Do You Want More or Less in 2026?
I’ve never found myself excited to write new year resolutions. This year I decided to give it a miss until I found Gretchen Rubin’s 26 for 2026.
The idea is to list twenty-six things you’d like to do by the end of the year. Her approach is to keep the exercise light. These items can be easy or ambitious, one-off or long-term projects. On her own list she includes walk faster!
I started my list enthusiastically but ran out of steam at nine items. Nine?!
Obviously, I needed to think differently about this practice; to stimulate my creativity, not just trigger my Avoider and Hyper-Rational saboteurs into creating yet another to-do list.
The Cost of Saying Yes
As nonprofit leaders, we’re often so focused on adding things to our plates that we ignore how that’s depleting us.
We adjust to the committee that hasn’t achieved anything meaningful in two years. The volunteer obligation that made sense five years ago but doesn’t serve your current goals. The task you took on because it was just easier to do it yourself than to train another junior employee.
These energy drains don’t disappear on their own. And they don’t magically become less exhausting when we add more on top of them.
As someone recovering from and studying burnout, I soon realized that every yes to a new item on my 26 for 2026 was in danger of draining not energizing me.
Michael Bungay Stanier, a playful guy and author of The Coaching Habit, came to the rescue with two questions for 2026.
What do you want more of this year?
And what do you want less of?
Michael’s questions allowed me to catch hold of some of the ideas that had been darting around in the back of my mind like goldfish in a dark pond.
They helped me see that before I could commit to anything new, I needed to get honest about what was draining my energy. And that means saying no to those drainers wherever I can.
Creating Space for What You Want
This is where my “more or less” list finally came together.
In 2026, I want less indecision and procrastination, less “futzing about” (as my mother would say), less self-criticism and self-sabotage. These all drain my energy without contributing to my goals.
And, that creates space for what I want more of: more momentum, more real-life connection and collaboration, more fun and play, and more intentional rest.
Your Turn
What would it look like to protect your energy this year?
What draining commitments, relationships, or habits need to go so you have space for what you truly want? What would become possible if you removed just one or two significant energy drains?
How I Can Support You in 2026
If you’re ready to stop tolerating what drains you and start creating space for what energizes you, I have three ways to work with me in 2026:
Mental Fitness Group Programs for Nonprofit Leaders — Join other nonprofit executives in a 7-week coaching program where you’ll learn to recognize and intercept the saboteurs that keep you stressed and build the mental fitness to honour your boundaries and take action on your priorities. The next program begins March 2.
Mental Fitness plus 1:1 Executive Coaching — Combine the group program with individual executive coaching sessions where we’ll apply these tools specifically to your nonprofit leadership challenges and goals.
Mental Fitness plus 1:1 Executive Coaching and VIP Day — Get the complete package including a VIP day where we’ll dive deep into your specific situation, create your strategic plan, and build your roadmap for the year ahead.
Reply to this email or book a call to explore which option is right for you.
P.S. Although I’ve added to my 26 for 2026 list, it still isn’t finished—and I’ve decided that’s perfectly fine. Some spaces are meant to stay open until inspiration strikes.
