Wishing everyone a happy new year! I hope 2026 gives you everything
2025 Year-End Wrap-Up
2025 was a year of incredible highs with the release of Nella, and some anxiety-based lows from early-year layoffs that sparked job market instability, prompting my employment search in March 2025. I was lucky enough to have two flexible part-time jobs, one teaching and the other building and supporting communities, so the second half of 2025 was all about learning the ropes of both positions.
I’m so grateful to have had such a strong launch and support for my writing and for all the family memories that were made in 2025.
Here’s a sneak peek into the year!
The book launched in December! I’m so thankful for the outpouring of love and support! Of everything, my favorite memory was the cake that my husband ordered to commemorate the event!
December had me moving around more than I expected, from travel to see my students, with quick work trips to Boston and Newark, New Jersey, to having family in town, being present, and enjoying each day. It truly was a sprint to the end to get everything done, but as always, everything always gets done.
One thing I’m really proud of going into this year is the writing/life dashboard I built. I’ll share the full tracker below, but there’s a close-up of the writing portion.
Instead of only tracking:
A random number of words to hit
Whether I wrote every single day
and beating myself up about it…I wanted a system that actually reflects how writing works.
So now, a “win” can be:
Writing (500 words or one complete scene)
Revising 5-10 Pages (which is my main focus right now — I have a book due for revision on January 26)
30 Minutes Plan (Outlining, Notes, or Reading)
Rest — real, intentional recuperation or reading for fun
This means I get to “win the game” every day without contorting myself into a single metric that doesn’t fit the work and celebrate every win. I hope to know by the end of the year that I’ve taken 365 actions towards my future, my goals, and myself. Some days, the most important thing I can do for the book is think, read, or step away.
That shift alone has taken so much pressure off.
I’m also trying out First Draft software this year to help me see scenes and projects more clearly in one place. I got a 50% off code, so I figured I’d test it out and see if it earns its keep. If it helps me plan better and track multiple projects without mental clutter, it’ll be worth it. We’ll see.
For 2026, my word (really, my phrase) is Pipelines and Polish.
Pipelines means finishing what I’ve started and approaching my creative work like a real business — with clarity, flow, and less anxiety attached to every single decision. Projects in motion. Projects completing. Forward momentum and completion versus endless circling in my brain. I started taking a Google Sheets membership from the Creative Wildheart and love learning how to make my trackers more effective and responsive.
Polish is more personal.
I’m turning 40 this year, which — for whatever reason — feels like becoming an adult adult. I want my life to feel more intentional and put-together, without being rigid or joyless. That includes:
My health (building systems, not relying on willpower)
Moving my body more as a family (we bought a Nex Playground and plan to use it as a fun way to stay active)
Being more aware of what I’m eating — not obsessively, just honestly
Planning meals in advance so future me is supported
Investing in a wardrobe that actually works for my life now (including finally owning a really good pair of black pants)
And then there’s the third, quieter pillar: play.
This year, I’m learning to play the cello. I’ve wanted to do this for years, and I’m done telling myself it’s too late because I didn’t start at 12. I want to learn how to play one song a month. No pressure. I’m planning to buy the cello mid-month, and I’m excited to share that little milestone when it happens.
I’m also building in small, intentional joys — lunch with a friend once a month, side quests on my bingo card, keeping the things I love visible so they don’t disappear under the weight of responsibility or crush me under spinning anxiety. What would you add to your January bingo card?
I’ve already started the year clearing space — literal bags and bags of trash gone, a closet that finally feels breathable. I wish I’d taken a before photo, but maybe that’s fitting. Some progress is just for you, but these after effects can be shared with anyone, because I’m pretty proud! Before, stuff was stacked almost to the white shelf.
I told my mom yesterday morning that I’d get to it in February, but I ended up cleaning out one kitchen drawer, which turned into another, which turned into a human version of “If a Mom Cleans Out One Drawer…”
According to TikTok, I wasn’t alone with the urge to clean and set up space for the new year. I have a trip to the dump and Goodwill later, but it feels good to start 2025 lighter. I hope to get rid of 500 items by the end of the month, and am already down 30.
I’m looking forward to this year and being quietly and confidently consistent in a steady, grounded way. Pipelines. Polish. Play.
Thanks for being here with me as it all unfolds. 💛
What would be your word(s) for 2026? I’d love to know!
Happy Reading and Writing —
Bri
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