Make Yourself a Priority: Your 2026 Vision Starts Here

The last several years have been…well, a lot. Between makeshift home offices, endless Zoom calls, and schedules that never seemed to end, survival became the main goal. Taking care of yourself often fell to the bottom of the list. And that was okay. You were doing what needed to be done.  But now, as 2026 approaches, it’s time to shift the focus back to you. Back to what lights you up, what routines bring joy, and what it feels like to truly be a priority.

Because here’s the truth: if you’re not putting yourself first, frustration, overwhelm, and exhaustion become your constant companions. And yes—they spill into every other part of your life.

Why It’s So Hard to Make Yourself a Priority

Society hasn’t exactly made it easy. Between partners, kids, work obligations, and the subtle messages that our value is measured by how much we give to others, self-care can feel…selfish. Saying “no” feels guilty. Carving out time for yourself feels indulgent. Dreaming about something that doesn’t serve someone else feels impossible.

But here’s the thing: prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish. It’s survival. When you take care of yourself first, everything else benefits. You become a calmer parent, a more focused professional, a more present partner, a better friend.

Create Your Vision

Imagine stepping into 2026 with a life that actually reflects you. Not the life everyone else thinks you should live, but the one that makes your heart race with excitement. Picture yourself at the end of the year, looking back and thinking: Wow. I made that happen.

Maybe it’s finally claiming that promotion at work. Maybe it’s buying the house you’ve been daydreaming about while folding laundry. Or maybe it’s simply being the healthiest, most energetic version of yourself, waking up with strength and clarity instead of dragging through the day.

Here’s how to make that vision feel real:

• • See it clearly. Your vision begins with your heart and extends to your mind. Create a vision board, a journal page, or even a folder of photos on your phone that represent your goals. The key is daily visibility.
  • Feel it. Don’t just look at the images—imagine how achieving them will feel. The pride, the relief, the excitement.
  • Anchor it. Pair each goal with a concrete action you can take this week to inch closer to it.

Think of your vision as a compass. It won’t move the terrain for you, but it will guide every step you take, even when the path gets messy.

Make Yourself a Priority

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Most of us are excellent at giving our energy to everyone else—partners, kids, bosses, friends—but treating ourselves like a priority? That’s a radical act.

Picture this: it’s a Wednesday afternoon. The laundry is piled high, emails are pinging, and you have a meeting in 10 minutes. You’re tempted to skip your run, your meditation, or that 30 minutes of quiet you promised yourself. You could give in—but what happens if you don’t?

• • You feel stronger, more capable, more in control.
  • Your mind clears. Decisions come easier. Stress feels less like a tsunami.
  • You model self-respect to everyone around you without saying a word.

Small, repeated actions build the habit of prioritizing yourself. Setting boundaries, carving out intentional space, and saying “no” when needed aren’t indulgences. They’re investments in the life you want.

Setting Goals That Actually Fit You and Your Life

Big dreams are inspiring, but life happens. You’ll face chaos, interruptions, and setbacks. That’s why goals that actually work are flexible, concrete, and realistic.

• • Break the big picture into manageable steps. If your goal is to be healthier, maybe that starts with 15 minutes of movement three times a week, not a sudden six-day-a-week bootcamp.
  • Schedule check-ins. Look at your progress weekly or monthly, celebrate wins, and adjust if needed.
  • Embrace imperfection. Progress is rarely linear. Each setback is data, not failure.

Think of 2026 as a marathon. There’s no finish line to sprint toward in one burst. You have 12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days to show up for yourself. The trick is consistency, compassion, and celebration along the way.

Journal Prompts: Bust Your Myths

Reflection is where transformation begins. So, grab your journal and dive into your heart and mind. Sit with these questions honestly, write your answers, and watch yourself rewrite old narratives:

• • Why do I always put everyone else first?
  • How does putting myself first actually help others around me?
  • In what ways can I build a stronger relationship with myself in the coming year?
  • When I say “yes” to myself, what feelings show up?
  • Why do I feel that making myself a priority is selfish?
  • What’s one small action I can take this week that’s entirely for me?

Take your time with these questions. There are no right or wrong answers. Just honesty with yourself. Writing them down helps you see the patterns, challenge the old beliefs, and begin making space for your needs. This is where the real work of choosing yourself begins: reflection turns into action, and action slowly, steadily, builds the life you deserve.

When You Make Yourself a Priority? Everything Shifts

Take your time. Be honest. Be kind. And remember: questioning your own assumptions is how growth begins.

As you look ahead to 2026, remember this: nothing changes until you change how you treat yourself. When you decide to make yourself a priority, you reclaim your energy, your hope, and your ability to create a life that actually feels like yours. You stop running on fumes and start moving with intention. You stop reacting and start choosing.

Your vision doesn’t have to be dramatic or glamorous. It just has to be true. True to your needs. A pure reflection of your desires. Simply something that speaks to that quiet part of you that’s tired of being last on your own list. And here’s the beautiful part: the moment you begin honoring yourself—even in the smallest ways—you shift everything.

Yes, that means you will see the shifts in your relationships and your work. And that always extends to not just your confidence, but your overall health, happiness, and an opportunity to embrace joy. It all expands when you do. 2026 can be the year you stop abandoning yourself and start building a life that supports you. A year rooted in clarity, compassion, and choices that nourish instead of drain.

So take a breath. Revisit your vision. Start where you are. And remind yourself (even if you have to do it every single day) that you’re worth the time, the effort, and the care. Because you are.

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Make Yourself a Priority in the Year Ahead:
Choose a Word of the Year!

Life is busy. Yet I also know that if you are here, you desire to have a nourishing daily life. This eBook / workbook is designed to help you with that.

A Guiding Light for 2026: Discover Your Word of the Year.

Here’s what you’ll find in A Guiding Light for 2026: Discover Your Word of the Year.

• • In Part One, you’ll take a look back as you Bid Farewell to 2025.
  • You’re invited to look ahead to 2026 and begin to breathe life into your desires as you explore Part Two.
  • In Part Three, you’ll review a list of more than 1000 words and begin pondering what Word (or words) is right for YOU in 2026.
  • To help you gain clarity, Part Four provides you with a series of tools to help you gain clarity around the best Word to serve as a touchstone to serve as your companion through your journey in 2026.
  • In Part Five, you’ll Declare Your Word (or Words) of 2026.

I’ve also added two Bonus section to help you you create a more nourishing year.

Bonus One explores Ways to Work with Your Word of the Year. This section suggests a dozen ways to help seal your Word…and more than a dozen journal prompts to continue to check-in with your Word throughout 2026.

Bonus Two is an invitation to dive into your emotions. There, I’ll share how you can use your emotions for good. And as a path and process for creating days that are more nourished. And satisfying.

Get your FREE Copy of this powerful workbook: A Guiding Light for 2026: Discover Your Word of the Year.

>>Want to read more tips on how to love your life? Click here!<<</h