Happy New Year! As the calendar flips to January 1, 2026, it’s time to move past the generic resolutions and focus on the actual “vibe shift” happening in our culture.
The start of a year is the perfect time to audit our habits and decide what we’re bringing with us and what we’re leaving in the rearview mirror. Here is the official 2026 In & Out List.
✅ The “In” List: What we’re embracing
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Intentional Rest 🧘: Hustle culture is taking a backseat. This year is about deep work followed by genuine downtime—not “rest” that consists of scrolling on your phone.
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Skill Stacking 🧩: Being a specialist is great, but being a “Polymath” is better. In 2026, we’re combining diverse skills (like Design + AI ) to create unique value.
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Analog Hobbies 🎨: As the world becomes more digital, we’re finding joy in things we can touch: pottery, gardening, film photography, and physical books.
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Slow Content 📖: We’re trading 15-second loops for long-form essays and deep-dive podcasts that actually leave us with something to think about.
❌ The “Out” List: What we’re leaving behind
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Doomscrolling 📱: We’re done with the mindless “zombie scroll” that kills our attention spans and spikes our anxiety.
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Performative Productivity 🏃: Staying busy just to look busy is out. We’re focusing on outcomes, not hours spent sitting at a desk.
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Echo Chambers 📢: We’re breaking out of the algorithm. This year, we’re seeking out different perspectives and having actual conversations instead of just “liking” things we already agree with.
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Chasing “Perfection” ✨: The curated, filtered life is exhausting. In 2026, we’re choosing messy progress and “good enough” over the paralysis of perfectionism.
Over to You…
The beauty of a new year is that you get to define your own parameters. Which of these resonates most with you? Or better yet—what is one specific thing on your personal “Out” list for 2026? Let’s chat in the comments!
