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Are you ready to start 2026 strong?

Everyone’s talking about winding down… I want to talk about setting up.

Not in a “do more, push harder” way. But rather in a reflect, close loops, clear energy way so you don’t stumble into 2026 half-powered, clutching a sad vision board and a headache.

January is the worst time to set new goals - you’re tired, emotional, and your brain is basically mashed potato.

But December , well that's honest.
You know what's worked, what's sucked, what drained you, and what lit you up.

As an aside, what's happening in the podcast over the festive season?

Well I'm glad you asked ;-)

This week is the 'Survivor's Guide : how to support yourself and other's when organisation is changing. Then following this we have a 5 week run to the new year and each week you'll find a Christmas story. Real stories, honest stories, the kind that feel cosy but still punch you in the face with a life lesson.

They’re designed to be snack-able, reflective, and perfect for that weird time of year when you’re technically still working but your brain is already in a glittery onesie with a mince pie.

Make sure you hit subscribe so you don’t miss a story - because these ones are special, and you might just hear yourself in them.

It was brought to my attention that the link last week didn't work so if you wanted to quickly find the Redundancy Reset here it is too.

So here’s your four-week glide path into the new year:

WEEK 1: CLOSE THE LOOPS

Tie up loose ends or consciously drop them.

We often talk about managing your energy not your time and this first action will help you do just that. Nothing clutters January more than the half-finished “I’ll deal with it later” stuff you’re pretending isn’t there so this is energy work, not admin.

Examples of loops to close (or release):

• That report you’ve 80% written but avoid because the last 20% feels annoying
• The email you’ve been meaning to reply to for three weeks
• The return you need to send back before it becomes an accidental donation
• The conversation you keep mentally rehearsing but haven’t started
• That personal task that keeps tapping you on the shoulder like a persistent toddler

Mini-move:​
Write a list of everything draining your brain.
Put a ✔️ next to what you’ll finish.
Put a ❌ next to what you’re releasing.
Both count as closure.

WEEK 2: RECONNECT YOUR CIRCLE

Who do you want in your momentum squad?

December always feels like a reconnecting month, but mostly we message the people we already adore or send a festive card as a gentle apology for disappearing since April.

This week is about something different: reaching out to the people who matter for where you’re going, not just where you’ve been.

Most people leave this until January and that’s why nothing meaningful happens until March.

Make December is your soft-launch.

Examples of reconnections that fuel momentum:

• The colleague who energises you but you haven’t spoken to in ages
• A mentor you respect and want to update
• A peer you admire and want to stay close to in 2026
• Someone you collaborated well with this year
• A friend whose ambition quietly lifts yours

This isn’t networking. It’s relationship maintenance.

Mini-move:​
Send three “small bridges”:

• “Been thinking of you - want to catch up in Jan?”
• “Just wanted to say I really appreciated X this year.”
• “Would love to stay connected next year - fancy a coffee in the new year?”

WEEK 3: REFRESH YOUR SYSTEMS

Small tweaks > new personality.

January-you doesn’t need a totally different identity but what you do need is fewer friction points.

Examples of system refreshes that take less than 30 minutes:

• Delete that desktop full of random screenshots
• Put recurring focus blocks in your calendar for 2026
• Organise your notes into 3 folders instead of 14
• Create a simple weekly “reset” checklist
• Update your phone home screen so you stop doomscrolling
• Move your “important but not urgent” list into one place you actually open

Think of it as setting down the mental clutter from 2025 so you can walk into 2026 lighter.

Mini-move:​
Choose ONE system that irritates you weekly. Fix it.
Instant dopamine.
Instant clarity.

WEEK 4: PICK YOUR FIRST MOVE (NOT 12 GOALS)

Skip into January already in motion.

New Year’s resolutions drown people in pressure. They are really just socially acceptable self-punishment. Twelve impossible goals written by someone who’s still digesting cheese and regret.

So let's change that into one move that provides momentum - it's your 'Easy Barometer' because if it isn't easy, you probably won't get started.

• One thing that gets you out of neutral.
• One decision that sets the tone.
• One tiny-but-powerful shift that says: “This year, I’m doing it differently - from day one.”

That’s momentum; not 14 goals you abandon by the second week into the New Year.

Examples of powerful first moves:

• Booking the meeting you’ve been avoiding
• Starting a conversation about your next step
• Blocking non-negotiable thinking time in week one
• Clearing your inbox to zero
• Sending a pitch or proposal
• Signing up for the development you’ve been putting off

This is about tone-setting, not goal-setting.

Mini-move:​
Complete this sentence:
​“In January, the first thing I’ll do to set the tone is…”

It could be bold.
It could be tiny.
It just needs to be yours.

Let’s make 2026 a year you enter, not survive.

Want help?

Sometimes the most valuable development support isn’t a big programme or a block of pre-booked days- it’s having an experienced supporter you can call right when things get messy. Our Phone-A-Friend Retainer gives your leaders and teams access to real-time, high-impact support in the moments that matter: tricky stakeholder conversations, a project wobble, a design sprint that needs sharpening, or a leadership challenge that needs a quick-thinking partner. It’s flexible, fast, and designed to keep momentum high - even when your world shifts.

Let me know if this is something you are intrigued by and I'll whizz you over the details - there are just 5 slots available for 2026. We keep this partnership deliberately exclusive so you get fast, responsive support when you need it.

Big love,

Caroline Esterson & Wendy Gannaway

​INSPIRE YOUR GENIUS​

PS: Hit reply and tell me your biggest lesson from 2025. I’d love to hear it and I'd love to reflect on these in the podcast so we can continue to learn from each other.

Remember when we share we feel less alone and help others feel less alone too.

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