👋🏻 Helen here with our weekly Mind the Beet newsletter. This week, I’m sharing my 26 for 2026 progress update since we’re about halfway through the year.
About five years ago, I adopted Gretchen Rubin’s practice of creating a numbered list of goals for the year. I’ve found it to be a fun, realistic way to stretch and focus across my full life—not just work, but also health, hobbies, family, friendships, and home.
I also choose a word of the year. This year’s word is Believe—a reminder to stay open to the possibility of great things happening, even if I can’t always see exactly how they’ll unfold.
So, how am I doing so far? 10 goals are complete, 6 are in progress, 9 haven’t been started yet, and 1 has been intentionally retired.
One thing that stood out to me as I looked back: my business goals are moving along well, while my goals around connection—date nights, game nights, and time with friends—have been much slower to gain traction. I love this exercise for this exact reason - now I will refocus my energy on my goals and hopefully find a TV show that Adam and I will both want to watch (recommendations welcome!)
Drive Success in Solopreneurship (1-6)
Offer 26 goal-setting sessions to my community - ✅
Invest in additional coaching training - ✅ (I an now an Enneagram certified practioner!)
Do a professional photo shoot - ✅
Post on LinkedIn 2-3 times a week and explore video as a medium - 🛠️ On track
Attend 6 start-up product community events in 2026 - 🛠️ On track
Streamline my business expenses - ✅
Invest in Home Improvements (7-14)
Frame theater posters - ⏳ Not started
Remodel a closet in my home office - ✅
Buy a full-size mirror - ✅ (thank you for all the recomendations!)
Update picture frames - ⏳ Not started
Keep 2-3 small house plants alive this year - 🛠️ On track
Replace bath towels in our house - ⏳ Not started
Get a dog trainer - ✅ (The dog behavior improvement is moderate 😂)
Schedule a regular dog walker 2-3 times a week - ✅
Prioritize Health and Hobbies (15-20)
Take a multivitamin every day - 🛑 Paused and focusing on different health efforts
Drink ~26 oz of water before breakfast every day - 🛠️ On track
Get a massage every 6 weeks - 🛠️ On track
Learn to create greeting cards with my Cricut and make 6 birthday cards for my family and friends - ⏳ Not started
Win 3 tennis matches in a league this year - ✅
Move at least 26 minutes a day - 🛠️ On track
Spend Time with People
Schedule a monthly date night with Adam - ⏳ Not started
Always have a new TV show I am watching with Adam - ⏳ Not started
Take a trip to a new country as a family - 🇬🇷 Greece this summer! ✅
Donate food, clothes, and toys monthly as a family - ⏳ Not started
Host 2-3 game nights with friends - ⏳ Not started
Plan a girls’ trip with my friends from my legislative fellowship days ⏳ Not started