Goals for 2026 - Small Steps Over Big Promises
- Sam Summers
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Every January, we’re encouraged to go bigger.
Bigger goals.Bigger routines.Bigger versions of ourselves.
And while I love ambition, I’ve learned something important over the years — especially as a working mum:
Real change rarely comes from grand plans. It comes from small, intentional tweaks we actually follow through on.
Slowing down.Getting perspective.Being present.And choosing one small thing — daily or weekly — that supports me.
Because being good to yourself doesn’t mean carving out three spare hours you don’t have. It doesn’t mean a complete lifestyle overhaul or a perfectly colour-coded routine.
Sometimes it just means listening to what your body, mind, or soul is quietly asking for — and responding in the smallest way possible.
The Myth of “I Don’t Have Time”
I hear it all the time from mums.
“I don’t have time for myself.”
And I get it. Truly. Between work, kids, mental load, life admin, and sheer exhaustion — time feels like the rarest resource.
But here’s the gentle truth I’ve come to accept (and occasionally have to remind myself of):
Change only happens when we decide something is important enough.Until then, what we’re really saying isn’t “I don’t have time” — it’s “this isn’t important right now.”
And that’s not a judgement. It’s awareness.
Because once we recognise that, we get our power back. We can choose differently — without guilt, pressure, or unrealistic expectations.
My 2026 Health Goals (and the One Small Thing I’m Starting With)
Like many of you, I have a list of health and fitness goals this year. Strength. Energy. Feeling good in my body again.
But instead of trying to tackle everything at once, I asked myself a simple question:
What’s one small ‘me-care’ habit I can actually stick to?
The answer surprised me in its simplicity.
A protein shake. Every morning.
That’s it.
My naturopath recently told me I’m not getting enough protein. And honestly — that wasn’t shocking. As a busy working mum, meals are often rushed, skipped, or eaten standing up while doing three other things.
The revelation wasn’t the information.The revelation is me finally doing something about it.
A protein shake costs me:
No extra time
No extra energy
No complicated planning
But it does help me:
Start the day nourished
Support my body properly
Feel more stable and energised
It’s an easy win. And easy wins matter.
Small Steps > No Steps
We often dismiss small actions because they don’t feel impressive enough.
But small steps are powerful because they’re doable.
And something done consistently will always beat something perfect that never happens.
So instead of asking, “What should I completely change this year?”Try asking:
What does my body need more of?
What does my mind need less of?
What would feel supportive — not overwhelming?
Your small change might be:
A morning walk around the block
A daily supplement
Ten minutes of reading or journalling before bed
Stretching while the kettle boils
Sitting in silence before the house wakes up
None of these require a new identity or a total life reset. They just require intention.
A New Narrative for 2026
This year, I’d love for us — especially mums — to change the story we tell ourselves.
Instead of:
“I don’t have time for myself.”
What if it became:
“I’m finding time in small moments.”
Because those small moments add up.They shift how we feel.They remind us that we matter too.
You don’t need to do everything.You don’t need to do it perfectly.You just need to choose one thing that supports you — and decide it’s important enough to begin.
So as we step into 2026, I invite you to reflect:
What’s one small change you could make that might quietly change your wellbeing for the better?
Start there.Small is enough.Small is powerful.
