Healthy Habits to Carry Into 2026
That moment between December and January? That’s not just the calendar flipping over—it’s a chance to reset, rewind, and rewrite how you live, work, and show up. I’ve been there (spoiler alert: living with MS means I’ve had to be there), so I’m pulling up a chair and sharing three habits I’m leaning into for 2026—and that you can borrow, tweak, and make your own.
1. Set Boundaries Like They Matter
If you’re like I was, you’ve said “yes” to too much. Too many projects. Too many late nights. Too many one-more- coffees instead of one-more-rest.
Here’s the truth: boundaries aren’t optional—they’re survival. Setting them changed the trajectory of my business and my health. It didn’t shrink what I was doing—it saved it.
What this looks like in practice:
Pick three hours a day when you’re not available. Block them, protect them.
Use a decision filter before you say yes: Does this align with my values + my energy right now? If no → pass.
Communicate with clarity: “My working hours are 9–4 Mon–Wed. Projects outside that will need a different fee or a separate time slot.”
When you shift from “I should keep going” to “I’m choosing how I go,” you reclaim power, presence, and yes—productivity.
2. Rewire the Hustler Mentality
Hustle culture tells us bigger, faster, and later is better. But here’s what I learned the hard way: when you’re juggling chronic illness or simply life (spoiler: we all are), that mindset becomes a trap.
We don’t get extra energy because we poured from empty yesterday.
So, let’s ditch the never-ending sprint and lean into the more strategic pace.
Try this instead:
Design a Work + Rest Rhythm (e.g., 50 minutes work / 10 minutes rest) and stick to it like you’d stick to a meeting.
Batch deep work when your spoons are highest—even if that’s in the morning or quiet hour mid-week.
Celebrate “smart done” over “hard done.” Productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what moves the needle.
By rewiring “hustle = success” into “rest + action = sustainability,” you build a business—and life—that lasts.
3. Strategic Planning to Avoid Burnout
Planning doesn’t mean perfection. It means having a roadmap so you don’t end up driving blind at midnight, wondering how you got there.
Here’s how I do it:
Quarterly Vision + Monthly Focus: At the start of every quarter, I ask: “What’s the one thing I want this quarter to shift?” Then every month, I zoom in on the weekly tactics.
Energy Audit: Once a month, I list what gave me energy, what drained me, and what I’ll drop/adjust. It’s fast, honest, and clears the fog.
Fail-Safe Systems: Templates, automations, checklists, and delegations. These cut the “startup chaos” that can lead to burnout. (Yes, even I turn off the “hustle” button and apply the system.)
This isn’t about controlling every outcome. It’s about giving yourself a space where you’re less surprised, less exhausted, and more intentional.
So… Why Does This Matter?
Because you and I both know this: the business, the goals, the “next big thing”? They don’t matter if you’re too burned out to enjoy them. If your health is compromised. If you’re grinding so hard you forget why you started.
2026 doesn’t have to be the year you hustle harder. It can be the year you choose smarter.
Choose your energy. Choose your boundaries. Choose the route that lets you build without breaking. Your future self will thank you.
Here’s to 2026 being the year we do less, yet more.
Chrissy x