I Don’t Do Resolutions. I Do This, Perfect for Busy Women

I did not grow up in a house that did New Year’s resolutions.

No big declarations. No January reinvention. It just was not part of our family tradition and for a long time, it was not something I felt drawn to.

And if I am being honest, as someone who lived much of my life with undiagnosed ADHD, I used to think basic things like eating, sleeping and going to the bathroom were a waste of time (yes, really). So the idea of adding big goals and resolutions on top of real life felt unrealistic.

But life changes.

I became a professional. I became a CEO. Strategic planning became a huge part of what I do. At work, I help people focus, prioritize and move forward with clarity. At home, I am juggling leadership, deadlines, family life and the million invisible tasks that keep everything running.

So I started looking for something that fit my real life.

Not a long list. Not perfection. Not pressure.

Something simple. Something grounding.

The practice that actually worked

A few years ago, I borrowed an idea from friends and started choosing a word of the year.

One word. That is it.

It became a way to anchor myself, a reminder of what matters most when things get busy, loud or overwhelming. I write the word on the wall in my office so I have to see it every day. It sits there quietly asking, are you living this? Are you choosing this?

My word for 2026 is brave

This year, my word is brave.

It came to me during a reflection show episode with my co-founder and past co-host, Myrrhanda Novak. She shared that her word last year was brave and in that moment, I decided without hesitation. That is mine too.

It was speaking to me.

So today, I wrote it on my wall.

What brave means to me

For me, brave is not a personality trait you either have or you do not.

Brave is a choice. A practice. A decision you make again and again, especially when you do not feel ready.

This is what brave means to me right now:

• stepping out of my comfort zone

  
  

• doing things scared

  
  

• taking the next right step when the thing in front of me feels bold or hard

  
  

• trusting my instincts, skills and experience

  
  

• believing I already have what I need for the next thing

  
  

• owning who I am and what I bring to the table

  
  

I need this word personally and professionally this year.

And I want to say this plainly. Choosing brave does not feel inspiring, it feels intimidating.

There is trepidation in it for me. Fear, even. Because brave asks for movement. It asks for action when I would rather pause, overthink or stay where it is safe.

But here is what I am reminding myself. I do not have to do everything all at once. I do not have to have the full plan. I just have to know the next right step and that, I can do.

So with fear, I choose brave. I am opening myself up to where 2026 could take me, fear and all.

Because something in me knows this is the year I need to stop waiting and start stepping.

If you are busy, tired or stuck in the daily churn, this is for you

If you are a busy woman, a mother, a leader, a caregiver or all of the above, I want to offer you a simple invitation.

Pick a word for 2026.

Not because you need to fix yourself. Not because you should be doing more.

But because you deserve something that is just for you.

A small anchor in a year that will ask a lot of you.

Here is what I want you to do:

1. Book one hour for yourself this week

   
   

2. Make it a coffee date with you

   
   

3. Put it in your calendar today

   
   

4. Brainstorm what you want from 2026 and what you need

   
   

5. Choose one word that represents that

   
   

6. Write it somewhere you will see it every day

   
   

Bathroom mirror. Sticky note on your laptop. Notes app on your lock screen. The wall in your office. Anywhere.

Let it interrupt the autopilot.

Let it pull you back to yourself.

And honestly, this is the essence of WOMENdontDOthat.

Yes, it is about pushing through societal barriers and expectations but it is also about something quieter and harder. Getting out of your own way. The hesitation. The self doubt. The instinct to shrink, delay or stay comfortable.

If you are reading this and you are exhausted, busy or overwhelmed, I want you to hear me.

You are capable of more than you can ever imagine. But sometimes we also have to let ourselves believe it and then act like it, one brave step at a time.

Here is to 2026

Here is to the year ahead and all you want, need and deserve.

I am wishing you light and love for 2026. Even in the darkness, there are always streams of light and I hope they guide you.

Life can be lonely, especially when you are carrying hard things quietly. But there are millions of women walking through hard things too.

You are not alone.

You have got this.

And I am right here, cheering you on.

Now go book that hour today. Right now. I mean it.

Because women do.

PS If you do pick a word, drop it in the comments or send me a DM on social. I would love to know what word you chose and why.