Planning 2026: Goals, Habits, and Systems That Actually Work! How I’m Designing My 2026
- AiTommy
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Hi guys! It's me, AiTommy✨️
Happy New Year!! 2026 has officially begun, and while it feels like time flew by incredibly fast, it also somehow feels heavy with everything that happened along the way.
Today, I want to build on that reflection and talk about how we can turn 2026 into a genuinely productive year, not just one that sounds good on paper when we write down our resolutions.
As you read this, I want you to think alongside me and reflect on your own goals for this year. Do they feel realistic? Do they feel achievable? And more importantly, do you know how you’re going to get there?
Let's get started!
How to Achieve Your Yearly Resolutions: Turning Goals Into Action
One of the biggest lessons I learned about yearly goal setting is that simply deciding on a goal is never enough.
A goal without concrete, executable steps is just a wish, and wishes tend to disappear once daily life takes over.
For example, saying “I want to lose five kilograms” sounds clear and motivating at first, but without structure, it doesn’t actually change your behavior.
What makes a difference are the small, repeatable actions you can take every day, such as walking a mile before lunch, stopping eating when you feel about eighty percent full, or drinking water when you feel hungry instead of immediately reaching for snacks.
These small, practical habits are what turn abstract goals into something real and achievable.
Why I Couldn't Achieve My Goals in 2025
Looking back at 2025, I realized that I focused far too much on goals and not nearly enough on the process behind them.
I set goals like learning Live2D and completing several animation projects, and while I technically created some projects, I completely skipped the proper learning phase.
I never took the time to fully understand what Live2D could do, what techniques existed, or how to achieve the results I actually wanted. If you want to learn new software, that's the worst route to take.
Af first, I was excited to make animation projects with Live2D, but I felt discouraged even to open it after a few months because I skipped the foundation part. I didn't know how to use properly to make more projects with it.
Unsurprisingly, that gap between intention and execution became the main reason I failed that goal. I think this is something many people experience: they skip the planning stage, rush forward, and then feel disappointed at the end of the year when things don’t turn out the way they hoped.
Because of that, I want to approach 2026 differently by using a method that focuses on identifying goals, obstacles, and concrete plans instead of vague motivation.
This method called: WOOP.
Wish – Decide your goal
Outcome – Imagine the benefits of achieving it
Obstacle – Identify what might stop you
Plan – Create a concrete plan to overcome those obstacles
There’s a short video and a book that explain this method very clearly, and I highly recommend checking them out if you’re interested.
My Biggest Goal for Early 2026
Applying this framework to my own life made one thing very clear: my biggest and most demanding goal for early 2026 is finishing my novel and preparing it for publication in March.
To make that happen, I need to complete all illustrations by January and finalize the formatting so I can meet the release date.
If everything goes according to plan, my goal is to finish all illustrations by January 24th and use the remaining time to finalize formatting, and while it’s intense, there’s no real alternative if I want this book to exist in the world.
So, that's my wish: publish my novel in March.
The biggest obstacle standing in the way of this goal is painfully obvious: mindless phone scrolling.
It’s one of the least productive habits imaginable, and it quietly steals hours without giving anything back.
To deal with this, I’m planning to reduce phone usage aggressively by limiting most social media apps to five minutes a day or less, completely stopping the habit of checking platforms I don’t even use anymore, deleting unnecessary bookmarks, and using site-blocking tools.
I personally rely on a browser extension called ScreenTime, which allows me to limit access to specific websites, and I’ve found it incredibly effective.
Another surprisingly powerful tool for staying focused is live streaming my work on YouTube!
When someone is watching, even without commenting or interacting with me, it creates a sense of accountability that makes it much harder to get distracted or pick up my phone.
For those who are comfortable with it, streaming on YouTube or Twitch can be a great way to maintain focus, and even Discord work calls can help, though for me, talking while working can sometimes be challenging😅
Summary So Far
To summarize this approach, my priority right now is...
Finishing and publishing my book in March
My main obstacle is phone distraction
My solution is setting strict limits, removing temptations, and working publicly whenever possible.
This simple process of identifying goals, obstacles, and solutions has already made my plans feel far more realistic than previous years.
Now, some of you probably thought this already:
“What happens after March?”
Good question!! And that’s where another concept comes in: The 12 Week Year.
The 12 Week Year: 4 years in 1 year, besically
This idea treats twelve weeks as a full year, creating constant urgency and focus instead of spreading motivation thin across twelve long months.
For the first three months of 2026, most of my energy will go into publishing the book, which is why my goals are structured around that timeline.
I need to recap this first year at the end of March and create new goals from April to June!
Other Goals for 2026
Beyond that, I have other goals:
Releasing one podcast episode every week
Publishing one blog post alongside each podcast
Releasing Chapters 5 and 6 of my Powerpuff Girls Z fan comic
Focusing more on selling my book, and less on fanart
Another big goal is choosing my main platform, my YouTube channel and my website, and nurturing it intentionally instead of spreading myself thin.
I will treat my Instagram and TikTok for my secondary platforms from now on. Which means, I won't pressure myself to show up and trying to be active on every platform.
Right now, I'm scared of burning out. I experienced burn-out before and I don't want to go through it ever again, especially I still need to work on Book 2 and 3 for next years publication. I understand that there are so many things I can do, but I only have 10 or 11 hours to work, and it's not healthy to work for 10 hours a day!
This Year’s Theme: Showing Myself
One of the biggest changes I want to make in 2026 is showing myself more as a person.
Until recently, I’ve mostly shared my work, such as fanart, illustrations, and projects, while keeping my thoughts, beliefs, and personality in the background. I rarely talked about myself as a person or even as an artist, and even when I tried video essays on YouTube, I didn’t continue them long enough to build momentum.
Last year, especially when I decided to start the podcast and this blog series, I realized how much of a missed opportunity.
As an independent creator, the personal brand is the most important thing nowadays. People aren’t just drawn to the work itself anymore, they’re drawn to the person behind it.
In a time when generative AI is everywhere, human intention and individuality matter more than ever. When people know who created something, they form a deeper emotional connection to it.
So my theme for 2026 is simple but challenging: sharing who I am, what I think, what I love, and what I believe. If you’re listening to the podcast or reading this blog, you are my true audience, and I want to value that connection deeply.
My goals for 2026 are to finish and publish my book, share my original work consistently, narrow my platforms and focus intentionally, build genuine connections, and create work that remains meaningful even if it’s copied.
It’s a new challenge, but it’s an exciting one, and if I can achieve these goals, I truly believe my artistic career will reach a new level.
If you’re here with me along the way, that means more than I can put into words!
So, what are your goals for this year? What’s your wish, your obstacle, and your plan?
If you’d like, share them in the comments or on Discord.
I wish you all a very happy New Year!!
