2026: Year of Small Change

Stacking daily dimes to grow interest.

Think the image is ugly? Me too. AI made it.

Years ago, I remember driving my older sister to University. At some point during the three-hour drive, I was bored enough to leaf through her welcome package. Among the glossy printouts was her acceptance letter. At the top, in bold lettering read, “Graduating Class of 2010”.

“Holy shit! 2010! That sooooo futuristic,” I declared from the backseat.

With little reaction from the mobile gallery, I ran through the feeling of 2010. It felt like the fake tanning and “boots with the fur” of the 00’s, but with a dash of hovercrafts and cyrogenics.

I experienced the duality of how far away this double-digited decade felt, yet how quickly it would approach and become stale history.

2010 was 16 years ago.

As it turns out, the decade wasn’t marked by flying objects and frozen dicks, but by Netflix and iPhone filters. In the 2010’s, we embraced the new gig economy, downloaded apps, and unmasked predators. We lived with relative financial certainty, hope, and an understanding that change is rapid. But I think we’ve always known this.

Now, we’re freshly stepping into 2026.

A couple of days ago, an acquaintance posted on Facebook, “Was 2025 really that bad for everyone?” to which dozens of comments flooded in with a resounding, “Yes! It was a hellscape!”.

Personally speaking, 2025 wasn’t a banner year. It was a bit of a slog, befuddling, and our collective global futures toggled more “bleak” than “chic”.

But luckily, as we’ve seen from 2010’s arrival and swift departure, time flies when we are (or are not) having fun. Somehow, we’re more than halfway through this mind-fuck of a decade.

So with respect to the swift passage of time, and honouring the fact that we could be low-energy as we struggle to plug-in our USB SAD lamps, perhaps we go small.

What if the antidote to the last year(s) of overwhelm and disorientation is committing to the incremental?

This goes back to my highly touted (and sometimes acted upon) philosophy that small change grows with interest. Our daily jumble of dimes and quarters, once rolled and stacked, can buy us something big at year-end.

If we want to make 2026 a more aligned and fulfilling year, why don’t we focus on what we can control rather than waiting to feel epiphanized? This means baking in barely discernible crumbs of effort each day that will eventually make us better.

In times of uncertainty, the best course of action may not be the big swing, but rather, showing up to tee-ball practice with a baggie of snacks, a decent attitude, and a commitment to chip.

My dear cousin asked me what my New Year’s resolution is, to which I deflected with a lame, “Not sure, I’ve been sick. Blah, blah. I need to focus on it. You?”

She responded, “My resolution is to go to sleep before 11PM on weeknights and not watch TV in bed.”

And I think that’s just it.

We should aim for resolutions that are controllable, measurable, and over time, impactful. Sure, they may lack some Hollywood punch, but this is the point: to aim for greater stability, achievability, and realness.

With 2026’s theme in mind, here are micro-resolutions that I plan to stack this year:

• Less phone time—leave it behind, don’t bring it to bed, and be mindful of doom-scrolling.

• Write for 30 mins a day, most days—close tabs, set a timer, and commit to writing, judgment-free.

• Cardio or walk, most days—leave the house for fresh air, take a class, and break a sweat for the future.

• Regular journaling—offload mental clutter, sort ideas, and organize priorities.

• Daily self-care—look in the mirror, do a mask, moisturize, floss, put on new socks.

• Meet up more—make plans with friends and other interesting people who energize, teach, and inspire.

• Work toward a bigger goal, most days—identify top big swings to break down, and chip away at them.

A new year is about possibility.

It’s also about taking stock, shaking off the shortbread crumbs and ethanol fumes, and committing to trudge forward.

But this year, instead of trudge, why don’t we lighten the load and step gently with intention?

This year, we can work with time to shape our world, chip by chip.

And while I still have you, doesn’t 2030 sound soooooo futuristic?