Three Words: 2026 Edition

The only New Year's Resolution I've ever managed to keep is the one where I resolved to stop making them.

(I'm not alone: one interesting study from 2020 suggested that most people abandon their resolutions by January 19th, dubbed "Quitter's Day".)

Rather than making New Year's Resolutions that are likely doomed to fail, I've instead chosen three words to serve as a guide for me in the year ahead.

2020: Learn, Give, Courage.

2021: Focus, Actualize, Thrive.

2022: Create, Gratitude, Better.

2023: Program, Persevere, Positive.

2024: Experiment, Expand, Exercise.

2025: Development, Discipline, Delight.

(If you care to know why I chose those words each year, you can click the hyperlinks above to read the posts that explain my choices.)

Most years, my chosen words have indeed helped to guide my year.

Last year, they did not.

I completed a few self-paced courses, maintained my Duolingo streak (675 days as of today), and published my third book, I Can't Draw. Yet I didn't develop myself nearly as much as I intended: I didn't write, read, or DO as much as I had hoped. That's because my discipline with all my routines was fair at best. And while I certainly experienced several moments of delight, I managed to be "down" much more than I would like; I won't blame everything that's going on in the world for that last one... but it certainly didn't help.

As I began thinking about my "three words" for 2026, I questioned whether this exercise had outlived its usefulness for me: if my "three words" didn't benefit me significantly last year, what would make me think choosing three more this year would be of any value?

But it's not in my nature to give up immediately when something isn't working.

I prefer to understand WHY it isn't working... and then adapt.

And, upon reflection, I believe my "three words" didn't work last year because they were too broad: they tried to encompass too much.

And when you try to do everything, you end up not doing anything particularly well.

So this year, I'm not choosing three words.

I'm only going to choose one: Focus.*

I'm going to focus on establishing definitive personal and professional goals, and then better focus my time and effort on achieving them.

I'm going to focus my energy and attention on one thing at a time, and actively seek out ways to manage the "multi-tasking", procrastination, and short attention span that often hinders my ability to be as efficient and effective as I know I can be.

And I'm going to focus on the things that really matter...

... and try to worry much less about the things that don't.

I should have worked to increase my focus decades ago, but I didn't.

But that reminds me of that Chinese proverb about planting trees: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some gardening to do.

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** Yes, yes... I realize "focus" was one of my 2021 theme words. But if it worked then, why not try it again?