To a Softer, More Fulfilling 2026!

The new year comes with its own fair share of life. The burden of resolutions, the pressure of being better this year for sure, the excitement of seeing how this year would turn out. With all the advice pouring in from all sides, it does get overwhelming, particularly when most of it is contradictory.

 So, what am I here with?  “More advice? Sia, we don’t need that ughhhh!!!”, I know that’s what most of you would say. But trust me I’m not here with those.

 It’s just four wholesome and enriching things I stumbled upon, and felt worth sharing with you all. You may choose to adopt one of those or maybe all, up to you, but I do feel incorporating one of these would definitely give you a more fulfilling 2026.

# Make work your play!

We work all day. Even when we’re not into work physically, we’re somehow mentally engaged in the same. So why not make something that makes so much of our day so emotionally fulfilling that it becomes almost like play!

“A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.” – Yvon Chouinard Let My People Go Surfing.

I came across this insightful, insightful passage and I feel that it just sums up how our lives are meant to be lived. Make work your play.

Get so engrossed that it feels so, so enjoyable and not a task. Amp up your space, add in some plants, bring out those childish sticky notes. If you’re in WFH, maybe drop in some fairy lights as well. Have work playlists. Make it a space where skill and innovation, mental pressure and jigsaw joy, deadlines and goals go hand in hand. Cognitively challenging yet emotionally rewarding.

# Get yourself a Hobby!

And by hobby, I mean a real hobby. Not just a pastime. (and guys, doomscrolling is not a hobby!) Involve your hands, your heart, and your brain.

 Find something you’re a complete noob at and just grow at it. There’s nothing more grounding than realizing there’s so much more to learn. Human mind thrives the most when learning something new. It doesn’t need to be a useful skill, or something you need to be perfect at.

It just needs to be something fashioned entirely using your hands and heart. Just a tiny refuge all for yourself. Reading, writing, gardening, crochet, pottery, photography, playing a new instrument. Stick to one and be dedicated to it.

 At the end of the year, you’ll be staring at a whole new side of yourself, you weren’t aware could even exist!

# The Arts will Save You when No One Can

Ever had that moment when you’re feeling lonely or just sad without any specific reason whatsoever. It’s in those moments that the arts come to your rescue the most. They just give you a space to step into if only for a moment.

Art also somehow helps keep that inner kid alive. Ever seen a pure Potterhead getting excited at a patronus mention, or maybe something of the sort for some other artform. You just need to experience it in order to truly understand it.

The feeling of belongingness to a world, character, book, art piece is surreal indeed! And please, please go to an art gallery at least once this year and just lose yourself in the art!

# Be More Grateful

There’s this one thing I noticed last year. “The same things that annoy you are the ones you need to be more grateful for.” So paradoxical, right! But true it is!

Have to get up early in the morning to go to work? Congrats, you have a real job! Have to call in dozens of loved ones to wish a Happy New Year? Congrats, you’ve got people who wait for your call! Have to cook three meals a day? Congrats, you’ve a body that actually lets you savor food!

But does that really mean we’ve an opportunity to be grateful every single time we get annoyed? (Law of Proportionality) As a person who gets annoyed pretty easily, this is a rather shocking, don’t-wanna-believe-in revelation. Easy to say, crazy difficult to implement. Let’s see if we can pull this one off!

That’s all I had for all of you, my friends. I really enjoy having you all as part of my journey, being with me on LifeLately sessions, so just thought of bringing up something new this time. Hope you enjoyed reading this one :) Have a crazily happy year y’all!