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Happy Monday 🌞

Sometimes it feels like all I need is a good list to help me achieve anything I want — most of my goals start out as a list, and there’s something magical about writing them down and then bringing them to life.

Well this week I’m starting to work on a new list for 2026.

If you joined recently, hi 👋 I’m Hailley. I’ve always created systems for my work (as a Marketing leader at Buffer) and life (as a remote worker and mom of two) where I can stay productive, calm, and organized.

This week I want to talk about an easy list you can set up today to start helping with your 2026 plans. It’s just a page titled “2026” where you can start to add fleeting thoughts.

Let me explain:

We’re ~1 month away from 2026

We’re about a month away from the new year, and around this time is when I kick off a new annual planning page in my Notion space — for you it might be in your notebook or a new page in your Apple Notes. The tool doesn’t matter as much as the system does.

There’s something about the shift into December and the upcoming holidays (and maybe also the marketer in me looking at the year’s metrics) that makes me start thinking back on this year and forward to the next one.

Creating space for early thoughts

As these end-of-year thoughts start to pop into my head, I simply add them to a page titled “2026.” The whole purpose of this page is simply to start writing down fleeting thoughts about 2026.

Initially you might just have a blank page, but give it space and you’ll be surprised what your brain comes up with.

The goal here is for me to capture my fleeting thoughts about the year ahead as they come to mind. That way, when I’m starting my goals and planning for 2026, I already have a few bullet points to work from. (More on that soon!)

This system works well for others, too

I know this blank page method works not only because it works for me, but because one of my favorite podcasters, Myke Hurley, spoke about a similar system when it comes to his yearly theme.

Myke starts a blank document near the end of one year and adds words that feel like they could apply to be his theme of the year for the following year. As they jump into his mind, he captures them, which often leads him to landing on his theme ahead of January.

Here is an episodes of Cortex where Myke has spoken about yearly themes if you’re interested. (I recommend listening to all of Cortex if you’re looking for a new podcast — I’ve listened to the entire show twice now.)

In future issues I’ll start to break down how I reflect and plan goals for upcoming years. (If you know anyone interested in this kind of annual reflection, I’d be so grateful if you would forward this newsletter along so they can follow along!)

Have you started thinking about 2026 yet? What’s already on your mind for next year?

I hope you have a lovely week ahead. As always, feel free to reply if this sparks any thoughts or questions. ✨

See you next Monday,

Hailley

• I love a good framework, and that's exactly what this piece by Oluwaseun Akinlembola is: How a Simple Google Sheet Helped Me Post Consistently on LinkedIn for the First Time in 5 Years.
• Fellow remote company, Doist, is hiring a Social & Community Manager in case you or anyone you know is interested!
• ​A story about a rental car experience I had in Denver several months back that took off on Threads.

That's all for this newsletter! Thank you so much for subscribing. Reply anytime you want to chat. ✨

I'm happy to offer my writing and this newsletter for free, but if you're so compelled, a seasonal latte is always appreciated! ☕️

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