Five reflections to shape a better 2026
Read time: 6 minutes
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It's the time of year when all the planning ramps up: big goals, big ambitions, and even bigger ideas for 2026.
Planning has its place, but I’ve learnt that planning without making time for genuine reflection typically leads to more of the same.
Before thinking about what you want to do or achieve next year, I always think it’s worth getting clear on how this year actually felt, and what it revealed.
These are the 5 questions I find genuinely helpful before making any plans for the year ahead.
1. What gave me energy, and what drained it?
This year, my energy patterns became very clear: certain work gave me momentum and made me feel excited and energised, whilst other projects or tasks really depleted me.
Paying attention to this isn’t indulgent, it’s strategic. Energy is one of the clearest indicators of alignment.
So the very simplest way to plan next year is essentially to do more of what fuels you, and less of what drains you.
2. Where did I make progress, even if it didn’t look very impressive?
Not all progress is visible.
For me, some of the most important growth this year happened internally or in less obvious ways: my judgement, boundaries, decision-making.
I’ve realised that if you only measure progress by tangible milestones, you can easily miss what actually changed.
Those internal shifts often matter more than they seem.
3. What did I keep postponing (and why)?
Avoidance tells you a lot.
The things we keep putting off usually point to discomfort, misalignment, or (most often) fear.
Now is a good moment for complete honesty rather than judgement.
Understanding why you procrastinated, postponed, or abandoned something often matters much more than whether you completed it.
4. What am I optimising for next year?
More money? More flexibility? More challenge?
I’ve learnt the hard way that not everything can be prioritised at once. Being clear about what you’re optimising for makes decisions easier and trade-offs more intentional.
This year reminded me that being super clear on this helps you focus, and prevents frustration later.
5. What would “enough” look like?
To me, this is probably the most important question.
At what point does more — money, growth, responsibility, time — stop adding value?
Defining what’s “enough” helps you avoid chasing goals that look good on paper but don’t meaningfully improve your life.
And that's a powerful anchor for next year.
The takeaway
Before you rush into setting goals, pause for a moment and ask questions instead. Better questions lead to better plans.
You don’t need a perfect strategy for next year, but being clear on what you’re carrying forward, and what you’re ready to change, is invaluable.
And that’s where meaningful progress begins.
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2026.
Speak soon,
Dupé
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