The Change Your Life Before 2026 Challenge

One bold shift (or 26 small ones) to end the year with purpose

Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels

Aloha Lovelies,

For years, I’ve done Lisa Jacob’s year-end goal-setting challenge, which she began in 2018 and called “18 before 2018.”

Three months is a significant period of time. We can still accomplish what matters most if we take the time to reflect on and clarify our goals for the remainder of the year.

But 26 before 2026!

That’s a hefty number, I know. Alliteration be dammed—slash your goals to 1, 4, or 12, or any number that works for you.

YouTuber Jashii Corrin has a similar challenge, which she calls “Change Your Life Before 2026.” She suggests starting with one change that could make the most significant difference in your life.

You can add from there if you wish or not.

Because I procrastinate on smaller tasks (those that take a few hours to a few days), I can easily fill up 18 or 26 slots. But I see the point of deciding what’s most important first and allocating one’s limited energy accordingly.

The point isn’t to accomplish many things but to achieve your most critical, heart-fulfilling priorities, which will bring you a sense of satisfaction and success. Of course, there will be tedious, mundane tasks in the mix.

Consider: What single change would make the most significant difference in your life?

If you want to accomplish more than one goal, use the following process to create a realistic list.

Brain Dump

Create a list of everything you want to complete or habits you want to start before the end of the year—brain dump style. Just list whatever comes to your mind in rapid succession.

If you don’t finish the list in one go, set it aside. Let ideas percolate, and add them to your list over the next few days.

Your list doesn’t have to be all about busyness. It can include taking more naps, having more date nights, or reading more books.

My 2025 list might have seemed mundane to most people, but yours doesn’t have to be. You can make your list as epic or boring as you like and as long or short as you want.

Assess and Organize Your List

The next step is to organize your list by priority, category, or month/week. You can use all three if you wish.

As you organize your list, also assess what’s realistic. Trim the unnecessary and excessive.

You don’t want to look at your list and feel pressured because it’s too much for any average human to accomplish. Be realistic. Your list should be a helpful tool, not a pressure cooker.

Once your initial list is done, keep it in a prominent place so you don’t forget about it. Schedule items in your planner or on your to-do list each week or month.

Remember to leave space for the unexpected! I didn’t plan to self-publish notebooks and journals in 2025, but changing financial circumstances made it necessary to explore new possibilities.

Feel free to amend your list as each month goes by. It’s not set in stone or meant to be an ultimatum to yourself.

You remain a good person, however much you accomplish.

Track

It’s easy to create a list and lose it under a pile of papers, never to be seen again. Instead, create a routine of checking your list each week.

At the start of the week, review your list and decide which items to tackle in addition to your regular tasks and commitments.

At the end of the week, look over your list again. Be sure to check off everything you’ve accomplished and give yourself a pat on the back. If you’re not on track, adjust your assignments or expectations.

Celebrate

Celebrate every time you tick an item off. Also, celebrate all you’ve accomplished at the end of the year. Focus on what you achieve, not the unfinished tasks.

Equally important, celebrate what you’ve already accomplished in the first nine months of this year! We often move on to the next task without acknowledging our accomplishments.

Accountability

You could do this challenge with a friend or partner as an accountability buddy. I watched weekly videos from Jashii Corrin’s first “Change Your Life in 3 Months” challenge to help me stay accountable.

Seeing Corrin accomplish a 100-day streak of 8,000 daily steps inspired me to recommit to my own exercise routine. As a result, I’m routinely walking 4-5,000 steps daily and doing a stint on my exercise bike in the morning.

Corrin has set up a free online accountability group for her end-of-year challenge, which you can join for free. Learn more in her Change Your Life Before 2026 video.

”Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future. Act now, without delay.”
—Simone de Beauvoir

Why I’m Looking Forward to the Challenge

I’ve gained a lot by staying goal-focused in an easy way for the past three months. Thus, I’m eager to extend the habit into the last three months of the year. The chance to rethink my goals comes at the perfect time, as I’m questioning my choices.

Creating my first guided prompt journal (coming soon) has been satisfying in one way, but also time-consuming and tedious. The work doesn’t stop when the journal is published. Getting the word out requires continual effort.

I also restarted my Pinterest account, given what appears to be a universal downturn in Substack subscribers. That could change again, but I don’t want to get short like I did on Medium. Making pin images fills my creative soul, but the time it takes?

I’m in a stage of my life when I want to slow down, not speed up. I’ll definitely be thinking about my real goals for the next three months.

Your Thoughts?

Do you feel excited about a year-end goal challenge, would you rather hide under the covers in bed, or are you somewhere in between? Share a few of your accomplishments from the year. I would love to hear your thoughts and achievements.

Becoming a self-publisher was the big one for me.

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Until Next Time

I'm exhausted. I’ve been following my exercise goals in an easy way. But I’ve hyperfocused and stretched myself thin with my new creative projects. It’s definitely time for a reassessment.

But first, I’ll be sleeping as late as possible tomorrow.

As always, I’m so grateful for your presence and support. Until next time, stay safe, be happy, and let your love flow. Sending you all my love and best wishes.

xo Sandra

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