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curiously natalia
Surfers in the water at a beach at golden hour, with the words “a meaningful life is created in the now.”

The New Year vacuum sucked me in (here’s how I got out)

• 2 min
Seed more-mindful-life

It’s the start of 2026 and you’re probably being bombarded with goal setting content from every direction — I know I am.

It’s tantalising.

I don’t want to look at it but you know when a friend says “don’t look” and you immediately turn around?

Well, I looked…

I watched many many goal setting videos promising that 2026 is going to be the year I achieve ALL my goals if I just follow this one method.

And, truthfully, after watching far too many videos to admit to, I concluded two things:

  1. I already have a system that works
  2. If it needs to change in any way, I should first try and work out how before seeking answers elsewhere

Thinking I need to change my systems is one thing, resisting the gravitationally magnetic pull of the pressure to make 2026 ‘my best year yet’ is a whole other ball game.

Even as someone who lives pretty intentionally, I couldn’t help but be pulled into the edges of it’s forcefield.

After all, I was conditioned by school and career systems to achieve. And, at 33, I’ve been through my fair share of new year cycles.

But, through all of the allure, I returned to my core belief:

a meaningful life is created in the now.

Early morning light over gum trees and open paddocks, with hills in the distance

Every day we have the opportunity to start fresh.

Instead of making 2026 your best year yet — why not focus on today and how you can make today just 1% better than yesterday?

I know for me this thought alone dissipates the overwhelming pressure of the new year.

As a side note, I am not suggesting to live without goals. Working towards something is a core part of what makes life meaningful. Instead, I suggest zooming in to what you can influence — the here and now.

When you focus on the micro (the moment you’re in right now), and you live with intention, you’ll soon find the macro (your life as a whole) changing right in front of you.

If you’re curious how I do this in less than 30 mins each day, I wrote a step by step guide explaining the 7-step journalling practice that connects my future vision to my daily actions.

With gratitude,
Natalia