Easing into 2026

Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe that we are already 2 weeks into 2026. I was able to take a real holiday break and it was sooo needed. I still had some social media work to do (I handle social for a few clients), but I had 0 shoots for 2 weeks and I LOVED it! I was able to sleep late, hang out with my family and friends, do a little bit of decluttering throughout my house and just RELAX.

I use to want to get a head start on the new year and be super productive, but this year I said no ma’am and decided to slow it all the way down. December is the beginning of Winter, not the end, so trying to rush and be productive and do all of the things during my break was not going to be part of my plan; I work for myself and honestly, I was TIRED, so I decided to actually take a break and ease into 2026.

And you know what? I’m still keeping it easy.

Working as a creative and also being a blogger/influencer/content creator is mentally exhausting. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do and am so thankful for this career, but constantly worrying about creating content for yourself AND clients and posting on social media daily can be a lot, so when I get a chance to slow down, I take it. Plus, I am chronically online and know that I need to do a better job with disconnecting, and this time of year is the best time to do it. It’s cold, dreary more days than it’s not, and not a lot of things going on “outside” anyway, so why not?

So while I am officially back to work, I plan to continue to ease into 2026. I don’t plan on filling up my schedule with events or social outings over the next few months. What I DO plan on doing is enjoying my home and partaking in cozy activities. I plan to visit a few museums, coffee shops and restaurants that have been on my radar, maybe have a friend or 2 over to hang out, and I’ve got a ton of new books and magazines to (finally) read, so there is plenty for me to do.

I also want to test out a few recipes in some of the cookbooks that I own since I rarely get to cook as it is (though I did contribute a lasagna to Christmas brunch -which surprised everyone, lol- and I made pasta while dancing around my kitchen to Olivia Dean the other night). I know that “slow living” and “analog activities” are buzzy lifestyle trends right now but honestly, it makes sense for this time of year! Plus, disconnecting and doing things without documenting every single thing on your phone (or rather, sharing every single thing you document) will actually help you become a better, more interesting creator.

So here’s to easing into 2026. I’d love to know how you’re spending these Winter months.

Are you slowing down as well or is it full steam ahead for you?