The last time I sat down to write a New Year’s blog it was 1^st January 2020. Little did I know about the chaos that was in store for the world, already developing but hadn’t yet reached a big enough blip on the worlds radar to notice or care.

That was six years ago, which is crazy to think about how much has changed, not just in the world, but for me both personally and professionally. I’ve had to navigate maintaining a business during a global pandemic, and then the resulting cost of living crisis. I’ve also been continuing to upskill my professional knowledge and gained an additional qualification as a counselling supervisor.

On a personal level, this has been arguably the most difficult period of my adult life. Having to navigate through multiple losses, celebrating the joy of getting married to my long term partner but also having to navigate through relationship difficulties. Life rarely presents itself in neat, separate chapters.

I’m not sharing for sympathy here, but because I know I’m not alone in having experienced significant challenges over these past six years. Many of you reading this will have your own stories of loss, upheaval, resilience, and survival. Moving into 2026, you might be feeling the familiar pressure to set ambitious New Year’s resolutions, as if we haven’t all been through enough already.

Perhaps you’re already thinking about dramatic lifestyle overhauls, strict new routines, or grand commitments that promise to transform your life overnight. But here’s the thing: research consistently shows that most New Year’s resolutions don’t make it past January.

So rather than setting ourselves up for another year of unfulfilled promises and self-criticism, what if we approached 2026 differently? What if instead of chasing perfection through rigid resolutions, we focused on living more consciously and making purposeful changes that actually stick?

Reflecting on What No Longer Serves You

Before we rush forward into planning and goal-setting, it’s worth taking some time to pause and reflect on where we’ve been. Not just 2025, but these past few years as a whole. Not with judgment or harsh criticism, but with genuine curiosity about what worked, what didn’t, and what might need to shift.

The experiences we’ve all lived through have changed us. Some of those changes we chose, many we didn’t, and that’s OK. What matters now is asking yourself: what patterns, habits, relationships, or beliefs are no longer serving me? Rather than blaming yourself for what went wrong, be honest and acknowledge where you might be investing energy into things that aren’t bringing you fulfilment, growth, or wellbeing.

Perhaps it’s a friendship that’s become one-sided, or maybe it’s a job that’s draining you more than it’s sustaining you. It could be habits you’ve fallen into that don’t align with the person you want to be, or ways of thinking about yourself that keep you stuck. Whatever it is, giving yourself permission to name what’s not working is how you take that first step forward.

The Power of Conscious Living

Living consciously means being present and intentional with your choices, instead of drifting through life on autopilot. It’s about checking in with yourself regularly and asking: is this choice aligned with my values? Is this bringing me closer to or further away from the life I want to create?

This doesn’t mean you need to overthink every decision or put pressure on yourself to be “perfect” in your choices. It’s more about developing an awareness of the direction you’re heading and making small adjustments along the way. Think of it like steering a ship; you don’t need to make dramatic turns, just gentle course corrections that keep you moving toward your destination.

Conscious living also means accepting that not every day will feel purposeful or meaningful, and that’s okay. Some days you’ll just be getting through, and simply getting through some days is achievement enough. Most importantly, the accumulation of more conscious choices over time is what creates a life that feels more authentic and satisfying.

Making Changes That Actually Last

So how do we create change that lasts beyond January? Here are some approaches that research and my experience as a counsellor have shown to be effective:

Start small and specific. Instead of “get fit” or “be happier,” think about one tiny action you can take regularly. Maybe it’s a 10-minute walk three times a week, or checking in with yourself each morning to notice how you’re feeling. Small changes are sustainable changes.

Focus on addition, not subtraction. Rather than thinking about what you need to stop doing or give up, consider what you want to add to your life. What brings you joy? What helps you feel grounded? What activities leave you feeling energised rather than drained? When you add more of these positive experiences, the things that don’t serve you often naturally fall away.

Build in flexibility. Life happens and you will have difficult weeks, unexpected challenges, and days when your plans completely fall apart. It’s common to have an “all or nothing” response when this happens; we miss one day and suddenly think “well, I’ve ruined it now, might as well give up entirely.” Rather than seeing disruption as failure and having the urge to trash it all and abandon ship, build flexibility into your approach from the start, so that if you miss a few days here (or even a month), it doesn’t need to be the end.

Connect changes to your values. Why does this change matter to you? What will it give you that’s important? When your changes are rooted in your internal values rather than external expectations, they become more meaningful and easier to maintain.

Get support when you need it. Change is hard, and you don’t have to do it alone. Whether it’s talking to friends, family, or working with a counsellor, having support can make all the difference in navigating the challenges that come up.

A Fresh Start On Your Terms

The new year can absolutely be a fresh start, a symbolic turning of the page that gives us permission to try again or begin something new, but this doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s life, and it certainly doesn’t need to involve dramatic transformations or punishing routines.

Your fresh start might be as simple as deciding to be kinder to yourself, or it might be committing to one small habit that supports your wellbeing. It might be finally having that difficult conversation you’ve been avoiding, or saying no to something that’s been draining your emotional battery.

Whatever form it takes, let it be yours. Let it be realistic, compassionate, and aligned with who you actually are, not who you think you should be.

Moving Forward With Hope

As we move into 2026, I want you to know that it’s okay to hope for better. It’s OK to want things to improve, to dream of a year that feels lighter, more fulfilling, or more aligned with what matters to you. Hope isn’t naive, it’s necessary. But alongside it, be gentle with yourself; change takes time and some days will feel like progress, whereas others might convince you you’re going backwards.

2026 has the potential to be different, not because of grand resolutions or dramatic overhauls, but because you’re approaching it with more awareness, more intentionality, and more compassion. And sometimes, that’s all the fresh start we need.

If you’re finding it difficult to make the changes you want to see in your life, or if you’re struggling to move past patterns that no longer serve you, counselling can provide a supportive space to explore these challenges. You can contact me on 07568 350 457, email psi.counselling@gmail.com, or use my contact form to discuss how we might work together.