Every January, the world gets loud with reinvention. 

New goals. New systems. New rules. New pressure. 
Like if we don’t completely overhaul our lives by mid-month, we’ve “missed it.” 

But here’s what I know for sure: the biggest changes in my life have rarely come from dramatic, all-at-once transformations. They’ve come from small, steady habits—the kind that feel meaningful and even enjoyable… so they don’t turn into another job. 

That’s the Stand Tall approach I’m taking into 2026: choose a few simple practices that bring me back to myself and quietly build the life I love—one ordinary day at a time. 

Why I believe in small trusty habits

(Small habits have already improved my life in countless ways.) 

Last year, I set a very unglamorous goal: walk three miles most days and lift weights. 

No perfect schedule. No complicated tracker. Just a decision: move my body more consistently. 

And I can’t overstate what that shift did for my year—my energy, my stress levels, my clarity, my confidence. It wasn’t a makeover. It was a foundation. 

I did the same with something entirely different: I set a goal to learn French by doing a few Duolingo lessons most days of the week. Some days it was five minutes. Some days it was more. But it stayed light—and because it stayed light, it stayed doable. 

I’m carrying both of those into 2026, along with a few cornerstone habits that have been quietly shaping my life for years. 

Here are the three I’m leaning into most right now. 

Habit #1: Watch more sunsets  

I used to treat sunsets like a bonus—something I caught only if the timing worked out. 

But last month in Florida, I took a sunset video that stopped me. The sky was putting on a full, quiet masterpiece… and it reminded me of something I forget when life is busy: 

The day can end beautifully—even if it was hard. 

Sunsets are a reset. A pause button. A gentle reminder that you’re allowed to stop pushing for a moment and simply be in your own life. 

How to make this habit doable (not “another thing”) 

• Choose one or two evenings a week to step outside on purpose. 

• Set a simple reminder: “Go outside. Look up.” 

• Watch for three minutes. That counts. 

• Record a short clip if you want to remember it—but watch with your own eyes first. 

The end-of-2025 sunset that left me stunned, grateful, and speechless from its beauty: 

Habit #2: Choose one activity habit you enjoy repeating 

For me, that activity habit has become walking and weight training. 

It’s simple, but it’s powerful: when I move my body, I’m more patient. More grounded. More resilient. I make better decisions. I feel more like myself. 

And the key? I believe in keeping goals friendly. Not punishing. Not dramatic. Not performance-based. 

How I keep it from feeling like “work” 

• I aim for most days, not every day. 

• I let it be good enough: three miles can be one walk or broken up. 

• I pair it with something I enjoy (music, a podcast, quiet, a friend). 

• I treat strength training like a gift to future-me, not a punishment for present-me. 

If you want a Stand Tall version of this habit, here it is: 
Pick an activity habit that makes you feel capable. Then repeat it often enough that your heart and confidence shine more of who you are. 

Habit #3: Read (and let reading be a doorway back to a brighter you) 

Reading is one of my favorite ways to come back to who I am. I have always loved to read, from my earliest memories through my education, through the years I led a book recommendation team and read 50+ per year, to now. I am largely who I am because I read. I don’t read nearly as much as I want to now, and so this year, I’m setting a small goal to get back to books more. 

Sometimes I want fiction that pulls me into a story and lets my brain exhale. Recently I’ve enjoyed authors like Camille Pagán, Mary Kubica, and Susan Meissner—the kind of books that make you turn one more page and then another and fall into a great story. 

And sometimes I want the “meatier” nonfiction that makes me think and stretch. I’ve also been reading Jordan B. Peterson and Julia Cameron—very different voices, but both in their own way invite deeper reflection and intentional living. 

I also have upcoming book events on my calendar this year, which I love because they make reading feel like a lived experience—something shared, not just consumed. 

A simple way to build this habit without pressure 

• Keep a book where your habits already live: nightstand, kitchen counter, bag. 

• Read 10 pages a day (or 10 minutes). 

• Consider having two options going: 

• One easy, enjoyable book 

• One growth book 

A Stand Tall reading habit isn’t about finishing a list. 
It’s about choosing what fills your soul—then letting it shape your days. 

The trusty cornerstone habits that are the foundation for my life… 

These are the practices that don’t look impressive on paper, but they change the quality of my life. 

They’re simple, meaningful, and they don’t feel like work—which is exactly why they last. 

A few of mine: 

• Dinners with my spouse (a real “we’re here” moment to be together and spend time in conversation at the end of each day) 

• Unplugging at intentional times (even short windows help) 

• Disabling phone notifications (this one is surprisingly life-changing) 

• Starting my day fueling my heart and soul with a piece of a read-through-the-Bible plan and a devotional 

These habits help me to stand tall and regain balance in a busy life.  
They help me build a life I love because they help me actually live and enjoy it. 

Enjoy Today book (a small daily companion) 

One more thing that supports me in these habits is a daily reminder to stay present—to stop postponing joy until everything is “settled.” 

If you’d like a simple daily nudge like that, my Enjoy Today daily inspirational is available on Amazon for $3.99. 

Question for you 

What’s one simple habit you want to build in 2026—something that feels meaningful, enjoyable, and like it helps you to stand taller? 

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