually enjoy—the wins, the fails, and everything I'm learning along the way.
I'm back.
And yeah, the timing is suspicious. Right as everyone's dusting off their vision boards and pretending they're definitely going to use that gym membership this year.
But first, where the hell have I been?
For those who've been around (hi, I love you), you might remember my "Dear Time Management" letter back in September where I confessed I was officially burnt out on talking about burnout so was pressing pause on the whole She Boss Life thing. (And for the new faces around here, welcome! I promise I don't usually ghost people for four months…)
Turns out, that hiatus was exactly what I needed.
I was exhausted. A little lost. Definitely in need of some perspective. I wanted space in my weeks to chase whatever sparked my interest, whether that was a shiny new business idea, obsessing over a random hobby, or (let's be real) rotting on the couch while judging people's decisions on reality TV…
After years of feeling like my time owned me instead of the other way around, I finally remembered: I'm the one driving this bus. And if I need a season of space and zero productivity… I can take it.
But here's the thing...
I missed this.
The freedom was amazing for a while. But as I stumbled through new discoveries about myself and learned lessons that actually helped me navigate life better, I kept thinking: "Okay, this is good. People need to hear this."
So after weeks of that persistent tug, I’ve decided to dive back in.
Fair warning: it might look different this time around. Less "10 Productivity Hacks to Revolutionize Your Morning" and more "here's what I learned from completely bombing my own advice last Tuesday." Think less polished blog guru, more texting your friend about the messy middle of life.
Speaking of messy: New Year's Resolutions…
I know, I know. We're all supposed to roll our eyes at resolutions. They're cheesy. They're destined to fail. They're the 'this year will be different' lie we tell ourselves annually.
But can I confess something? I actually love this time of year.
I'm a goal setter. It lights me up. As I’ve worked to confront my overachieving tendencies (which, spoiler alert, lead directly to Burnout Town), my relationship with resolutions has evolved. These days, I see them serving two real purposes:
First, they force you to get honest about what you want. Setting a goal puts a stake in the ground that says "This is what I want." That first admission can be terrifying. But say it enough times, and suddenly it stops feeling like this wild dream and starts feeling like the obvious next step. Your habits adjust. Your identity shifts. And before you know it, you've become the person you were too afraid to admit you wanted to be.
Second, they give you a North Star for those random bursts of energy. You know those moments when motivation strikes out of nowhere at 10pm on a Wednesday? Instead of doomscrolling or reorganizing your junk drawer, you actually know where to direct that momentum. Even if you only have an hour or two, you can make real progress toward something that matters.
And do you want in on a little secret? I rarely achieve my resolutions exactly as I picture them. But that's where the real magic happens. When I don’t achieve my resolutions, I do this instead:
I quit more things. When I finally put my head down and try that thing I've been dreaming about for years...sometimes it's not all it's cracked up to be. So I quit. And suddenly I stop wasting mental energy on the "someday" version of that dream. I get to redirect all that brain power to things that are actually worth it.
I figure out what's good enough. You know those resolutions you beat yourself up for not doing perfectly? You set the goal to lose 30 pounds but only lose 20…except your clothes fit better and you feel incredible. Good enough. Or you want to wake up at 5am to journal every morning, but you decide to sleep in and end up doing it at 9pm in bed instead…and it still completely changes how you process your days. Let that be good enough.
I actually transform my life. I started a tradition a few years ago of journaling on New Year's Eve. I summarize the year and write out what I hope for myself in the coming year. It’s nothing fancy, just honest wishes for future me. On December 31st, 2025, I reread what 2024 Kara hoped for me. And damn... I'm so proud of how far I've come. From the outside, it might not look like much. But inside? I'm a completely different person. And I think she's pretty damn cool.
All because I set some intentions and, dare I say it…made some New Year's resolutions.
Your turn:
Ready to actually make 2026 different? Here’s what worked for me. Grab your journal or literally any scrap of paper and try this:
Write the summary of your 2025. The wins, the losses, and the stuff we're all going to pretend never happened. Brain dump all the highlights.
Write your wishes for December 31, 2026 you. What are your hopes for her? How do you want her to feel? What has she accomplished? What has she finally stopped wasting energy on?
Pick ONE thing to focus on. Based on everything you just wrote, choose the one thing that will give 2026 you the biggest boost. More time to paint? 500 pages written in your novel? Three new clients for your side hustle? Write it down today. And then write it down every damn day in 2026. Keep it so top-of-mind that every decision you make with your time has to answer to it.
Trust me: December 2026 you is going to look back at what you wrote and be ridiculously proud of what you pulled off.
My 2025 in review and wishes for 2026:
Fair's fair. I just gave you homework, so here's mine:
My 2025 in summary: I took a four-month break from She Boss Life, experimented with new business ideas, dove deep into self-exploration, and finally stopped feeling guilty for not being "productive" every single minute. I also learned that too much unstructured freedom makes me antsy (surprise, surprise, the recovering overachiever still needs some routine).
My wishes for December 2026 me: I hope she feels creatively fulfilled and excited about what she's building. I hope she's found a sustainable rhythm that allows for both ambition and ease. I hope she's still taking breaks without guilt and saying no to things that don't light her up. And honestly? I hope she's still enjoying the hell out of this journey and trusting herself along the way.
My ONE thing: Show up consistently without sacrificing my ideal schedule.
It's good to be back. Here's to making 2026 the year we actually mean it when we say 'I'm good.'
Wishing you THE BEST 2026,
— Kara
Okay, can I nerd out for a second? I've been testing Speechify lately and I'm borderline obsessed. Throw on the audio version of my 'Dear Time Management' letter while you're doing dishes or walking the dog (try 1.5 speed and you're done in minutes.) Game changer for squeezing in 'reading' time when life gets chaotic.
About Me
Hi, I’m Kara. I’m a former workaholic turned time-management expert. I help women stressed out in their 9-5 get more done, in less time, so they can get back in the driver’s seat and start living a life they love.
