Enjoy the Holidays, Reflect with Gratitude, and Set Business Goals (Not Resolutions) for 2026
Because You Deserve Rest—and a Real Plan for What’s Next
The holiday season is in full swing.
Orders have shipped. Markets have wrapped up.
Maybe you’re prepping for one final push for a year end sale—or maybe you’ve already hung up your apron and turned on the holiday playlist. Either way...
Let’s take a moment.
A moment to breathe.
A moment to reflect.
A moment to dream forward.
Because you’ve been grinding, growing, making, and moving all year. And now?
You deserve rest. You deserve celebration.
And when you’re ready—you deserve a clear, grounded way to step into 2026 with purpose.
So let’s talk about what it looks like to finish strong—without the hustle—and walk into the new year with business goals, not just vague resolutions.
Step 1: Celebrate How Far You’ve Come
Before we talk strategy, let’s talk gratitude.
Look back at this year and ask yourself:
✅ What did I launch, learn, or let go of this year?
✅ What sales milestone or personal win did I hit?
✅ What product or offer made me proud?
✅ What didn’t go as planned—but taught me something valuable?
Even if the year felt messy or slow—progress still happened.
You showed up. You created. You built something.
That’s worth honoring before you rush into what’s next.
Step 2: Ditch the Resolutions—and Set Real Business Goals Instead
Let’s be real:
“Be more consistent.”
“Post more.”
“Sell more stuff.”
Those are resolutions—and they’re easy to forget by mid-January.
Instead, let’s talk goals—measurable, focused, and aligned.
Try these swaps:
❌ “Grow my business”
✅ “Reach $2,500 in monthly sales by June”
❌ “Be more consistent online”
✅ “Post 3x per week using my content pillars and scheduling on Sundays”
❌ “Make more products”
✅ “Launch 1 new collection each season with 3 signature pieces”
Goals give you structure. They turn your dreams into plans—and your plans into results.
Step 3: Reflect and Reset with These Questions
Grab a notebook or voice memo and take 20–30 minutes to sit with these:
💭 What felt good in my business this year?
💭 What drained me?
💭 What products or services do I want to do more of in 2026?
💭 What boundaries or habits do I want to build in to support my growth?
💭 How do I want to feel in my business next year—and what would support that?
Your answers don’t need to be perfect. They just need to be honest.
Step 4: Set 3 Clear Goals for Q1 of 2026
Start small. Start strong. Don’t wait for perfection.
Examples:
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Reach 100 email subscribers by March
-
Book 3 spring vendor markets
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Launch a Valentine’s Day gift set by Feb 1
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Create and stick to a 2x/week content schedule
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Pay yourself $200/month from sales
💡 Write them down. Put them somewhere visible. Revisit monthly.
Step 5: Rest On Purpose
Your best ideas, biggest breakthroughs, and most aligned moves don’t come from exhaustion.
They come from stillness.
So take the break.
Put on the cozy socks.
Laugh with your people.
Watch the movies.
Sleep in.
Do nothing—and let that be enough.
Because you are enough.
And when you come back, the ideas will be there. The customers will be there. The work will still be there.
But you will be renewed—and that is what makes 2026 a whole different kind of year.
Action Step: Choose Your Word (or Theme) for 2026
Instead of a long list of resolutions, try anchoring your year to a word or phrase that feels right.
✨ “Aligned”
✨ “Ease and expansion”
✨ “Disciplined and joyful”
✨ “This is the year I take up space”
✨ “Simple, strong, sustainable”
Let it guide your goals, your energy, your yeses and nos.
You’re Allowed to Enjoy the Holidays and Prepare for Growth
You don’t have to hustle through December to be successful in January.
You don’t need a 17-step vision board to move with intention.
You just need reflection. Clarity. Rest.
And a few goals that feel honest and aligned.
You’ve done more than enough this year.
Now it’s time to pause, recharge, and get ready to build something beautiful in 2026.