Soft Goals for 2026

Substackmas Day 9!

In the spirit of Eli Rallo I wrote down my soft goals for 2026. Some tangible goals and also mental goals. Throughout the new year the goals will evolve but for now these are five goals I want to be intentional with in 2026.

1. Stepping Into a New City

• Move to Boston! I’ve accomplished step one of this goal: financial security. T god for my job. The plan for now is to start looking for an apartment in January to move out in May with Jill. I can’t wait! I have already started my apartment Pinterest board. Moving out is the final step into real adulthood. I am very excited to take this next step.

2. Finding My Footing in My First Year of Work

• Today was my first day of my full time job. It was a great first day full of excitement and opportunity for me. I can’t help but wonder what a year in this position will bring me. The dream is to be REALLY good at my job which I think I can do. I want to over perform and show how much of an asset I can be to this team. I can’t even imagine the amount of information and skills I will learn within this first year. I am so grateful to have my dream job at a dream organization me a year ago would be floored.

3. Growing My Confidence With Money

• With having my first full time job comes new financial tasks I have to do. I have already learned a few things about 401Ks and a Simple Roth IRA. You know stocks and bonds. I really want to be able to manage my own money with confidence. I have always been nervous around money. I have this impending doom of just messing everything up and losing all of it. Increasing my financial literacy I think will help combat those fears. I am grateful that my job has already taught me so much and that there are more opportunities for me to learn more. This is a goal I will really have to be consistent with.

4. Inviting More Whimsy Into My Days

• To be called whimsical is my favorite compliment. I love when people think of me as a fun, kind and humorous person. I love to talk to strangers like random service workers at a coffee shop. It always makes my day brighter when I do it. I want to push myself even more with this. Give out more compliments to strangers or make a silly joke like cheering drinks with the man next to me on the plane. Little things like that make life feel more fun.

5. Nurturing Old and New Friendships

• The most important goal of all. Prioritizing my friendships has always been important to me. Even with the distance it’s more important than ever. At the end of 2026 I want to say that I made every effort to see my friends. The Ciao Bellas must survive this. With moving to a new city I want to also make new friendships. I have no idea how I will do this yet but I will find a way. Thankfully I am moving in with my friend Jill but I do want to push myself to make other friendships. This will definitely be a work in progress for sure. Feeling the most nervous about this one.

These may not be concrete tangible goals but I think that’s the best for me in 2026. There has been so much change in my life the last 6 months. I think these soft goals are the perfect combination of pushing myself but also not flipping my life upside down.