Simplicity

Simplicity doesn’t feel trendy or aspirational this year.

It felt necessary.

Not in a dramatic, life-altering way. More like a slow realization that things had gotten louder than they needed to be. Too many choices. Too many tabs open—mentally and literally. Too much energy spent managing things that weren’t actually adding anything meaningful to my life.

So for 2026, my word is simplicity. It’s not as a goal of being “perfect”, but as a way to move through the year.

For me, simplicity isn’t about getting rid of everything or striving for some perfectly minimal life. It’s about being intentional. About choosing what stays—and just as importantly, what doesn’t.

I’m simplifying my possessions first. Being more thoughtful about what I bring into my home and why. Moving away from fast, impulsive purchases and toward things that are intentional, useful, or genuinely loved. Fewer things to manage means more space to actually live in my space, instead of constantly organizing it.

That same mindset is carrying into how I approach getting dressed. A simpler wardrobe. Fewer decisions. Clothes that feel like me, that work together, that don’t require overthinking before coffee. Less “what should I wear?” and more “this already works.”

I’m also leaning into resources that slow me down instead of speeding me up. Borrowing instead of buying. Letting curiosity lead without the pressure to own everything I’m interested in. Reading more, not because it’s productive, but because it’s grounding.

Meals are becoming simpler too. I love to cook, but over the last few years that has fallen to the wayside. More home-cooked food is part of the plan. Familiar recipes. Less decision fatigue at dinnertime. Cooking as care instead of another task to optimize.

I’m making space to return to practices that feel steady and rooted—herbalism, spiritual rituals, small daily moments that don’t ask for performance or productivity to earn something. These are the things that quietly support me, even when I don’t notice them working.

And maybe most importantly, I’m simplifying my relationship with screens. Less doom scrolling. More reading, writing, and creating. More time with my thoughts instead of reacting to everyone else’s. I don’t want to consume my way through another year—I want to participate in it.

I know simplicity isn’t something you achieve once and then move on from. It’s a practice. I’ll overcomplicate it sometimes. I’ll slip back into old habits. But again, this year isn’t about perfection—it’s about noticing when things feel heavy and choosing a lighter way forward when I can.

I don’t know exactly what 2026 will hold. But I want it to feel quieter. More intentional. More aligned.

Less noise.

More life.