Ditch New Year’s Resolutions: A Smarter Way To Plan 2026

It’s January, which means New Year’s resolutions are everywhere. And while we all start with the best intentions (guilty), most resolutions are wildly unrealistic, which is why they rarely stick. Research shows only 9% of Americans actually keep their resolutions, 23% quit within the first week, and 43% give up by the end of January. Cue the frustration, guilt, and “I’ll try again next year” mindset.

So instead of repeating the same cycle, let’s ditch resolutions and start planning. Because if we truly want a better year, we need a better strategy, one that sets us up for success for the next 365 days, not just the first few weeks.

Life gets busy fast. Work, family, and everyday responsibilities can quietly take over, leaving very little room for you. Routines are comforting, but without intention, they can easily turn into a rut. The secret to avoiding that? Planning newness. New experiences, growth, and fun don’t just happen, we have to create space for them. With the average lifespan hovering around 78 years, the time to live intentionally is now.

This is why “winging it” no longer works. A great year doesn’t happen by accident, it’s designed. The beauty of planning is that once the work is done, all you have to do is follow the plan. Simple, empowering, and way less overwhelming.

Enter Jesse Itzler, entrepreneur, author, motivational powerhouse, and his incredible approach to year planning. Alongside his equally inspiring wife, Sara Blakely (yes, that Sara Blakely of Spanx). Together, their philosophy is all about living life on offense instead of constantly reacting on defense.

At the center of this strategy is The Big A## Calendar, an oversized, year-at-a-glance planner that turns time into a visual roadmap. It’s not just about scheduling appointments; it’s about designing a life that prioritizes family, health, fun, growth, and intention. When you can see your entire year laid out in front of you, planning becomes powerful AND motivating.

Closing Out 2025

Before you plan an amazing 2026, take a moment to fully close out 2025. This is your time to reflect on the wins, the challenges, and everything in between. Notice what worked and deserves more space next year, and what didn’t so you can pivot with intention. Growth often comes more from the lessons than the highlights, making reflection a powerful tool for redirection.

One ritual I love from Jesse Itzler during this phase is writing handwritten thank-you notes to the people who positively impacted his year; coworkers, friends, family, mentors, or anyone who made life brighter. It’s a simple but meaningful practice that deepens connection and reminds us how much impact appreciation can have.

Get Light For 2026 (No Diets Required)

“Getting light” for the new year has nothing to do with a fad diet. Instead, it’s about clearing the physical and digital clutter that’s built up over the past year so you can start fresh, with a lighter mind and more energy. Clutter in your home, car, closet, or computer creates mental noise and drains momentum, even if you don’t realize it. When you clear your space, you clear your head and that shift alone can be incredibly powerful.

Letting go of what no longer serves you creates room for clarity, creativity, and forward motion. It’s one of the simplest ways to reset your energy and build momentum heading into the new year.

Get Light Formula

• Closet clean-out: Follow the simple, feel-good method from organizing expert Marie Kondo.
• Inbox detox: Unsubscribe from junk emails and delete old messages you no longer need (instant mental relief).
• Declutter your car: A clean car = a calmer commute.
• Desk & paperwork reset: Sort papers, mail, bills, and cancel subscriptions you’re no longer using.

Small acts of clearing add up to a big mental reset, and they set the tone for a lighter, more intentional year ahead.

Ready To Plan Your 2026?

1) Choose Your Misogi

A misogi is one bold goal or experience that defines your year. It’s deeply personal, slightly terrifying, and pushes you beyond your comfort zone. Think: publishing a book, running an ultramarathon, launching a podcast, starting a business, or finally chasing a dream that’s been sitting on your bucket list for years.

Your misogi should stretch you, but that’s the point. When you reach the end of the year, you want to look back and say, I can’t believe I did that.

Once you choose it, put it on your calendar. Whether it’s blocking off training time, setting a launch date, or scheduling milestones, adding your misogi to the calendar turns a dream into a plan. It gives you something to work toward and something exciting to look forward to.

No misogi this year? That’s okay. Life happens. Growth still counts. Your goal might be mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual…what matters is that it challenges you and makes you proud. Big or small, choose something that moves you forward and commit to it intentionally.

2) plan mini adventures

One of Jesse’s best friends, Kevin, came up with a simple but powerful rule for adding more fun and newness to your year: every other month, plan one day to do something you wouldn’t normally do.

That’s it.

Follow this rule and you’ll automatically create six mini adventures in a single year, experiences you likely wouldn’t have had if you didn’t plan for them. These don’t need to be big or complicated. Think: signing up for a cooking class, taking a spontaneous hiking trip, going to a concert, running a charity 5K, hosting a neighborhood gathering, or trying an activity you’ve always been curious about.

This is exactly what I mean by planning newness. Fun and adventure don’t just happen, they’re created. By intentionally scheduling these mini adventures, you break out of routine, add excitement to your calendar, and build a year that feels full, memorable, and alive.

3) Build 4 Life-Changing Habits

Commit to adding four new habits this year, just one per quarter, and watch how small changes create big transformation. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s consistency. Simple shifts like drinking more water, meditating for five minutes, reading daily, or waking up a bit earlier can quietly elevate your entire routine.

If you want a fresh, practical perspective on building habits that actually stick, I highly recommend Atomic Habits by James Clear. It’s one of my favorite resources on habit formation and a book I’ll be re-reading in the new year.

By layering in one winning habit every quarter, you give yourself space to adapt while steadily improving your health, mindset, relationships, productivity and ultimately, your life.

Final Thoughts

Jesse Itzler’s approach to planning is a refreshing reminder that a great year doesn’t happen by accident, it’s designed. By adding just three intentional elements to your calendar, you’re not only setting yourself up for an unforgettable year, but for a life filled with meaning, fun, and momentum.

The math is powerful. If you’re 30 and live to 80, that’s 50 chances for year-defining moments and 300 mini adventures still ahead. Suddenly, planning feels less like a chore and more like an opportunity.

This isn’t about managing time, it’s about making time count. The Big A## Calendar becomes a visual reminder to prioritize what truly matters: the people you love, experiences that light you up, and a life lived on purpose.

So pour a glass of something you love, grab your Big A## Calendar (or the slightly smaller version), and let’s start planning a year that doesn’t just look good on paper, but actually feels amazing to live.

Here’s to planning boldly and living fully, let’s make 2026 incredible!

Gina