Just an Echo

My focus for 2026 is to go back to the basics, which are health and finance.

I believe that strong basics matter more than people admit. It is hard to build anything stable when the foundation itself is weak.

Why this system works for me, and might work for you as well:

• I do not feel obligated to complete all the things I wrote down immediately, and my approach is not about becoming hyper-disciplined. I am trying to create a life structure that does not exhaust me.
• I need goals high enough to push me forward, but flexible enough that failing one day does not destroy the system, which is why I treat some goals as directional measurements.
• I try to think about goals in ecosystems instead of isolated habits.
• A gentle approach works better for me. I observe myself while doing things and adjust the process instead of blindly obeying the original plan.
• Tasks do not always need to be marked as “done.” Sometimes the goal is simply to get the ball rolling.

So here is my progress:

From a health perspective, I actually made good progress. I scheduled all my appointments and spread them out across a few months. 

But exercise is more complicated for me. I am a somewhat lazy person. Gym, running, sweating, none of that sounds fun to me.

Which is why many of my goals are connected to trying different types of exercise and I hope that by doing this I can figure out what I actually enjoy, break certain stigmas I have, and slowly become more comfortable.

I also started going to the gym in May, and it took me some time because I am very self-conscious. Logically, I know that everyone at the gym is focused on themselves, but emotionally I still feel uncomfortable and out of place. It takes courage, willpower, or whatever you want to call it, for me to start these things.

Before going to the gym, I started the 10,000 steps goal as a mechanism to make me more active and as a softer way to introduce movement back into daily life while slowly preparing myself for the gym. Honestly, I was absolutely one of those people who paid for a gym membership and never showed up because the vibe felt wrong.

Right now, I mostly use the treadmill because I still want the process to feel comfortable, but I think in June I will start signing up for classes.

A few years ago, I came across an online questionnaire that asked me to give a score to different areas of my life. At first, it seemed simple. Just rate each area and move on. But when I actually started answering, something became clear. All areas were low, except work.

I don’t remember exactly what I felt in that moment. It was a few years ago. But I do remember a sense of disappointment and a realization that I could have done more, that I could have been in a different place in life.

Looking back, I think there was something else going on. It felt like I had no desire for anything else. No energy, no inspiration, no spark. I was able to go to work and function, but beyond that, it was difficult to do anything else.

The interesting part is that I didn’t notice this day to day. It wasn’t something I was thinking about regularly. It only became clear when I saw everything laid out in that questionnaire. That’s what made the imbalance visible.

After that, I decided to take action. I took the areas from the questionnaire and created lists, to do lists or wish lists, things I wanted to accomplish in each area based on the vision I had for my life. Having those lists gave me some relief. It felt like I had a plan.

I am still working through it. Still trying to understand what kind of life I want, and how to move toward it. But at least now, I am more aware of it, and for now, that feels like a place to start.

Two years ago, I also came across a video by Tal Ben-Shahar about happiness and the studies behind it [link]. It validated a lot of what I was already thinking. The idea that happiness is a moment and does not last forever, and that in order to feel happiness you need to focus on different aspects of life.

Since then, I have defined a few categories in my life that I review every year. These categories reflect how I currently see different areas of life, and how I want to approach them.

I am still working through it. Still trying to understand what kind of life I want, and how to move toward it. But at least now, I am more aware of it, and for now, that feels like a place to start.