It's almost 2026, and I'm guessing you've already started thinking about what you want to accomplish next year.
Maybe you've got some goals brewing. Some things you want to change. Maybe you're feeling that familiar mix of hope and skepticism that comes with a new year.
"This year will be different."
But will it?
Not if you approach goal-setting the same way you always have. So let me share a different way to think about your goals for 2026 that actually sets you up for success.
Stop setting goals you can't control
I see this all the time. People set goals like "I want to earn $5,000 a month" or "I want to lose 15 pounds."
The problem? You don't have 100% control over those outcomes.
You can't control whether people buy your product. You can't control exactly how your body responds to diet and exercise.
What you DO have control over are the activities you commit to that you believe will lead to those results.
Focus on what you can control
Instead of "earn $5,000 a month," your goal might be: "Post on Instagram 5 days a week, send 2 pitches to potential clients every week, and follow up with past clients once a month."
Those are activities you control. Things you can track. Things you can actually do tomorrow.
Instead of "lose 15 pounds," maybe it's: "Get 20 minutes of exercise four days a week" and "No sweets after 7 PM."
When you frame your goals around specific, trackable activities that you have complete control over, you're setting yourself up to actually follow through.
Make them specific and trackable
Vague goals don't work. "Be healthier" or "grow my business" aren't goals. They're wishes.
Your goals need to be specific enough that you know exactly what action to take and when you've done it.
"Exercise more" becomes "Walk for 30 minutes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before work."
"Read more" becomes "Read for 20 minutes before bed every night."
"Work on my side business" becomes "Spend two hours every Saturday morning on content creation."
See the difference? You know exactly what to do and when you've done it.
Start small
You know what kills goals faster than anything? Trying to change everything at once.
Pick one or two things to focus on for January. That's it.
Get those activities into your routine. Make them stick. Then in February, you can add something else.
Small, consistent actions beat big, ambitious plans that fizzle out by mid-January. Every single time.
Build them into your weekly plan
Goals don't happen in your head. They happen in your calendar.
If you're not blocking time in your weekly plan for the activities that support your goals, they're not going to happen. Period.
This is why I'm such a fan of weekly planning. When you sit down each week and build these activities into your plan, you're making them real. You're committing to when they'll happen.
Ready to make 2026 actually different?
Pick one goal for January. Just one.
Break it down into specific activities you have complete control over.
Make them trackable.
Build them into your weekly plan.
Then actually do them.
That's how 2026 becomes different. Not through wishes and hopes, but through specific actions you control.
What's the one goal you're starting with?
Best, Megan
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Best Planner for Women 2026 and What to Look For Before You Buy
Most planners are designed to fail you by mid-January. You get excited, spend the money, maybe use it for a week or two, and then it joins the planner graveyard we all have. But guess what? It's the planner, not you. Before you invest in a 2026 planner, you need to know exactly what to look for so this year can actually be different.
In this video, I'm breaking down the only two jobs a planner should actually do, red flags to avoid when shopping for planners, what layouts work better for realistic planning, and the difference between a planner and a planning system (and why you need both).
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What to Do When You're Too Overwhelmed to Plan (But That's When You Need It Most)
When life gets chaotic and overwhelming, planning is often the first thing to go. But here's the problem: that's exactly when you need it most.
In this week's Weekly Buzz, I'm answering a question about how to stop the snowball effect of dropping your planning when you're overwhelmed, and more importantly, how to pick it back up when life gets chaotic. You'll learn the two things you can do in just a few minutes when planning feels too hard, why you need to coach yourself through it out loud (yes, really), and the sticky note trick that will help you remember why planning matters when you're tempted to skip it.
Remember, this video is updated every Wednesday, so don’t miss it! Head to The Pink Bee app to watch now.
Friend, don’t forget—just 15 minutes of planning today can set the tone for your entire week. You’ve got the tools, you’ve got the tips, and now it’s time to take action. Let’s crush this week together!
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