2025, What to Take, What to Leave

Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been in a mood of renewal. Reflecting on what hobbies, habits, and lifestyles I want to cultivate in 2026 and what I will leave in 2025.

What I’m Taking and Leaving in 2026

The start of a new year always brings a quiet invitation to pause. Not to overhaul everything or become a brand-new person overnight, but to take inventory. To notice what feels nourishing, what feels heavy, and what no longer fits the season I’m in.

As I move into 2026, I’m realizing that growth isn’t just about adding more habits, more goals, or more versions of myself. Sometimes it’s about gently setting things down. This year, I’m choosing to be intentional about what I carry forward and what I leave behind.

What I’m Taking with Me Into 2026

Hobbies that bring presence.
I’m keeping the things that help me feel rooted in the moment. The hobbies that help be to be present in the moment. Movement that feels like exploration rather than performance. Creative practices I can return to without pressure to be “good” at them. These are the moments where I feel most like myself, and I want more of that this year. For me, this has been yoga, hiking and painting.

Habits that support my energy.
In 2026, I’m taking habits that feel sustainable. Routines that are flexible, life is never stagnant, and rest that’s treated as essential rather than optional. I’m learning to listen more closely to my own body instead of forcing myself into a system that focuses on productivity. The goal isn’t burn out, it’s balance and loving kindness for myself. I’ve decided to give myself grace, like I would for someone else. This has translated into purchasing a climbing gym membership, sleeping when I need to (7:30am counts as sleeping in when you normally wake up at 5 am!) and having a balance of nights spent with others and nights to myself.

Lifestyles that feel aligned.
I’m choosing a life that reflects who I am now, not who I used to be or who I thought I should become. That means prioritizing community, simplicity, and supporting the things that I’m passionate about NOW. It means leaving space in my schedule and valuing depth over constant motion. Alignment, for me, looks more subtle than it used to through actions like saying no before my plate becomes too full, acknowledging the root cause for certain feelings, and being honest about when I need a break.

What I’m Leaving Behind in 2025

Hobbies that feel like obligation.
I’m letting go of activities I’ve been holding onto out of feelings of obligation or identity attachment. Just because something once brought joy doesn’t mean it has to stay forever. I’m giving myself permission to release hobbies that feel heavy or forced, even if they once mattered a lot.

Habits that drain more than they give.
This year, I’m leaving behind all-or-nothing thinking. The cycles of overcommitting, overconsuming, and overcorrecting. I don’t want habits that require constant discipline to maintain, only ones that support me on both good days and hard ones. Every day is different and the goal is to be better than you were yesterday.

Lifestyles built on external expectations.
I’m stepping away from urgency, comparison, and the need to be constantly available. I’m done shaping my days around what looks impressive from the outside. In 2026, I want my life to feel honest, not performative.

How I’m Deciding What Stays and What Goes

I’m asking myself simple questions:

• Does this give me energy or quietly take it away?

• Do I feel more grounded or scattered afterward?

• Does this align with who I am, not just who I’ve been?

I’m also reminding myself that it’s okay to change my mind. Growth isn’t linear, and clarity often comes from trying, releasing, and trying again.

Making Space for What’s Next

Letting go isn’t a loss, it’s an opening. By releasing what no longer fits, I’m making room for new ideas, deeper connections, and space for myself. I don’t need to know exactly what the future will bring. I just want to create the space to receive it.

A Closing Reflection

If you’re entering the rest of the year feeling unsure or confused, you’re not behind, you’re evolving. Maybe this is your invitation to make your own “take and leave” list. Not as a rulebook, but as a reflection. A chance to look at what is and isn’t working in your life and how you want to make change.

You’re allowed to change.
You’re allowed to outgrow things.
You’re allowed to choose a life that feels like it’s yours.

And that feels like a good way to spend 2026.

Cause nothing will change unless you do.