New Year, New Habits: My 2026 Plan

Source: Dev.to

2026 Vision

2026 isn’t just a brand‑new year. It is a blank canvas ready to become a new design full of possibilities, and it also marks the beginning of a new phase in my life.

I’ll be turning 40 next month and entering middle age. 40 means different things for people, so it can create a very strong reaction. Some see it for all the possibilities it brings, while others see it as “The End” written at the end of a book.

Now that 2026 has started, I’ve been thinking a lot about habits. A new year is another chance to build the best version of ourselves. We can reflect and analyze everything we are doing now and what vision we have for the next 365 days.

This year, I want to focus on the things I can control and change. It will be less goal‑setting and more about my vision for this next part of my life. I will examine the habits I already have, the ones I need to improve, and the new ones I want to adopt.

Today’s post is creating a plan for 2026. I will be looking at what habits I’ll be building in six different areas. I like the progress updates I did in June and December 2025, so you’ll see those again this year with updates on how everything is going and what changes I’ll be trying.

Coding

• No new projects or programming languages are planned. The only coding I’ll be doing is for Coding with Kids and any classes I teach. My class load isn’t finalized yet and will change throughout 2026, but I will still be teaching Python or Scratch to kids.
• I will revisit past projects, fixing and updating code, and deciding which ones get archived. The ones I’m most proud of will be added to the LinkedIn Projects section on my profile.
• Although coding isn’t the primary focus, it remains an important part of who I am. In 2026 I want to explore more coding tools and software that help developers write code, especially learning more about AI and becoming comfortable using ChatGPT.

Writing

• I’ll continue the habit of writing a little every day for 25 minutes using the Cuckoo pomodoro timer from the Job Hunt Virtual Coffee group.
• The number of posts I’ll publish in 2026 is still unknown, but new posts will keep coming. Last year I reviewed all the series I have on DEV and decided which ones will continue.
• Beyond blog posts, I have many empty journals waiting to be used. I plan to get back to journaling.
• I have prompts saved on Pinterest and in my old bullet journal that I’d like to explore. I’m also looking at other Forem communities besides DEV for publishing posts.

Learning

• I obtained a library card from my local library and have been using their online resources. I spent a lot of time on LinkedIn Learning and am working toward certifications in data analysis and project management.
• In 2026 I will take the certification exams and continue exploring more LinkedIn Learning courses.
• I will keep learning Korean, this time using only the Drops app.

Professional Development

• I’m back on the job search, but I consider myself a casual job seeker. I’ll keep monitoring job postings and applying for roles that fit. I plan to attend the Job Hunt event again in 2026 for additional support.
• Because the job market is uncertain, I’m exploring side‑project ideas to supplement my work with Coding with Kids. Possibilities include freelancing, writing an e‑book, or creating a YouTube channel.
• Networking will remain a habit throughout 2026. I’ll stay active in the Virtual Coffee Slack and also explore other Slack groups, Discord servers, and Facebook groups to decide which to keep and which to leave.

Adulting

• I want to improve at cleaning and cooking. I’ll set a weekly cleaning schedule with a to‑do list for each room of my apartment.

Self Care

• 2026 will be about returning to the things that give me true joy and finding the right balance between adulting, work, and self‑care.
• I’ll resume crafting, aiming to finish the tree skirt. After the November Creative Community Challenge, I realized I don’t enjoy crafting every single day, so I’ll schedule specific craft days each week.
• While crafting, I’ll continue using the Focus Friend app and listening to podcasts. I plan to finish Code Newbie, and also listen to The Diary of a CEO and Mel Robbins.
• Reading has been sparse for me lately, so I’ll commit to reading a little each day, using a mix of reading apps and physical books.