We have officially made it to the last day of January 2026—and what a long month it has felt like. January always seems to stretch on, especially after riding the high of the holidays, kids being home from school, and then abruptly shifting back into routines, responsibilities, and real life.
As always, I like to close out each month with a recap. Monthly reflections allow me to look honestly at the goals I set, recognize what worked, release what didn’t, and carry lessons forward with intention rather than judgment.
January Goals: A Realistic Review
At the start of January, I set several personal, financial, professional, and lifestyle goals. Here’s how they unfolded.
Financial Goals
One of my main focuses this month was getting clear about my finances. I wanted to list all of my debts and create a debt reduction plan—and I’m proud to say that both of those goals were accomplished.
I also paid off a small credit card and officially started paying on my student loans. Progress in this area felt grounding and empowering.
Health and Movement
I wanted to create a consistent exercise routine and lose five pounds. While I didn’t fully hit the number on the scale, I did consistently complete a 20-minute walk every day and lost two pounds.
To me, this still counts as a win. Consistency matters more than speed, and progress will always outweigh perfection.
Career and Business Goals
Professionally, I wanted to:
- Close three homes as a transaction coordinator
- Get two homes under contract as a realtor
The reality looked a little different. I closed two homes as a transaction coordinator and didn’t put any homes under contract as a realtor—largely because I didn’t actively pursue that goal the way I needed to.
Instead of viewing this as failure, I’m choosing to see it as clarity. Goals require aligned action, and January made it clear where my focus truly went.
Personal Growth and Habits
One goal that exceeded expectations was reading and personal development. I planned to read two books and focus on building positive habits.
I ended up reading seven books and established consistent daily practices of gratitude and affirmations, which have already created noticeable shifts in my mindset.
Relationships and Connection
I hoped to have a date night and do something fun as a family. While we didn’t have a traditional date night, we did enjoy two date lunches, which still felt meaningful.
We didn’t plan a big family activity this month, but with snow expected today and into the night, it looks like January may end with a cozy family snow day—sometimes the best moments are unplanned.
Additional January Wins
Beyond my original goals, January brought some meaningful accomplishments:
- Decluttered the closets in the spare bedroom
- Decluttered the kitchen cup cabinet
- Created a vision board (a January bucket list item)
- Continued daily gratitude and affirmation practices
These small actions added up to a noticeable sense of clarity and calm.
Books Read in January 2026
Reading was a major highlight this month. Here’s what I finished:
- Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff by Matt Paxton
- The Year of Less by Cait Flanders
- The Soul of Money by Lynn Twist
- Azalea Cafe by Jewel Sweeney
- The Magic by Rhonda Byrne
- Fasting for Breakthrough and Deliverance by John Eckhardt
- A Year of Living Kindly by Donna Cameron
Each book offered insight into simplicity, gratitude, faith, money, kindness, and intentional living.
January Reflections
January reminded me that success doesn’t always look like checking every box. Sometimes it looks like showing up consistently, learning where adjustments are needed, and celebrating progress—no matter how small it may seem.
Overall, January 2026 was a solid win.
As we move into February, I’m carrying forward gratitude, intention, and a renewed sense of alignment—and I’m excited to see what the next month brings.
