January 2026 Goals

Back in January 2025 I wrote this about the lifestyle changes I wanted to make during 2025. However, my focus was on renovating the bungalow and lots of medical issues, so the lifestyle changes were put on the back burner and I didn't really make any progress. So, this year I am going to take a slightly different approach and instead of planning for the entire year, I will only plan one month at a time. Hopefully, this way I will see some of the changes I want to achieve starting to impact on my everyday life.

Home: it's time to start on the decorating, replacing carpets, and sorting out some curtains, so I have contacted some local tradesmen to arrange for quotations. Once I have those I can make some decisions and get the work started.

Garden: M (gardener) has been over to see the completed hard landscaping and she loves it as much as I do. There won't be much happening this month, unless I decide to get some roses, so most of my effort towards the garden is planning the plants I want, and deciding what to do about the lawns.

Music: The piano is now in place and I can get to it easily at long last, so my aim is to get back to playing it every day. I have found some of the music books so I have no excuses, and I'm actually looking forward to this!

Photography: I've found the packing box containing all the camera equipment so during the month I will dust off my DSLR and get started on some photos. I also have my u3a Something Snappy group, and other photo challenges to take photos for.

Swimming: I doubt that this will be possible this month. For one thing, I'm reliant on Niall for transport and to help me in the pool, and we both have a busy month ahead of us. 

Reading: My reading attempts are improving. I'm aiming to read three books this month, which is nowhere near the younger me's total of two or three books every week, but I'll be happy if I achieve it!

Healthy lifestyle: This is the biggie! With the recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes I need to get my act together, get to understand the disease and sort out a healthy, diabetes friendly, diet for myself. I also have to have a diabetes retinal scan in January, and give some thought on how I can start exercising daily ... which isn't easy when one of the medical issues is fatigue and mobility issues.

Socialising: This definitely needs a lot of work! I want to regain my independence in this aspect of my life, so with that in mind my calendar looks something like this ...

• Jan 5th: u3a Canasta group

• Jan 19th: u3a Canasta group

• Jan 26th: u3a Something Snappy group

• Jan 29th - 30th: a solo trip to Bournemouth to see the Shen Yun dance company at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre and an overnight stay in a hotel. Niall has meetings in Bournemouth on the same dates (my theatre trip was chosen to coincide with his diary), so he will drive me there and back, but I'll be on my own for the theatre and hotel stay. 

• date to be agreed: belated 70th birthday celebration organised by my friend and her four daughters. It's going to be an afternoon tea at mine, but they are providing all the food and doing all the prep. I'm looking forward to it.

• date to be agreed: belated joint birthday celebration with friend L, delayed from November.

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My One Little Word for 2025 was 'accomplish' and I'm sticking with that for the start of the year at least. I will probably choose a different word to cover improving all the health issues, but I can't think of anything suitable ... any suggestions will be appreciated.