January is always an interesting month. There’s the excitement of the holidays and New Year, followed by the “back to reality” of work and school.
There’s the pressure of “being something new,” having big goals and resolutions. But truthfully, all that pressure can just create unnecessary stress.
In truth, life is continuous, so you can choose to start new any time, any month, any week, any day. There shouldn’t be a timeline to create a new goal, get healthy, start a new hobby, etc.
One thing I do enjoy doing in January is taking stock of what I want to keep focusing on and what I want to let go of. I also do this around my birthday, in June, so every six months I can take inventory and make tweaks to my life accordingly.
As this month comes to an end, here is my list of what is “in” for me and what is “out.”
Ins 🤌🏼
- Treating Yourself
- Being “The Occasion”
- Delicious meals
- Finding Magic Everywhere
- Belly Laughs
- Girls Trips
- Family Adventures
- Overdressing
Outs ✌🏼
- Energy Drainers
- Transactional Friendships
- Compromising Your Peace
- Worrying About Things You Can’t Control
- Saying “Yes” to Everything
- Feeling Guilty for Resting
- Doing “The Most”
In a world that can feel so heavy and out of control, I find it important to keep my circle small and focus on my immediate family. Being present and the best spouse, parent, friend and worker possible, while focusing on the things I can control.
How are you feeling nearly one month into 2026? What have you chosen to take with you into this year and what have left behind in the past?
Ivette
Ivette Faulkner 