As 2025 comes to a close, I am not rushing to make any resolutions. I find them useless. Instead, I’ve slowed down long enough to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what this year taught me about money, health, and real life. My conclusion it was time for a gentle reset.

It has been a hard year for me and many I know. Several had health challenges. Three had cancer. Thankfully, all are on their healing journeys. Several dealt with grief, including me. Several had job changes.

In 2026, I was diagnosed with ADHD late in life, which explained so very much. I also had bariatric surgery in May so I could tackle my weight issues head-on. My weight had been stealing my ability to move. By the end of the year, I will have lost over 80 pounds, and I have regained my ability to move.

If you’re ending this year feeling tired but still hopeful that next year can be different, you’re not alone. Many of us are carrying lessons we didn’t expect and wisdom we earned the hard way.

What 2025 Taught Me About Money and Health

Looking back, 2025 wasn’t a bad year—but it wasn’t an easy one either. I had good intentions, tried to make responsible financial choices, and wanted to show up better for myself and my family, and my friends. What surprised me most wasn’t a budgeting mistake or missed savings goal. It was how often I pushed through exhaustion instead of paying attention to what my body was telling me.

That led to a realization I can’t ignore anymore: no financial plan works if your health is struggling. There were many days in 2025 where my health was struggling.

When your energy is low and stress is high, even the best budgeting strategies become hard to follow. Decision fatigue sets in. Consistency disappears. And suddenly, money feels heavier than it needs to be. Health and finances aren’t separate—they’re deeply connected. Especially when it comes to your mental health.

Choosing a Different Kind of Reset for 2026

Instead of asking myself how to “do more” in 2026, I asked a better question:
What needs to change so my life actually supports me?

That question led me to what I’m calling a gentle reset. Not a dramatic overhaul. Not a list of impossible goals. Just an intentional shift toward sustainability—especially when it comes to health, money management, and daily habits.

What I’m Leaving Behind in 2025

As this year closes, there are a few things I’m intentionally not carrying forward:

All-or-nothing thinking.
If I couldn’t do something perfectly, I often felt like it wasn’t worth doing at all. That mindset kept me stuck far more than it ever helped me improve.

Guilt-driven budgeting.
Shaming myself for past spending decisions never led to better financial habits. It only drained my motivation and confidence.

Ignoring my health until “life calms down.”
Life doesn’t naturally slow down. Waiting for the perfect time cost me more than starting imperfectly ever did. I waited decades before I really started caring about my health and it cost me.

Goals that looked good on paper but didn’t fit real life.
I’m done chasing financial plans and routines that ignore energy, stress levels, and real-world responsibilities. Ever set big goals and then feel the guilt after not getting to where you dreamed of? Me too.

What I’m Carrying Into 2026

I’m not starting the new year empty-handed. I’m bringing clarity, self-awareness, and a few intentional commitments with me:

Health as the foundation.
Not a side goal. Not something I’ll get to later. My physical and mental health support everything else—my finances, my relationships, and my ability to stay consistent. Just as much as they matter in my life, they matter in yours too.

Simple financial systems.
Fewer accounts, fewer decisions, and routines that actually fit daily life. Simplicity brings peace. Auto pay can be your friend.

Consistency over intensity.
I don’t need extreme budgeting challenges or rigid plans. I need habits I can maintain even on hard days. 15 minutes of movement is great, everything else is bonus.

One focused season at a time.
Trying to fix everything at once only leads to burnout. Focus brings progress.

A Simple Reset You Can Try

If you’re unsure how to approach 2026, try this simple reflection before setting any goals:

1. What drained me the most in 2025? For me, it was an unattainable goal-setting mindset. I needed systems, not goals.
2. What helped me feel calmer, stronger, or more stable? Once I learned to give myself grace, everything changed.
3. What one area—health, money, or time—would make everything else easier if supported? For me, after watching my own health slide over decades, this is the core for change needed.

You don’t need a full plan today. You just need honesty.

Moving Forward With Grace

Your next chapter doesn’t have to begin with pressure or perfection. It can start with permission—to simplify, to rest, and to build a life that supports you instead of draining you.

As I step into 2026, I’m choosing to start with health, supported by gentle financial habits made simple by using tools like autopay, and guided by compassion rather than guilt. If this year taught me anything, it’s that lasting change happens when we build from the inside out.

Wherever you are right now, I hope you give yourself that same grace. A gentle reset might be exactly what you need.

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