Looking ahead to 2026

I've been planning my year in the same way for the last few years now.

Loosely, there are 4 parts to it:

1. Dailies

2. Projects I want to do

3. Things that I need to do as a responsible adult

4. Media shortlists

Dailies

There's not much planning to do here because this list stays the same year to year. I like writing them down in my plan anyway, to renew my commitment. Every day, I will:

1. Read (quantity does not matter + comics count)

2. Walk around the park, or workout

3. Log my day (via a lil drawing in a monthly spread)

I am not a disciplined person. Doing these 3 things everyday is me at my best. In fact, I totally dropped the ball on number 3 halfway through last year. I don't bother trying to add more to this list.

Projects I want to do

There is still plenty of time in a year to do things though! Not enough time to do everything I want. I need priorities. I am easily distracted and love starting new things, so I'd just jump from project to project without this list.

Loosely, I:

1. Write down what I value. I already have a version from last year's planning so I'm mainly reflecting on whether they are still accurate and tweaking as needed.

An example of this is: Making something to express myself, in forms that become experiences for others.

2. Do a brain dump of projects I want to do. These are fun! things, not responsibilities or self-improvement.

3. Map my values to each project. Will working on this project help me experience/fulfil that value?

4. Pick the top projects, based on 1) the quantity of values that matched a project and 2) ensuring that all values are represented through the selected projects.

Choose a practical number of projects for you. My lists are long because I can put a lot of time and resources towards these projects.

5. Put them in a list to stick somewhere prominent so I can see them all year and act on them!!

My lists for the year. TTRPGs get its own list as my main hobby at the moment:

This part is wholly inspired by this article .

Things that I need to do as a responsible adult

This category exists because I need motivation to go to the dentist... I find it incredibly difficult to not procrastinate on tasks that fall outside routine chores, like book a dentist's appointment or catalogue the piles of books/zines I have lying around.

The bingo card goal setting format + carrot is an effective way to trick myself into doing this type of tasks.

I list these tasks in a 5x5 bingo card. I don't have enough tasks to fill it up entirely but that's fine. More tasks in this category will no doubt emerge as the year unfolds. Beside the bingo card, I've put down 5 things I want to buy, mostly hardcover comic books and games on my wishlist. I'll treat myself to one whenever I cross out 5 squares. Here's hoping I'll have 5 new comic books and games in my stash at the end of 2026.

Media shortlists

Lastly, I like to make shortlists for books and games. I have extensive TBR lists and it's overwhelming to pick from them in the moment when I'm looking for a new book or game, so some curation ahead of time helps. No methodology here, just what my heart wants in this moment. The TTRPG list is new this year.

Books

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

Strega by Johanne Lykke Holm

Where the Axe is Buried by Ray Nayler

36 Streets by TR Napper

Red Sword by Bora Chung

Video games

Citizen Sleeper

Paradise Killer

Signs of the Sojourner (replay)

TTRPGs

Cloud Empress

PICO

The Girls of the Genziana Hotel

Hearts of Wulin or Wandering Blades

May You Fish In Interesting Times

Harvest

Vampire Cruise with Liminal Horror

Escape from Dino Island (as a bonus, Dinoplex: Cataclysm with the same group)

Clown Husbandry

Mappa Mundi

I hope 2026 is gentle on the both of us!