The beginning of the year is a great opportunity to let go of your old life, old habits, and choices, and start doing something differently, completely anew. The psychologist discusses which habits will help you make 2026 the best year of your life.
Habits can be harmful or beneficial. The more we repeat something, the more entrenched the habit becomes, and the more pronounced its effect. To form new behavior patterns, it is essential to dedicate more time and attention to them from the very beginning. Then the habit takes root, and the new action, which seemed difficult before, becomes easy and natural for us. What habits should be adopted in January, at the very beginning of the year, to ensure that 2026 goes perfectly for you and becomes the best year of your life, explains psychologist Lilia Lazareva.
Expand Your Usual Thinking and Perception
Learn to look at everything, even familiar things, from a new angle, to change their perception. As if you were reborn and are seeing everything from a clean slate, not as you are used to. This habit will give you a chance to see new opportunities for yourself, break free from your limitations, and understand that everything may not be as you previously thought, and that anything is possible.
Do Something Radically New for Yourself at Least Once a Month
It doesn’t matter in which aspect of life. For example, change your style, travel to a new place, try a new dish that you wouldn’t have even thought to try before. The essence is to do something new or act differently in any situation and area of life, not as you did before. This will lead to a restructuring of neural connections, and you will perceive your life differently, seeing hidden perspectives and new facets of yourself.
Introduce Mandatory Daily Exercise into Your Routine
At least for 5 minutes a day. If you already have it, then change the exercises themselves.
Learn to Be Honest with Yourself in Different Situations
For example, say "no" (when you want to do it inside) instead of the usual "yes." Say "yes" instead of refusing, even if you were previously shy to agree, but wanted to inside. Do what you want, even if others expect something different from you. Acknowledge your true desires, regardless of your surroundings and circumstances. Honesty with yourself provides a lot of resources, inspiration, and a spark of life.
Open Up More to People and Meet New Ones
New acquaintances provide more inspiration and opportunities.
Identify a New Hobby for Yourself and Engage in It Throughout the Year
Practice Spontaneity
A useful habit that prevents you from getting stuck in your internal limitations and routine. For example, change your usual daily routine today, go to a café for coffee in the morning instead of working from home, take a weekend trip alone if you usually traveled with someone, take a new route to work, and so on. Sudden changes in plans during your usual weekdays can give you a dose of inspiration and allow you to step outside the mundane. This way, you will feel life more intensely, rather than just going through a set of automatic actions throughout the day, week, or month.
Practice Mindfulness
For example, slow down during the day, stop and focus all your attention on the sensations in your body, rather than on thoughts and analysis, meditate.
Trust Your Choices and Actions as Well as What Happens in Your Life
After all, it couldn’t have been any other way, and you couldn’t have acted differently. It is important to understand that there are no mistakes, only experiences from which we grow. Any experience comes into our lives for our growth and to make us happier. The main thing is to draw constructive conclusions from this experience, not negative ones.
Practice Happiness
This is the habit of choosing to be happy regardless of external circumstances and finding reasons for happiness in any situation.
"Happiness is not a set of pleasant circumstances in your life or good treatment towards you," concludes Lilia Lazareva. "There is a well-known phrase: 'Two were looking: one saw a puddle, the other saw stars.' There is no right way to look. Therefore, happiness is merely your internal choice regarding any situation: either direct your attention 'down' — to suffering or 'up' — to seeking reasons and causes to feel happy.
